First hour: The value of early childhood education
Second hour: Bikes vs. cars - what's the future of transit?
The Gates Public Library and the Westside Family YMCA have partnered to offer a new preschool program for children in the district. Gates Chili does offer university pre-K, but based on a lottery system. In the three years prior to this school year, the district was unable to accommodate every family that requested preschool. That changed in the 2017-2018 school year, after the district worked to expand its program. Both efforts emphasize the value education and childcare leaders place on early childhood education. This hour, we discuss learning outcomes for young children who attend preschool programs, and the accessibility of those programs in our area. Our guests:
- Greg Benoit, director of the Gates Public Library
- Ryanne Boring, director of the Westside Family YMCA Child Care Center
- Kimberle Ward, superintendent of the Gates Chili Central School District
Then in our second hour, we talk about the future of transit, and if we'll see a carless future. Some say cars are on the way out - they aren't environmentally friendly or economical. Others say that's a ways away - we're not connected enough as communities to rely on bikes and public transit. We'll talk to people who have made the switch from cars to bikes, and people who've switched back from bikes to cars about how transit works for them. In studio:
- Adrian Martin, cyclist
- Kristin Small, public interest lawyer
- Christine Corrado, freelance writer, philanthropy consultant, and community activist
- John Hoffman, English teacher
