When my daughter was in Kinder, it was also tuition based for full day. I believe the cost was $10 a day, which I gladly paid. The downfall was the huge difference the next year when almost her entire 1st grade class had 1/2 day kinder and she was a full grade level ahead of them! Thankfully, that fall our district passed an override, so full day kinder is now funded. This past year, we had every kinder student but 1 go full day.

There are several private pre-schools in the town that offer a full day program, but there was never any talk about competition. One difference with the full day K in the public schools is that you also get transportation! It does make me a little crazy that in the next town over the only option is all day K, and it is free! Thankfully those years are behind me.

I had the same idea once and told my wife if I was ever the Mayor that that is exactly what I would have done. Knowing our Superintendant I can't see her not looking at something like this. It is possible that since it would compete with the organization that provides full day coverage (called Abacus) that there would be a conflict, but then again so would full day K. I know that this year, while my son was in K, I would have gladly given the town the $ to have him in a full day school program. It is too bad the town did not end up going this route...

-PresidentJim

In my school system the full day kindergarten program is tution based. Yes, if you want your child to be in full day kindergarten you must pay tuition! The half day program is free. There are a large number of parents who requested the full day K and this was the only way our town could fund it.

With changes this drastic to your school budgets and staffing within your schools, you would think that she would have made a formal presentation to inform parents before the final plans were drawn. Our Superintendent goes on a "road show" every April to explain the new budget, changes in staffing, or programs so that we are informed before going to the polls & voting in the budget. Parents are then able to ask questions. When a possible 3 tier bus schedule would have changed the start times for our schools, parents voiced their concerns, he scheduled a special meeting to listen to them and decided to postpone the change until further evaluation with parents included on a special planning group.
I wonder how beneficial this full day program is having when so many students from the other grades will not have the support that they once had. Does the 20 new kindergarten students outweigh the needs of the scores of other students that will no longer have the other teachers assisting them?

Here's a tough one that is happening to my town next year...

We had a new Superintendent of Schools this past year and she really is great. She is very open to ideas and is very personable. I believe that she truly appreciates eveything that the PTO is doing for our school and she sees what a difference this past year has been at our school.

Here's the problem. She has her own priorities, of course. One of which, which I personally fully agree with, is full day Kindergarten. Come next year each Elementary School in the town will have one full day Kindergarten class. All those who were interested in having their child in the class were put into a raffle and based upon statistics and such twenty children have been selected. This is all great, no problems...

The problem comes from the way this is being funded. Since the town officials do not seem able or willing to support this with new funds the proposed budget plan has each school's budget being slashed in half. That means that double digit ILA's thoughout the town are being let go. These staff members are extremely important for the schools as they support the teachers, helped with the MCAS perparation, supported the "no child left behind act", etc.

At this point it really seems out of the parents control. So I was just wondering what everyone thinks about this. It just seems very drastic to affect every child's education so that the school can have one full day Kindergarten class. The other worry comes from the fact that the plan has the school increasing the full day Kindergarten classes to two the following year. Where will the funds come from for this?

Also my Principal is really lucky in that we (the PTO) are as willing as we are to support his priorities as we know they benefit our children. But at the same time he stands out compared to others as he is willing to take the lead in certain fundraising events in order to fund these things. For example, her chaired the Golf Tournament which helped to pay for the new portable Laptop Cart. The point is that other Principals in the town will not be willing to do this, or will not have a PTO willing/able to support in this way. What are they going to do next year with 1/2 technology budgets, 1/2 general budgets, etc.?

Needed to vent so thanks, but really am interested in your thoughts...

PresidentJim