announced yesterday.

A new preschool at St. Mark's Church in Smith's would have places for 24 four-year-olds and could expand to 36 places, Education Minister the Hon.

Clarence Terceira said.

Smith's was the only parish without a preschool. Parents there had to send their children to Hamilton or Devonshire parishes. But in October, they can register for St. Mark's Parish Preschool.

One of Dr. Terceira's first promises as Education Minister was to assure every parish had a preschool. But he set a September target for that goal. The Smith's preschool -- the Island's 12th -- will not open until January 4.

Mrs. Alberta Dyer-Tucker, the Education Officer in charge of preschools, said even with new spaces announced yesterday, Government could satisfy only about half the requests from parents.

"Our ultimate goal is to provide a space for each and every child who demands one,'' she said.

At the same news conference, Dr. Terceira said: The move of the preschool at Springfield in Somerset to the Somerset Brigade Band Hall, reported in The Royal Gazette last week, would result in four more spaces this September, bringing the total there to 24.

The previously-announced move of a preschool from Prospect to Friendship Vale School would allow the addition of four children with special needs.

There are now 486 preschool places and 49 staff members on the Island.

Yesterday's announcement would bring the numbers to a minimum of 494 and 51 respectively.

Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith said the new preschool was "a welcome step,'' but more needed to be done.

And while the Progressive Labour Party opposed the teacher cuts made in the last budget, the budget outlined then had now likely been exceeded, Ms Smith said. Other savings in education could have been found, she said.

The cost of the changes was not determined, Dr. Terceira said. "I don't think it's significant.'' Rev. Robert Thacker, rector of St. Mark's, said his congregation had "a strong sense of service to the community,'' and most church members were "delighted'' by the lease arrangement.

Last year, St. Mark's converted its Grace Cottage property in Smith's to house AIDS patients, he noted.

Mr. Garen Bulford, president of the Somerset Brigade Band, said he looked "forward to a long and happy relationship'' with the Education Ministry. The number of spaces at the band hall preschool could be increased to 36 next year, Mrs. Dyer-Tucker said.

The National Trust's Springfield site in Somerset had become inadequate, Dr.

Terceira said.

Offers of the two locations showed the community's willingness to get involved in education, Mrs. Dyer-Tucker said.