The pressing need for more quality preschool programs for at-risk children prompted the Lawrence school board Monday to approve establishment of a sixth such classroom.

Supt. Randy Weseman said the five existing programs served 80 students each year. Children leaving those preschool classrooms are better prepared to enter kindergarten ready to learn, he said.

“It makes a difference in terms of how these kids perform down the road,” he said. “It’s produced results for us.”

The vote was 6-1, with board member Scott Morgan dissenting. He said expansion should await completion of the district’s facilities study.

Even with the additional 16 children in the new early-childhood development classroom, dozens of 4-year-olds in Lawrence who qualify will be turned away. The current program would have to be doubled to meet demand.

The new classroom  no elementary school site has been chosen  would be financed with state grants and private donations.

Startup costs are no more than $75,000. Expenses not covered by the state would be the responsibility of Lawrence Schools Foundation, a nonprofit group. The district will provide classroom space and utilities, but won’t provide cash for staffing the program.

The board gave its consent to expand the preschool program, but also put the foundation on notice that the program could be revised in the future.

Weseman said there had been discussions about consolidating all preschool programs to one location. That would be possible if the district closed elementary schools in the future, but kept one open for early-childhood programs.

Paul Stuewe, president of the foundation’s board, said leaders of the foundation would be willing to discuss the idea of a central site.

“Our mission is to support kids and do what’s right for kids,” he said.

In Lawrence, the first Early Childhood Educational Readiness class opened in 1997. There is one at Pinckney, East Heights and Woodlawn schools. Centennial School has two classrooms.