Bi-County Special Education Cooperative asks parents to make appointments for preschool screenings

School districts in Whiteside and Carroll counties that are part of the Bi-County Special Education Cooperative announced that preschool screenings will begin starting in February.

Parents who have a child between the ages of 2 years and 7 months and 5 years and 3 months as of Feb. 1 and would like to have them screened should contact their local school district to set up an appointment. This service is free to residents of the cooperative.

Here is a list by districts, contact phone numbers, screening dates and team leaders.

In all instances, masking and social distancing is required to attend a screening.

Morrison – Call 815-772-2153. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 22, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 22 and, if necessary, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 26. Jenni Williams, Morrison Northside School.

Rock Falls, including Montmorency and East Coloma-Nelson – Call 815-625-5280. 3 to 6 p.m. April 12 and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 13. Chelsea Palmer, Riverdale Preschool Center.

Chadwick-Milledgeville – Call 815-225-7141. 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 6 and 7. Darcie Feltmeyer, Chadwick School, 19 School St., Chadwick.

Erie Elementary – Call 309-659-2239, ext. 2512. 3:15 to 5:45 p.m. March 9 and 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. March 10. Erin Eckberg, Erie Elementary Annex Building, 605 Sixth Ave., Erie.

Sterling – Call 815-622-3552. Feb. 3, March 3, April 14, May 5, and a date to be announced in June. Becky Haas, Jefferson Elementary.

River Bend – Call 815-589-2309. 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 1 and 15. Dawna Kurtz, Fulton Presbyterian Church, 311 N. Ninth St., Fulton.

Eastland – Call 815-864-2300. 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6-7. Darcie Feltmeyer, Chadwick School, 15 School St., Chadwick.

Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico – 7:50 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 17, noon to 7 p.m. April 27. Kelly Ottens, unit office, 79 Grove St., Prophetstown.

Parents should accompany their child to the screening so they can answer questions about their child’s development. Having on-hand information such as a baby book, immunization records and a health history will be helpful.

Each child will be asked to demonstrate stacking blocks, drawing and jumping. Speech, language, vision and hearing also will be screened.