By Tracy Ouellette
Staff Writer
The Waterford Graded School Board members expressed differing opinions June 10 on the need for a 4-year-old kindergarten program in the district for the 2014-15 school year.
At the Policy/Curriculum Committee meeting, chairman Paul Beyerl questioned the effectiveness of 4K programs in general.
“Where is the documentation that shows these students benefit in the long term?” he asked.
Beyerl went on to say that from what he’s read, the benefits of 4K are relatively short-term with a “small bump” in performance that disappears over time.
Board member Dan Jensen echoed that sentiment, saying he didn’t think a district like Waterford is in dire need of such a program, which may be better suited to schools in the inner city.
“If our district was doing poorly, it might be different,” said Jensen.
Dawn Bleimehl, who was elected to the board in April, said 90 percent of schools in Wisconsin offer a 4K program and she would like to see Waterford move into the future.
“I think it might be an opportune time to look at this,” Bleimehl said, noting that state standards are becoming increasingly more rigorous, and citing newly adopted statewide testing measures.
Board member Doug Schwartz and President Bob Kastengren both said they are undecided about the need to start a 4K program in Waterford and asked for more information.
“I’m on the fence about this,” said Schwartz. “I can see the pros and cons of it. We’re going to have to allow more time for discussion.”
Schwartz suggested bringing in the 4K program coordinator from Muskego to talk to the board and answer questions. Bleimehl requested District Administrator Chris Joch also contact the Lake Geneva School District and ask if a representative would be willing to speak to the Waterford board.
The committee decided to table further discussion and action until next month’s meeting, when members would be able to meet with representatives from the other school districts and gather more information.
Another idea
Joch brought another option to the board during the meeting. He said there is funding available to build a Title I preschool for at-risk kids in the district instead of creating a 4K program.
Title I is a federal program that provides funds to support services for school districts and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children who are disadvantaged.
According to Joch, Trailside Elementary School qualifies for Title I funding since the poverty level is at 40 percent in that school. It’s also a high-performing school, said Joch.
Joch said there is about $120,000 in Title I money annually that could be used to start the preschool there, hire staff and teachers and provide transportation.
Board members questioned the feasibility of that idea and how the screening process would work because it would only be open to at-risk students.
Joch explained that administrators have screening templates available to help them set it up. Jensen wanted confirmation that the screening wouldn’t just be selecting kids from low-income homes. Joch assured him it wouldn’t.
The committee took no action on the Title I preschool, but left open the possibility.
-
-
-
-
-