WINCHESTER, Ky. (LEX 18) — Clark County Preschool is just a few months away from opening its doors. Construction started in February 2023.

“This is just a dream come true and an incredible accomplishment for early childhood education and Clark County,” said Principal Jillian Blanton.

Blanton told LEX18 that current enrolled students are low-income or disabled. Some students may need speech services, help with cognitive or social skills or motor skills, he said.

Parent Lakin Clements’ four-year-old son Noah goes to school; He has autism. He was non-verbal when he started at Clark County, now he talks and laughs.

“I looked at previous programs and they were very expensive, and after reading some of their criteria, I didn’t feel like they could meet our needs where we were,” Clements said.

Child care for preschool-aged children can cost up to $2,100 per month in Kentucky. It is free in Clark County preschool.

Operations chief Brandon Watkins said they will easily fill the 450 slots. In addition to 23 classrooms, there will be 6 resource rooms, two playgrounds and a large multi-purpose area.

“The colors and designs were all done by the architects to represent the different parts of Kentucky as a learning tool for children,” Watkins said.

Part of the school serves as a storm shelter; It is surrounded by concrete and there are doors in the windows of the rooms.

The price of the building was around 20 million dollars. It is planned to open in February 2025.