Gilroy
– A divided school board took the first step toward implementing
all-day kindergarten districtwide when board members passed a
motion to establish the program within 10 years. The decision came
despite pleas from the Gilroy Teachers Association and board member
Rhoda Bress to wait until further da
ta was available.
Gilroy – A divided school board took the first step toward implementing all-day kindergarten districtwide when board members passed a motion to establish the program within 10 years. The decision came despite pleas from the Gilroy Teachers Association and board member Rhoda Bress to wait until further data was available.
“I think the decision was fiscally irresponsible, premature, and based solely on emotion,” said GTA president Michelle Nelson. “I think the taxpayers of this city need to sit up and take notice.”
Nelson questioned the board’s decision citing budget constraints, and accused the district of stretching resources too thin.
“I wish they’d take care of what’s on the plate first before adding more,” she said rattling off projects GUSD already has under way, such as building the new Christopher School, finishing construction at Gilroy High School, and replacing the Jordan portables.
“Don’t just assume the money is going to come from somewhere,” she said.
At the meeting, Nelson informed board members that the GTA would not file an unfair labor claim if they voted for an all day program at Eliot. She requested two separate votes take place, one to implement all-day kindergarten at Eliot and another for a districtwide program.
“The conversation needs to go back to the teachers,” Nelson said urging the board to give teachers more time to review data supporting the change. “Don’t shut down the dialogue.”
Bress was the first to ask for a separate vote.
“I am prepared to vote on Eliot,” she said. “I am not prepared to vote on all day kindergarten in the district.”
Her concerns stemmed from limited financial resources, and inconclusive studies about the benefit of all-day kindergarten.
Data within the district showed improvement by all schools, except Las Animas, which already has a dual immersion full day program.
“The pie isn’t getting any bigger,” Bress said. “This is just a huge decision.”
Applause broke out from Nelson and a few GTA members in the back of the room after Bress listed her reservations.
However, the board opted to stay with the original wording, keeping it as a districtwide policy. Bress was the single vote against.
“This is more about a vision,” said board member David McRae. “I think it’s somewhat of a brave move. We know we’re going into it without a perfect solution.”
McRae supported the move to all-day kindergarten districtwide after hearing a presentation by the Rod Kelley teaching staff two weeks ago about their kindergarten program.
Last year, the staff at Rod Kelley waived their contract in order to implement a full-day kindergarten program at their school. They explained to board members the benefits to an all day program including an additional 97 minutes of instructional time with students, and expanded opportunities for enrichment activities.
“This allows arts back into the classroom,” McRae said. “Some of those things like dance and play are very educational at that age.”
He refused to let budget matters sway his decision.
“My concern is the students,” McRae said. “When you make a clear decision, now everyone knows what to plan for.”
Because the plan is spread over 10 years he was certain funding would not be an obstacle.
Board president T.J. Owens welcomed the challenge.
“I think this is the first step to a long journey,” he said. “It’s easy to talk about all the negative things that can happen. Let’s talk about the positive. It may be awhile … but I don’t think it’s wrong to say that this is the direction we’d like to move forward.”
The first wave of schools affected include Rod Kelley and Eliot School. Both will begin next year with full-day kindergarten programs. By 2009, Glen View, Las Animas and Rucker are scheduled to be phased in. By 2015, Luigi Aprea, Antonio Del Buono and El Roble should have full-day programs.
“We’re going to have to take this step by step, school by school,” said Superintendent Edwin Diaz. Timelines are very flexible, he said.
Schools with available facility space and the greatest need, such as Eliot, which operates with 90 percent of its students qualifying for the district’s free and reduced lunch program, are the first to undergo changes.
According to a rough estimate by the district, the cost to expand full-day kindergarten to all schools should run about $2 million. Currently, the cost is not part of the district’s Facilities Master Plan.
“You’re talking $1.8 million for the track (to be resurfaced this summer), in comparison to $2 million for the opportunity to provide additional time for instruction,” Diaz said punching his calculator. “We’re talking 270 more hours of instruction a year. That’s pretty significant.”
With the new policy in place, Diaz said the district will be applying for grants to help fund the expansion. The move towards full-day kindergarten is a nationwide trend.
Some kindergarten teachers had some reservations about a districtwide all day program.
“I would like extended day to be a consideration,” said Sharon Albert who teaches at Rucker School. She was confident her test scores rivaled that of Rod Kelley’s all–day program. “It’s not the quantity of time, but the quality of time that makes a difference,” she told the school board.
Donna Klein, a kindergarten teacher at Eliot, acknowledged the district will face financial constraints, but said the all–day program would benefit the students attending her school.
“I just think that kids that need more time should get more time,” she said. “We’ll have more time for enrichment, which we’ve been missing because of a push for state standards. … Those things that you would always hear (in a kindergarten classroom), the singing the dancing, those were thrown by the wayside.”
Klein noted that the change to full day will not be easy.
“It’s going to be really hard on the teachers,” she said. “A teacher wants to give 100 percent. A full day adds to what’s already on your plate.”
With a new direction set, teachers will be asked to help design the new models at each school, Superintendent Diaz said.
“I’m pleased with the direction – now the hard part comes,” Diaz said.
