Dist. 103 to review full-day program
Half-way through the year piloting a full-day kindergarten program, Lincolnshire-Prairie View District 103 now will review permanently offering the option starting the next school year.
If the board approves the program at its Jan. 14 meeting, open enrollment to join the full-day kindergarten would begin Feb. 15.
The idea to offer the program was first discussed in 2005 as part of the district's Vision 2010 long-range plan.
Selecting students to join the pilot program was done by lottery, and 22 students fill two full-day kindergarten classrooms. Twenty-four students were put on a waiting list.
Principal Christy Adler said the program allowed teachers to more fully explore subject areas. Students also can take advantage of art, music, daily physical education, computer, library and the learning center.
The school received informal feedback at school events and formal feedback from students and parents through an online survey. Among the survey findings, 91 percent said the program met or surpassed expectations thus far.
Adler said with a curriculum in place and available space, the pilot shows what the school could provide to 5 year olds.
The proposal plans seven classrooms that would accommodate between 18 and 20 students in each class.
Adler said the district would be required to still provide a half-day program. Depending on how many students request a half day, they would be spread out across full-day classrooms or clustered into one classroom.
Parents interested in the full-day kindergarten would pay a $500 deposit at registration that would apply toward the $2,500 tuition. Registration would close on May 16.
Superintendent Larry Fleming said a full-day kindergarten would be supported through tuition as the district does not receive the same dollars per child as other districts.
"It's not that we're trying to make money on this program. We're trying to pay for it," he said.
At the Dec. 10 meeting where the proposal was first presented, some board members questioned if the class size could be reduced to 16 students per class if space is feasible even if that may bring tuition higher than the proposed $2,500. Parents this year paid $3,500 tuition.
"Keeping class size low in this program makes sense," board president David Panitch said.
Board member Gary Yomtoob added that his concern is to see the users of the program bear the costs of the program rather than spread that to the base of taxpayers.
"I want to make sure whatever we charge fully covers the cost, all direct and in-direct costs," board member Gary Gordon said.