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All-day kindergarten would be win-win proposition

Staff writer

Offering an all day kindergarten program would be a win-win situation for students beginning their education in Marion-Florence USD 408.

That's the message school board members heard Monday night during the regular meeting.

Superintendent Lee Leiker, along with kindergarten instructors Lana Fahey and Katie Rahe and transitional first grade teacher Judi Stewart, explained the research behind and the benefits offered by an all day kindergarten program.

Showing a breakdown of the current half-day program, Leiker indicated morning and afternoon sessions only offer approximately two hours and 50 minutes of class time. Comparatively, a full day program would provide six hours and 50 minutes.

"Now, there would be additional things added in the full day. Lunch, recess time — I don't want anyone thinking you're gaining four full hours," Leiker said.

Fahey and Rahe handed the board pages listing the kindergarten language arts and mathematics expectations.

"We try to teach it all, but there's just not enough time," Fahey said. "We have to let some objectives go to get to advanced levels. It ends up creating holes, but we do the best we can."

Fahey said the teachers could not see any detrimental effects in a full day kindergarten program "except for parents feeling their child is not ready."

Although they do not know how a full day program would be structured, Leiker and Fahey said they would like to see core subjects taught in the morning, while the afternoon is used for reteaching. Thus, parents who opted to keep their children in a half-day program would get their core instruction in the morning.

"In a full day program everything would get its due time of instruction," Fahey said.

Examining the current half-day schedule, board member Sarah Cope noted teachers only have 55 minutes of actual teaching time, taking out physical education, library, art, snack time, and other activities which fill the class day.

"We're trying to teach kids everything in only 55 minutes a day?" she asked.

Board member Chris Sprowls asked if the kindergarten teachers made attempts to coordinate their curriculum with that of area preschools and Head Start.

Fahey and Rahe said Head Start meets with county kindergarten teachers once a year.

"They do their best to meet the needs of the schools," Fahey said, and added, "I feel Head Start kids spend more time in preschool than they do in kindergarten since they eat lunch there."

The teachers said so many goals and objectives are being required by the state and nationally it's hard to get everything taught in the time available.

"Of course, this is what every grade faces," Fahey said.

Instructor Stewart said some method was needed to "reach" kids who are having trouble in school.

"If you don't reach them at this age you'll never get them," Stewart said. "Part of the purpose of the T1 (transitional first grade) class was to get students into another setting to help them bridge that gap."

Stewart noted the children in T1 would not be able to function in a regular first grade classroom.

"Hopefully by the end of the year, they'll build enough confidence so they can go into first grade with an 'I can do' attitude," Stewart continued.

"Every year we see more kids coming to school with less and less and schools are expected to do more and more," Stewart added.

Board member Roger Hannaford III questioned whether today's children know less than kindergartners 10 to 20 years ago.

"The gap is just bigger," Fahey answered. "Some come in knowing how to read. Others come in not knowing their colors. Then we end up having fourth graders who've given up."

Stewart said the main focus for many children today isn't just learning it's issues like 'are we going to eat' and 'will anyone be home when I get there'.

"It's not just a big city issue. That reality exists in Marion," Fahey said. "It's just not being talked about. We have families in crisis."

The teachers agreed all students — both high end and low end — would benefit from an all day kindergarten program.

Board members Rex Savage and Gene Bowers said they didn't like the fact that schools are expected to take on more and more parental responsibilities. They noted it also was important for children to spend time with their parents.

"Part of being a kid is doing what you want whenever you want," Bowers said.

Stewart noted for many students parental attention is "the last thing they're going to get."

During his presentation, Leiker noted in 1998, 23 percent of all kindergartens were full day. In 1999, that number had increased to 55 percent.

"The main disadvantage of the full day program is it's not funded," Leiker said. Kindergarten students — whether they attend full day or half day, only count as .5 student in the current school funding formula.

Leiker said the full day program provides more time for cognitive activities, more instructional time, additional time for reinforcing concepts and developing social skills.

Leiker said currently there are four sections of kindergarten offered. He also noted officials felt the need to continue offering transitional first grade for another year although "we hope an all day program will eliminate the need for T1."

"Who teaches what depends on enrollment and whether there's two sections or three of full day kindergarten or whether we need an additional staff member," Leiker said.

Marion Elementary principal Stan Ploutz said he felt current staff could be utilized without hiring additional personnel.

No action was taken on the topic.

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