ARCHIVE

Centre USD 397: Four-year-old-at-risk program approved years ago

Is Head Start next?

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

The board of education of Centre USD #397 gave approval Monday to a four-year-old-at-risk program to be conducted at Centre Elementary School for the 2005-2006 school year.

Participation is voluntary. The class will meet Monday through Thursday mornings from 8:20 to 11:30 a.m.

At present, seven students are enrolled. Four of these qualify as "at-risk."

"At-risk" is determined by at least one of the following criteria: poverty, single-parent family, SRS referral, teen parents, either parent without a high school diploma or GED, limited English proficiency, or developmentally or academically delayed.

Superintendent Bob Kiblinger said three of the students will be included in the class as peer models. As many as four peer models are allowed and encouraged to participate.

The decision to institute the program was not without controversy. Two members, Jesse Brunner and Mark Heiser, voted against it.

They sided with several day-care providers in the district who are concerned they will lose children to the program. Both have wives who provide day-care.

Board member Jennifer Kassebaum surmised that most of the kids enrolled are not in day-care.

Board president Clark Davis said he also was contacted by day-care providers and shared their concerns.

"We have more licensed day-care providers in our district than in any other in this county," he said.

He defended his support of the program by noting research shows a majority of the learning process takes place before a child is three years old.

"The sooner we get intervention, the better it is," he said. "It is easier to identify problems in a school setting."

Kiblinger said he received a request to provide Head Start services at Centre in conjunction with the four-year-old program. Head Start is a federal program.

This possibility added to Brunner's and Heiser's concerns.

Brunner also was concerned about the cost and said he was told by some teachers that four-year-olds are not mature enough for a structured setting.

Kiblinger said the district would save approximately $12,000 by not having to transport children to Marion for Head Start.

However, because of the two board members' concerns, the Head Start program was not voted on at this time.

Kiblinger said a grant of $8,000 has been received to implement the four-year-old-at-risk program. The money will cover a portion of the instructor's salary and benefits, professional training, and classroom materials and supplies.

Kiblinger estimated additional transportation costs to the district of approximately $5,000 including bus driver hourly wages for noon transport. Other costs would include employee health benefits, additional classroom needs, and field trips.

Lynley Remy, music instructor at Centre Elementary School, has agreed to teach the class. Another instructor, Tana Riffel, will assist her.

Brunner and Heiser said some patrons are concerned the music program will suffer if Remy devotes time to the four-year-old program.

Board member Leona Hajek pointed out the district has taken the lead in Marion County in many areas including being a pilot school for Quality Performance Accreditation and No Child Left Behind. Centre was the first school to adopt all-day kindergarten and go to one administrator, she said.

"We are out there and we want people to follow us," she said, adding, "I have all faith in Lynley that she can handle both the music and the four-year-old program."

"We are in a dangerous world when all we can see is our own, little world," Davis concluded. "We want to be receptive and concerned about patrons who will be hurt economically, but we have to have the courage to go forward."

Quantcast