Full-day kindergarten is on the horizon for the Scotia-Glenville Central School District, a change that Superintendent Susan Swartz said is emotional, but necessary.
Swartz told a cafeteria full of people at Lincoln Elementary School Monday, Jan. 26, that she has to base her recommendation as an educator not as a parent. She said she understands it may be a difficult adjustment for some parents, but she has to look at what is best for the children in the district, most of whom would benefit from an all-day program.
Swartz said she has met with the kindergarten teachers, and most support either the full-day program or keeping the current transitional practice in place. She said that none of the teachers supported going back to a half-day program.
Swartz also noted that in New York, 623 of 680 school districts offer a full-day kindergarten program. She also said the governor’s budget includes kindergarten conversion aid of $801,000, but said that money has also been offered in years past.
That money is not new to us, and it is only a one-time deal, said Swartz.
Swartz said that an electronic survey will be sent to parents of incoming kindergartners to ask what they would like to see happen with the program. She said that in 2008-2009, the district enrolled 179 kindergarteners, and out of that number, close to 80 percent came in with experience in a preschool setting, and many of those attended a full-day, every day preschool program.
`For some children, entering half-day kindergarten is taking a step back,` said Swartz.
Swartz’s presentation demonstrated a full-day schedule. Much of the schedule includes time for literacy skills, educational centers, free time, music and movement, and `specials,` such as physical education and music. Many kindergarten teachers now support going full day because it would allow them enough time to teach the children, as well as give them some free time.
`The demands of first grade are high, and what a full-day K program can allow for is more instructional time, as well as more time for free play. With a half day, by the time you get the kids settled with coats off, you add in snack time, and the time to pack up, you significantly cut down on that two-and-half-hour time period,` said Swartz.
Board President Margaret Smith said that she still feel that the transitional program is best. The transitional program goes half day until mid-January when they children then begin to attend full day.
`This program works because it eases the students in,` said Smith.
Gary Normington, vice president of the board, asked if the screening process would change if full-day kindergarten is approved.
Swartz said she believes the screenings and placements would remain the same.
Swartz also discussed the idea of a `mini` transition period in the first few weeks of school to allow the children to become acclimated. Swartz said they did a similar program in Shenendehowa, where the half-day students would come in groups of five and they even allowed siblings to stop in.
The board will meet again at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, at Glen Worden to make a final decision.“