By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
It’s official. A voluntary 4-year-old kindergarten program will start in the Burlington Area School District for the 2014-15 school year.
However, while the majority of the BASD School Board may support the program – for a variety of reasons – there remains a vocal minority that thinks the district is making the wrong move.
School Board members Roger Koldeway and Phil Ketterhagen were the only two of the seven on the board to vote for an amendment to the 4K proposal, and also the only two to vote against the proposal at Monday night’s general board meeting.
The approved 4K proposal will use a blended model of in-school assets and community pre-school assets to provide an optional 4K option to district residents. The estimated cost is a little more than $400,000 each year, with the district paying the entire amount out of pocket the first year and a portion out of pocket the second year.
By the 2017-18 school year, the district has estimated the bump in state aid (through enrollment going up) will be enough to not only cover the cost of 4K, but pull additional dollars into the district.
That prompted Ketterhagen to propose an amendment that would have committed the district to put 50 percent of any state aid received to reduce the tax levy starting in that 2017-18 school year.
“This is a win-win compromise for everyone,” Ketterhagen said. “We get the educational need of our 4K taken care of, and we’re informing the taxpayer they’re going to win on this deal.
“The first two years, the taxpayers are footing the difference.”
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
It’s official. A voluntary 4-year-old kindergarten program will start in the Burlington Area School District for the 2014-15 school year.
However, while the majority of the BASD School Board may support the program – for a variety of reasons – there remains a vocal minority that thinks the district is making the wrong move.
School Board members Roger Koldeway and Phil Ketterhagen were the only two of the seven on the board to vote for an amendment to the 4K proposal, and also the only two to vote against the proposal at Monday night’s general board meeting.
The approved 4K proposal will use a blended model of in-school assets and community pre-school assets to provide an optional 4K option to district residents. The estimated cost is a little more than $400,000 each year, with the district paying the entire amount out of pocket the first year and a portion out of pocket the second year.
By the 2017-18 school year, the district has estimated the bump in state aid (through enrollment going up) will be enough to not only cover the cost of 4K, but pull additional dollars into the district.
That prompted Ketterhagen to propose an amendment that would have committed the district to put 50 percent of any state aid received to reduce the tax levy starting in that 2017-18 school year.
“This is a win-win compromise for everyone,” Ketterhagen said. “We get the educational need of our 4K taken care of, and we’re informing the taxpayer they’re going to win on this deal.
“The first two years, the taxpayers are footing the difference.”
Board balks
Koldeway called the amendment “interesting,” and then seconded it. After Ketterhagen offered his explanation, though, the rest of the board balked at the idea.
The first to do so was Larry Anderson, who said that Ketterhagen wasn’t looking at how the district had gone into its coffers to balance the budget – and how 4K was a chance to make some of that money back.
“The last few years, we’ve been losing enrollment,” said Anderson. “About 35 percent in our budget is in fixed costs.”
Because the district is functioning well below what it could levy in taxes, Anderson said that has contributed to the loss in the fund balance. 4K, he said, is a way to gain some of those funds back.
When Ketterhagen then asked if the reason for approving 4K wasn’t for student achievement, but for additional state aid, Anderson said it was a “secondary concern.”
“I think that’s why 93 percent of the districts have done it,” Anderson said. “We have to get the enrollment back up, one way or another, or we’re going to have to hit the taxpayers.”
Koldeway responded by saying that, looking at it that way, the main reason for approving 4K was for additional state aid – not for the perceived gains in student achievement.
“Using that logic, start an all-day 4K. Start 3-year-old kindergarten,” Koldeway said. “That logic really doesn’t work.”
Anderson then fired back, “Your purpose is to run the district,” to which Koldeway started with, “I’m not the one who…” before the two began talking over each other.
That de-evolved into a heated argument about the district’s budget process – an argument that started with the 4K amendment and then digressed into the general budget practices and also how the district funds post-employment benefits.
The two talked over each other – and also Board President David Thompson when he tried to rein them in. The discussion eventually turned back to 4K.
Ironically, with the post-employment benefits issue having been raised by Koldeway several times now, Smet said Tuesday that an open meeting would be scheduled in the near future to discuss the district’s financial commitment to those costs.
Back on track
Once the argument wound its way out, though, board member Jim Bousman stepped up and said that tax relief was an admirable goal, but future boards should address that.
Anderson added, “I’m just saying, let’s not commit us to Hari Kari three years down the road.”
Thompson pointed out that any money received over and above costs would go to offsetting costs elsewhere. Koldeway then ripped the district for spending the extra money it receives at each juncture – pointing to this year’s budget process (with additional state aid) and the fact the district spent the additional money it got.
“(You) have to admit there is a history” of the board spending additional funds as they were received, Koldeway answered.
Bill Campbell then pointed out that the district also has a history of under-levying.
“We’ve been sitting here going way under it, year after year after year,” Campbell said.
The question was finally called, and the amendment voted down.
When time came for discussion on the actual program, Koldeway said he had been “on the fence” about 4K, and looking for proof.
“All I saw was the same thing coming from the state,” Koldeway said, adding that the entire committee was for a 4-year-old kindergarten as well.
Koldeway added that the studies he saw had either old or exaggerated information, and there was no proof that starting children younger would help – and that with a large portion of children in Burlington already attending preschool, it was also unnecessary.
As for the students that are not already enrolled, Koldeway said it didn’t make sense to start a program just for them, and added that with a very giving community, volunteers could address students in need, singling out English as a second language classes.
“I think it’s financially irresponsible … and it doesn’t have any proof,” he said.
Board member Rosanne Hahn, who attended the Wisconsin Association of School Board convention last week, said she talked to as many delegates as she could – and no one was against 4K. She admitted those delegates cautioned her that the program would take some time to show growth, but that it was worth it. Those districts, she said, also saw an enrollment bump.
After another brief discussion of about the perceived benefits of 4K – this time between Bousman and Koldeway – the vote was called.
Koldeway called the amendment “interesting,” and then seconded it. After Ketterhagen offered his explanation, though, the rest of the board balked at the idea.
The first to do so was Larry Anderson, who said that Ketterhagen wasn’t looking at how the district had gone into its coffers to balance the budget – and how 4K was a chance to make some of that money back.
“The last few years, we’ve been losing enrollment,” said Anderson. “About 35 percent in our budget is in fixed costs.”
Because the district is functioning well below what it could levy in taxes, Anderson said that has contributed to the loss in the fund balance. 4K, he said, is a way to gain some of those funds back.
When Ketterhagen then asked if the reason for approving 4K wasn’t for student achievement, but for additional state aid, Anderson said it was a “secondary concern.”
“I think that’s why 93 percent of the districts have done it,” Anderson said. “We have to get the enrollment back up, one way or another, or we’re going to have to hit the taxpayers.”
Koldeway responded by saying that, looking at it that way, the main reason for approving 4K was for additional state aid – not for the perceived gains in student achievement.
“Using that logic, start an all-day 4K. Start 3-year-old kindergarten,” Koldeway said. “That logic really doesn’t work.”
Anderson then fired back, “Your purpose is to run the district,” to which Koldeway started with, “I’m not the one who…” before the two began talking over each other.
That evolved into a heated argument about the district’s budget process – an argument that started with the 4K amendment and then digressed into the general budget practices and also how the district funds post-employment benefits.
The two talked over each other – and also Board President David Thompson when he tried to rein them in. The discussion eventually turned back to 4K.
Ironically, with the post-employment benefits issue having been raised by Koldeway several times now, Smet said Tuesday that an open meeting would be scheduled in the near future to discuss the district’s financial commitment to those costs.
Back on track
Once the argument wound its way out, though, board member Jim Bousman stepped up and said that tax relief was an admirable goal, but future boards should address that.
Anderson added, “I’m just saying, let’s not commit us to Hari Kari three years down the road.”
Thompson pointed out that any money received over and above costs would go to offsetting costs elsewhere. Koldeway then ripped the district for spending the extra money it receives at each juncture – pointing to this year’s budget process (with additional state aid) and the fact the district spent the additional money it got.
“(You) have to admit there is a history” of the board spending additional funds as they were received, Koldeway answered.
Bill Campbell then pointed out that the district also has a history of under-levying.
“We’ve been sitting here going way under it, year after year after year,” Campbell said.
The question was finally called, and the amendment voted down.
When time came for discussion on the actual program, Koldeway said he had been “on the fence” about 4K, and looking for proof.
“All I saw was the same thing coming from the state,” Koldeway said, adding that the entire committee was for a 4-year-old kindergarten as well.
Koldeway added that the studies he saw had either old or exaggerated information, and there was no proof that starting children younger would help – and that with a large portion of children in Burlington already attending preschool, it was also unnecessary.
As for the students that are not already enrolled, Koldeway said it didn’t make sense to start a program just for them, and added that with a very giving community, volunteers could address students in need, singling out English as a second language classes.
“I think it’s financially irresponsible … and it doesn’t have any proof,” he said.
Board member Rosanne Hahn, who attended the Wisconsin Association of School Board convention last week, said she talked to as many delegates as she could – and no one was against 4K. She admitted those delegates cautioned her that the program would take some time to show growth, but that it was worth it. Those districts, she said, also saw an enrollment bump.
After another brief discussion of about the perceived benefits of 4K – this time between Bousman and Koldeway – the vote was called.
-
-
-
-
-