By Lori EhdeFor nearly 25 years, St. John Lutheran Church has been teaching young students in its Little Lambs Preschool program.Now, after requests from congregation members and from Little Lambs families, the church may offer a kindergarten curriculum as well."I think it’s the result of the public school going to half-day kindergarten," said St. John Pastor Gary Klatt."We agreed to have a meeting and see what kind of response we get from the community and find out what interest there is."A meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, in the basement assembly hall of St. John Lutheran Church. Klatt said the church has looked into what it would take to be licensed as a kindergarten."The facility is conducive to kindergarten," he said. "We have the space and means available for operating a kindergarten."He said years ago the church explored the possibility of offering a full parochial school, but it never materialized.The Little Lambs Preschool program currently has 68 students enrolled, and 67 are signed up for the next school year."We have a good history in this town with our preschool, and people know we have good staff here," Klatt said.He said it’s unclear how many kindergarten students the church would accommodate, but he said 20 would be needed initially to make the program go."That’s the number it would take to pay a teacher," he said.The St. John kindergarten would be in session all day every day, and would be funded by tuition.Luverne Elementary School cut its all day every day program during budget reductions last year and now offers half-day classes with parents paying tuition for the optional afternoon session.Klatt said Wednesday’s meeting is open to the public, and babysitting will be available at the church. Questions can be directed to the church office at 283-2316."All in the community who are interested are encouraged to attend," Klatt said.