Most kindergarteners in Clarkston will attend school as many hours as their big brothers and sisters next year.
The Board of Education unanimously approved a proposal Monday to implement a free, all-day every-day kindergarten at all seven of the district’s elementary schools beginning in September.
While parents will still have the traditional half-day option, at least for next year, the all-day program will serve as the base offering, and will be modeled after extended-day programs at Springfield Plains Elementary and Pine Knob Elementary.
An all-day program will look similar to the half-day kindergarten, but will allow more enrichment activities, more depth of lessons and more time for kids to develop physically and socially together, explained Deputy Superintendent David Reschke.
Reschke recommended, however, that a team of educators examine modifications to the curriculum and present proposed changes for approval by March.
‘Program features such as quiet time’nap time in some cases’recess, and developmentally appropriate specials such as physical education music and art should be defined and finalized as part of the overall curriculum,? he said.
Other recommendations included continuation of the Young Fives program and maintenance of class size provisions and classroom instructional aide time.
The midday bussing schedule is likely to be eliminated, leaving parents who choose a half-day option to provide their own transportation.
At a Nov. 10 school board meeting, officials reported about 65 percent of parents surveyed said they preferred a full-day program, but half-dozen parents voiced concerns to the contrary Monday.
‘I want to make sure we still have the half-day option,? Beth Walker told the board. ‘It’s a big jump to go from preschool three days a week to all day kindergarten, and I think if we’re going to have all-day kindergarten, we need to look at our preschools in the area and bump those up to four or five years.?
Tracy Cook agreed.
‘I think change is always good,? she said. ‘But I’m not sure in this case I would vote for five-year-olds going to school all day. (Reschke) talked about rest time or nap time, and, boy, that hits it right on the head. They’re still five.?
And, although Gail Bacon also attended in support of a continued half-day program, she voiced apprehension over plans to shuttle kindergarteners from their home school to a different elementary in the district if half-day enrollment is insufficient.
‘I feel I’m being asked to make a lot of concessions because I want my child to have time to still be a child,? she said. ‘If I have to go to a different school to have my half day option, I’m putting my child’who’s just five’on a bus and expecting (him) to sit at (his) home school while everybody gets off, and then be transported to a second school.?
Bacon said she feared tears and confusion from young children.
‘It leaves a lot of room for error,? she said. ‘I was a kindergarten teacher; I’m not sure if that’s developmentally appropriate at all.?
The district plans December distribution of parent information packets, with kindergarten registration beginning Jan. 7 and parent information sessions scheduled for the weeks following. Check Clarkston Community Schools district website at www.clarkston.k12.mi.us