Chippewa Valley Schools to Offer Only All-Day Kindergarten in 2012-13

The rules of kindergarten have changed in Chippewa Valley Schools.

Joining the statewide shift away from half-day kindergarten, the board of education voted Monday night to implement all-day, every day kindergarten at all district elementary schools starting in the 2012-13 school year.

"It is what's best for kids," said George Sobah, board president. "We need to move on to that. (Trustee Andrew Patzert) has spoken on the educational value (of all-day kindergarten) and doing what's right for our students. I feel the exact same way. I think it's exciting. I think it's going to make a difference."

With the state legislature recently tying per-pupil funding to the actual number of hours a student is in school, districts such as Chippewa stand to lose several million dollars by having kindergarten programs remain half-day.

"The economics are inevitable," said Trustee Euel Kinsey. "We have to do it because it's better to lose $1.8 million than $3.6 million. What choice do we have? Our fate is sealed."

Assistant Superintendent for Business & Operations Scott Sederlund said the cost of implementing all-day kindergarten was taken into account when creating the district's budgets through 2013-14 and Chippewa is financially prepared to adopt the full-day program. 

Some $2,080,000 was budgeted to make the transition to all-day kindergarten in 2012-13, but recent assessments put the actual cost in the realm of $1.7-1.8 million, Sederlund said. This added cost will not force the district to deficit spend–at least in the short-term.

Executive Director of Elementary Education Sue Grenier said she believes that on the whole, teachers will support this move.

"Although we haven't polled them, I think our teachers are very excited about it," Grenier said. "They're conscious of the developmental needs of the kids. It's not going to be work, work, work. There will be resting periods ... active times, but it's the pace."

As Gov. Rick Snyder and state legislators push schools to ensure students are college and career ready, Grenier has noticed "we're really going to need to beef it up in K-1-2." With greater curriculum demands at all levels, all-day kindergarten could be a step in the right direction.

"Based on a study done by administration, it was determined that due to increased academic standards in the kindergarten curriculum, coupled with the positive outcomes of an all-day program as determined in research, it is in the interest of our students to implement such a program," read the rationale of the motion proposing the full-day program.

The board, with the exception of the absent Patzert, voted unanimously to implement all-day, every day kindergarten at all 12 district elementary schools.

Grenier could not speak on exactly what steps the district will have to take to prepare for this transition, but did say additional hiring could be expected.

Kindergarten registration will take place on March 14-15 for resident students, and will be offered to school of choice students living in Macomb County later this spring. Parents can call their neighborhood schools for more information or the Office of School and Community Relations at 586-723-2240.

passed a similar motion to Chippewa Valley at its own school board meeting Monday night. L'Anse Creuse Public Schools will also move to only all-day kindergarten next school year, while New Haven Community Schools will continue offering all-day programs, but add full-time kindergarten teachers to every class.