School district considers extending kindergarten, some upset

By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Oak Park Unified School District wants to extend kindergarten students’ day from four to five hours.

Kindergarten teachers and school board members appear to favor the move, but a small group of vocal parents aren’t convinced that all students need extra time in kindergarten.

The school district has been studying four models during special committee meetings with teachers, school board members and parents. The five-hour day would include a 45-minute lunch period and an extra 15 minutes of instruction.

School officials say extended day kindergarten classes will help youngsters meet state mandates for learning when they reach first and second grade.

"We have to begin with standards in kindergarten," said Oak Park Unified School District Superintendent Tony Knight. He explained that the longer day would allow children to have different kinds of learning experiences.

Shawna Driggs, whose daughter will be attending kindergarten at Brookside Elementary School in the fall, participated in last week’s committee meeting.

She suggested an alternate model for keeping one four-hour class at schools that have enough parental interest. Driggs said she knew about 10 Brookside families who support the idea.

The committee seems to have settled on a "step approach" for extending the school day. Knight and others said this model is a compromise. From September through winter break, kindergarten students would attend school from 8 a.m. to noon, or 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

After the break, youngsters would start school at the same start time, but the day would be extended to either 1:00 or 1:30 p.m. On Wednesdays, students would be picked up at 12:40, since elementary schools "bank time" for grade-level planning in the afternoons.

Brookside Elementary kindergarten teacher Barbie Lee said some children may feel left out when they find that extended day students are doing art and science projects that their class does not have time for.

But Driggs said other school districts have been able to successfully combine the two classroom models.

District Board Member Jan Iceland said some children still take naps in the afternoon, and the issue needed to be addressed. Another teacher mentioned that the time after lunch could be used for "reader’s workshop" which would allow for more restful lessons.

"The bottom line," said Driggs, is to allow parents the opportunity to choose."

In an earlier interview, Knight said, "My point is that we can spread the day out for these kids, make it more interesting and authentic, so the children have more time to explore, experiment and play," he said.

Knight added that he considers lunchtime an important part of a student’s day. He explained that students need that time for social and developmental growth.

Knight noted that half of the district’s kindergarten students attend the after-school program. "As a superintendent, I have to look at it," he said.

The extended day program will cost the district extra money. An aid will be hired at each school to rotate between kindergarten classes during language arts instruction. Yard supervision during lunch will also be increased.

Cindy Gortner, a Brookside parent who has been representing parents on the committee, requested that a districtwide survey be taken to determine whether there was a significant number of parents who prefer a shorter day for their kindergarten-aged youngsters.

But Knight said the decision could not be based on a vote from the community.

"We have to make an educational decision based on hearing many different points of view," he said.

The program will be presented to the district board of education on March 22. Parents who are in favor of keeping one four-hour class are encouraged to express their concerns at the meeting.