All Day K

[wvhsparent]

bob said:

What I don't understand is why Vickers voted for it? She is against increasing cost like hiring more teachers. Her vote doesn't make sense with her political belief system.

It's a ploy on her part. Now she can say if they had enough room to expand K so they really did not need the extra room for HS.....

[Arch]

gumby said:

momof3 said:

Before Mr. Daeschner started his job I was concerned about the circumstances of his employment availability. I guess they call it "a non-renewed contract" instead of "getting fired" nowadays. Anyway, I am beginning to see why he lost his Kentucky job. It was certainly not voluntary - who wants to yank their kids out of high school and start over at age 64?
I am beginning to see now why it happened. Even if you are doing what you think is best, if you do it in a way that pi$$es off the parents and the teachers, that will spell trouble for you down the road.

We have a neighbor whose daughter is a teacher in the 204 school system. She was saying that Daeschner is rude and condescending and believes that school staff should unquestioningly follow along the lines of his opinions.

Sounds to me like he's also easy to manipulate..not being one for details.. All one has to do is get to him first with an 'obvious conclusion' presentation and your idea is in like flint.

[bob]

Supposedly, she wanted to hire a consultant to look at building functionality and capacity for ADK.

[casey]

archwinsome said:

Unfortunately that too is an uphill battle as it seems more and more the yummy mummies want to outsource parenting as much as possible so as to not interfere with yoga, coffee, shopping and pilates classes.

Curious, Arch, if you realize how politically incorrect your term "ymmy mummy" is? I, for one, take offense to your word choice. I would export more from you.

[bob]

or

www.yummymummysite.com/

Why is this not PC?

[gatordog]

bob said:

What I don't understand is why Vickers voted for it? She is against increasing cost like hiring more teachers. Her vote doesn't make sense with her political belief system.

I will assume she saw Dr D data on why it is so wonderful for each and every student.

Speaking of which...as somebody with a decision (in the future) to make, I plan on having a talk with my principal on why all day K would be best for my child. He can bring out this data for me. If the admin couldnt do this in broad public fashion, by golly they can do it at least for me personally then. And repeat for many other parents as well.

By the way, at our ES-Gombert-, the principle assured me that while rooms will be rearranged the art and music rooms will be retained. He also said class size will not incr due to this. All these statements apply for for next year at least...which i guess is the best one can guarantee. But our area is pretty stable, with no new construction.

[Arch]

casey said:

archwinsome said:

Unfortunately that too is an uphill battle as it seems more and more the yummy mummies want to outsource parenting as much as possible so as to not interfere with yoga, coffee, shopping and pilates classes.

Curious, Arch, if you realize how politically incorrect your term "ymmy mummy" is? I, for one, take offense to your word choice. I would export more from you.

It's not politically incorrect. I can think of terms that are, but this one is not.

[momto4]

www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=84731

Dist. 204 to offer full-day kindergarten
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald Staff

All elementary schools in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 will offer full-day kindergarten next fall.

But parents will still be able to send their children to a half-day kindergarten program at their home school as long as there are enough students interested to justify having a class.

The school board approved adding the all-day program with a 6-1 vote Monday with the stipulation that the district reserves the right to limit access to the program in future years if finances or space cause it to do so.

Georgetown, Gombert, Longwood and McCarty elementary schools have been testing an all-day program this fall for kindergarten students who are struggling. The new program will be open to all students.

"The research is absolutely clear," Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said. "One of the most positive things you can do is get kids started right and started early."

Board member Jeannette Clark was the lone opponent. While she said she supports the concept, she is concerned about schools having enough space for the program without harming other programs, such as art and music, or affecting class sizes at other grade levels. She said the district needs to take more time to work out the details of the program and get more input from parents.

"We're trying to do too much at one time and we don't have this whole thing flushed out yet so this can benefit all children," she said.

Several parents who addressed the board expressed similar concerns, as did Valerie Dranias, president of the teachers union.

But Daeschner said he has spoken to all 21 principals and each one said they have enough space in their buildings to accommodate the program.

Other board members like Alka Tyle said they saw no reason not to get the program started knowing the educational benefits it has provided in other districts. Tyle said she trusts the principals to know their schools well enough to determine how it will affect them. The district can make modifications to the program in future years if necessary, she said.

Originally, the district planned to offer half-day kindergarten only at select locations once the all-day program started. But after a suggestion from board member Curt Bradshaw, the board voted to continue to offer half-day kindergarten at all schools that have enough interest to ease some parental concerns.

Original cost estimates from Dave Holm, assistant superintendent for business, projected that the district will need to hire 61 new teachers at a cost of about $5 million a year in addition to just under $1 million in start-up costs. Because the district's attendance will increase, so will its state funding. State sources are expected to provide an additional $7 million a year starting the year after the program begins.

[Arch]

"The research is absolutely clear," Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said. "One of the most positive things you can do is get kids started right and started early."


That assumes this is 'right'.

[momof3]

bob said:

Supposedly, she wanted to hire a consultant to look at building functionality and capacity for ADK.

It was her idea to put 6th graders at the elementaries in order to avoid the 3rd HS. iirc she didn't attend a special session called to discuss that idea.

Now she is going to get serious about space issues?

[momof3]

casey said:

archwinsome said:

Unfortunately that too is an uphill battle as it seems more and more the yummy mummies want to outsource parenting as much as possible so as to not interfere with yoga, coffee, shopping and pilates classes.

Curious, Arch, if you realize how politically incorrect your term "ymmy mummy" is? I, for one, take offense to your word choice. I would export more from you.

Hey I watch that show...
health.discovery.com/convergence/yummymummy/about.html
Is it bad now or something?

[Arch]

In my opinion, if anything's offensive it's the notion of squashing one's own time for a child to a few slots on a day planner.

[momto4]

Just received this from the district -

At its meeting on November 26, the board of education approved offering
all-day kindergarten beginning next fall at each elementary school.
The district is currently piloting an all-day at-risk program at four of
its schools this year.

Earlier in November, administrators presented data from this year's
pilot program and research on how students respond both academically and
socially. Research shows that full-day kindergarten programs enhance a
student's self-confidence and independence. Children in full-day
kindergarten make significantly higher progress in learning and social skills.
Academically, there is a positive relationship between full-day
kindergarten and first grade academic performance.

The additional class time will provide opportunities for students who
need extra assistance, but it also allows enrichment time for students
who need to reach beyond the curriculum.

Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said the program will benefit all of
the district's kindergartners. "This is the most powerful thing we can
do to prepare our youngest learners for their educational journey. It's
a developmentally appropriate program that gives students the tools to
succeed academically and socially."

Frequently Asked Questions about all-day kindergarten are online at
ipsdweb.ipsd.org/News.aspx?id=16719

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

School District 204
www.ipsd.org
780 Shoreline Drive
Aurora, IL 60504
USA

[momto4]

Here is the FAQ provided at ipsdweb.ipsd.org/News.aspx?id=16719.

All-Day Kindergarten FAQ
Reported by [e-mail] on 11/27/07

How will the district find space for all-day kindergarten?
Every elementary principal has identified appropriate space for all-day kindergarten. Space for the program will be accommodated by utilizing buildings more efficiently and appropriately without negatively impacting our students' experience. The majority of the classrooms will come from moving reading intervention programs from regular classrooms to offices or partial classroom spaces. These smaller spaces are more appropriate given that most of a reading interventionist's work is performed in small groups of 3-4 students.

Will the art and music programs no longer have separate classrooms to make space for all-day kindergarten?
In rare cases, and as a last resort, either art or music instruction will move from a dedicated classroom to the stage or in a student classroom. We anticipate this to occur in only a few of our 21 schools and are confident that the students will continue to have a quality art and music experience.

How much will this cost taxpayers?
The program will actually create an additional revenue stream for the district. Funding for the program will come from state revenue, with start-up costs recovered within 3 years. The district anticipates receiving annually an additional $2 million in state funds above the cost of the program.

What will happen to class sizes?
The district is planning to hire additional teachers to provide an estimated district-wide pupil-to-teacher ratio range of 22 - 25 to 1. In approving this program, the board of education has stipulated that the program is conditional based on space and finances. In addition, the current teachers' contract restricts class size to 28 students in kindergarten through second grade and 30 students in third through fifth grade. Class sizes can't exceed these numbers.

How can I register my incoming kindergartner?
The district will provide pre-registration information to parents in February. At that time, parents will have the opportunity to enroll in either the current half-day program or the all-day program.

If I select half-day kindergarten, will my child attend the elementary school in my neighborhood?
The logistics of the half-day program will be driven by the number of students enrolled in half-day at each school. If there is enough interest at a neighborhood school to support a minimum class size, the half-day program will be offered at that school. If there are not enough students to support a half-day class at a neighborhood school, parents will have the option to enroll their student in the all-day program in their school or have their kindergartner attend a half-day program at another school.

[EagleDad]

archwinsome said:

Bingo...

Unfortunately that too is an uphill battle as it seems more and more the yummy mummies want to outsource parenting as much as possible so as to not interfere with yoga, coffee, shopping and pilates classes.

Actually, I find this offensive also. I would elect to send my child to All-day-K due to the increased exposure to structured learning and socialization at a very critical development age.

Arch, you send your kids to public school, and do not home school - does that mean you're shirking your parental duties and outsourcing parenting by not home-schooling?