NEWPORT - A plan that includes expanding preschool, opening a parent welcome center and making high school more rigorous will cost the Newport school system about $2.8 million over five years.

But the district's healthy surplus is more than enough to cover that, officials say.

Superintendent Michael Brandt presented the financial details of his five-year strategic plan to the Newport School Board on Wednesday. The board expressed enthusiasm but agreed to delay a vote until Saturday morning after member Jim Hesch requested more time to review the figures.

The school district has a surplus of $8.6 million; $879,000 in emergency funds is required by the state. Brandt, who joined the district last year, said officials long had been conservative with spending, in anticipation that enrollment might drop and cause a loss of state funds.

But even with the new programs he envisions, Newport's surplus still will exceed the required minimum by $2 million in 2010, district projections show. And Brandt said that figure represents a worst-case scenario that includes further drops in enrollment.

"I'm ecstatic," board member Tete Turner Jr. said after the meeting. "The whole thing is about academic growth. That's what we've said from day one."

Newport is one of the lowest-performing districts in Northern Kentucky. Some children enter kindergarten already two years behind. Although Brandt's strategic plan calls for more rigorous instruction at the middle and high school, his No. 1 goal is to improve school readiness.

The plan includes:

Expanding free preschool to four full days a week for some 3-year-olds and all 4-year-olds. Currently, they can attend the district's preschool for half days. Children Inc. has agreed to operate the additional half day in the old high school building, which also will become a parent welcome center.

Offering extended care, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the school year and the summer, for $100 a week to parents of these 3- and 4-year-olds. The cost is less than many day-care centers' but will deliver higher quality, because all activities will be school-related, spokesman Bill Shamblin said.

Making home visits to children up to age 5 who are not in preschool. The district will contract with Brighton Center to teach parents, on a voluntary basis, how to boost children's brain development.

Offer a summer "introduction to kindergarten" program. Brandt has been working with Children Inc., Brighton Center, Head Start, the United Way and Northern Kentucky University on the plan.

In addition, St. Paul's Child Care Center in Newport has agreed to close so that its United Way funding can be used for the preschool.

Wednesday's board meeting was attended by, among others, parent Dorothy Graham, whose 3-year-old qualified for the half-day preschool at Fourth Street Elementary School this year. Graham was excited about the prospect of a full day for her daughter, who has some developmental delays.

"That's all she talks about - 'school bus, school bus,' " Graham said.