BELOIT, KS —Beloit’s three-year-olds now have the opportunity to attend half-day preschool thanks to the swift action of the USD 273 Board of Education, Superintendent Jeff Travis, and the dedicated efforts of community leaders and workers. This strong collaboration ensures that 3-year-olds in Beloit and the surrounding area who wish to attend preschool can now do so. While three-year-old preschool had been offered in the past, space limited enrollment. With the addition of a new preschool building on the BES campus, 59 students were welcomed on the first day of school, August 15, 2025.
The initiative was accelerated by a successful grant application to the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, which awarded Beloit Elementary School (BES) $97,591. This substantial funding was used to help finance the dedicated facility and furnish it with all the necessary
developmentally appropriate equipment.
“We want to thank the USD 273 Board of Directors for acting swiftly to prioritize early education,” said Superintendent Travis. “This commitment was the catalyst for this monumental achievement.”
“Getting this facility open by the first day of school was a tremendous feat, and we are so thankful to all of the workers who made it happen,” Superintendent Travis said. “It truly took our entire community pulling together—from Karen MacCrory and Janet Porter writing the grant, to the school board, workers, custodians, and even family members who pitched in—to ensure we opened on time. We are especially grateful to the Dane G. Hansen Foundation for their generous award, which makes it possible for generations of Beloit students to begin their first year of public education in a safe, dedicated building, filled with the joy and laughter that only 3-year-olds can bring.”
