The Oak Park District 97 school board will vote, Feb. 27, on whether to launch full-day kindergarten programs in the fall at three elementary schools.
Dist. 97 administration believes that building capacity, curriculum, and community and staff support are in place to roll out full-day kindergarten at Beye, Irving and Longfellow schools this fall. In addition, the administration has concluded that the space necessary to launch the program district-wide in the fall of 2009 will be available at the remaining schools. Whittier already has a mixed-level, full-day program.
Space for the kindergarten program at the other schools was made available, administrators said, when sixth graders moved into the two middle schools.
Administrators added that transitioning to full-day K would allow for more instruction and activity time.
At last Wednesday’s regular school board meeting, Supt. Constance Collins said the full-day curriculum would allow students more hands-on science exploration. Kevin Anderson, Dist. 97 assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, added that the longer day would more fully prepare children for first grade. Children who have had good kindergarten experiences, he said, don’t drop out as often.
State funding is expected to cover full-time employees and materials by going from half day to full day.
Administrators have also discussed how to offer both half- and full-day K options to parents. According to state code, children are not required to attend school until the age of seven, so all kindergarten participation is optional. But the code does require that school districts with a full-day program offer a half-day option for families who want it. Anderson said the district won’t know for sure how many families are interested in each option until kindergarten registration in April.
Full-day kindergarten is an outgrowth of Dist. 97’s strategic plan, and requires approval from the school board before it’s implemented.
Technology budget
In other news, the board last week discussed whether to commit to a long-term increase in its technology budget, which has been declining. The board received a recommendation from Gary Sawtelle, Dist. 97 technology administrator, to increase the district’s technology budget and to hire an outside service provider to manage infrastructure.
The technology budget has declined 61 percent since 2000, Sawtelle said. As a result, the infrastructure can no longer handle the demand.
To improve infrastructure, Sawtelle explained that the district would need to spend just over $400,000 beyond the 2007-2008 technology budget of about $1 million. That figure reflects $93,000 in discounts from the federal government. It would also cover a managed-fiber infrastructure, and up to six new full-time staff. That figure, however, would not include weekend and holiday support, replacement costs, or emergency repair.
Sawtelle recommended hiring Palatine-based Net56, Inc., which would provide and monitor the district’s new fiber network at all times. The company would also cover replacement costs, provide e-mail archiving and disaster recovery solutions. No new district staff would be required.
Sawtelle suggested contracting Net56 immediately for five years. A new e-mail service would be online in March, he said, and the fiber network would likely be done by the fall.
Peter Barber wasn’t comfortable with a five-year commitment, even if the board ends up spending more money on technology. The board, he noted, does not allocate money that far in advance for other areas.
Vice President Carolyn Newberry Schwartz suggested that if the board guarantees the 2.5 percent commitment, technology expenditures must still be written and documented.
The board will vote on Feb. 27 whether to hire an outside service provider and if the district should allocate that percentage of the budget to technology.
