Two full days or four half days for 4 year olds

By Holly Neumann

The Iola-Scandinavia School Board discussed possible changes to the 4-year-old kindergarten program during a committee meeting on Feb. 7.

Currently, students attend 4K two full days each week on a schedule of either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday.

Strengths of the current program include students exposed to encore activities, easier for parents, students ride the regular school bus routes and students become accusgomed to full-day routines.

Long days and long stretches between school days were seen as challenges.

Elementary Principal Stacey Wester and 4K teacher Claudine Fredy agree that a change is needed.

The proposed schedule would have students attending either four mornings or four afternoons, Monday through Thursday.

Reasons for proposed change

• Extension of learning is more dependable with four consecutive days of schooling/instruction, resulting in whole child growth and development.

• Half day programs hone in on core hours of instructions in an allotment of time that is developmentally appropriate for a child’s physical and cognitive development.

• Four half days better prepare the child for 5K as the child is practiced in attending school in succession versus intermittent days. The maintained weekday schedule physically prepares the child for success and a healthy development.

To obtain additional feedback, the district sent surveys to 64 families who are on the district’s census of upcoming students. At the time of the meeting 12 responses had been received.

While the majority of the input was positive from this group, some expressed concerns that full days are easier for working parents to accommodate, while half days are harder to make arrangements for a child before and after school.

One person preferred students only met two full days per week.

I-S elementary staff, including two 5K teachers, an educational assistant, encore teachers, Director of Special Education and an Early Childhood teacher, all gave positive feedback for proposed change.

Wester was going to look into the possibility of adding an Extended Learning Center (ELC) program as well. This would be free for 4K students and run by a paraprofessional.

“If students are attending the morning session, they can go to the after-ELC program in the afternoon and vice-versa for the afternoon students,” she said.

Regardless of what option the district chooses, there will be no staffing changes.

Additional costs for busing

With the addition of one mid-day route, transportation costs would go up about $10,000.

Kobussen Ltd, which provides busing services for the district, suggested the addition of two mid-day routes, one for dropping off kids and one for picking up kids, which would cost the district $20,000.

The district hopes to make a decision by March and is looking into all the possible options to give students the best learning experience.

This issue will be on the agenda for the next school board meeting to be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, in the elementary school library.