Caledonia Argus

Caledonia elementary to offer two kindergarten programs

Posted: 2/26/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

Up to 22 kindergarten students will have the opportunity to attend all-day, every day kindergarten in the coming school year.

At its meeting Tuesday evening, the school board heard from elementary principal Connie Hesse, who presented the results of a survey of parents of students who will be attending kindergarten in the fall of 2002.

Hesse told the board that she identified 67 families who have children entering kindergarten in the fall. Of those that responded, either through the written survey or when contacted by phone, 15 said they preferred the three-day a week schedule, 21 preferred the all day, every day schedule, and 21 will not be attending the public elementary school. Three were not sure. Two eligible children are waiting one year to attend, and one family will be home schooling. Four families could not be reached. The families preferring the all-day, every day schedule understand that the program will cost $900 a year, she said.

Hesse explained that the current three-day kindergarten schedule cost $73,274 for the year. Of that amount, $44,629 was paid by the district and an additional $28,645 was received in class size reduction aid. The program was staffed with one full-time teacher and one teacher who worked three days per week.

The class size reduction dollars will not be available in the coming year, so the three day schedule with one teacher for the 2002-2003 school year would cost the district $58,000, including the cost of a substitute teacher one day per week.

An all-day every day program in addition to a three day program in the 2002-03 school year will cost the district $57,000. Salaries will be $76,000 for 1.6 teachers, and that amount would be reduced by the $18,900 that would be collected in fees, based on 21 students. The new program results in a cost savings of $993 to the district based on 21 students.

The board set a maximum of 22 students in the all-day, every day class. If that number is reached, the district will save an additional $900 for a savings of $1,893. The administration will decide how to handle situations that may arise, such as parents changing their minds in the course of the school year.

Parents opting for the all-day every day program will be charged $900 a year. They will be eligible for a K-12 education credit for the entire amount and can obtain zero-interest loans.

The first year of offering both an every day program and a three day program will be evaluated at the end of the year.

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