Survey: Parents Love the Idea of All-Day Kindergarten, But Not the Cost
Committee recommends bringing a full-day program to Valley View, but finding funding sources to take the burden off parents.
Valley View School District parents and community members are overwhelmingly in support of a plan to bring full-day kindergarten to the district. What they aren’t so happy about is a proposed $150 per month fee, according to survey findings presented by members of a committee tasked with exploring the logistics of making the program a reality.
In May, the district asked residents to complete a survey aimed at gauging community interest in all-day kindergarten. According to the committee, 2,259 people responded to the survey, with 85 percent saying it would be a good idea for Valley View to offer the program.
However, 66 percent said a $150 fee would be too pricey. That didn’t seem to come as a surprise to committee members, who shared research with the board of education Monday showing that most Illinois unit school districts that offer full-day kindergarten charge only a one-time registration fee, with just 12 percent imposing a monthly fee.
In the end, the committee’s recommendation to the board was twofold: That the district offer full-day kindergarten as an option for all students, and that it be more affordable or, if possible, available at no additional cost to parents.
Superintendent James Mitchem, presiding over his first board meeting since taking the reigns from retiring Superintendent Phillip Schoffstall, cited research showing that children who attend full-day kindergarten have an academic advantage over those who do not. The program could help close the achievement gap during the critical first few years of school, saving the district money on interventions for struggling students as they get older, Mitchem said.
“Obviously, the costs associated with this would be great,” Mitchem said. But the program would be part of Mitchem’s efforts to shift district resources toward grades K-3, helping students with achievement delays early on in their academic careers rather than later.
Committee members noted that the survey is just the first step in exploring all-day kindergarten. Next, the group will begin looking into logistics including finding a site equipped to handle a full-day program, staffing and funding.
Possibilities under consideration include housing the program at existing elementary campuses, creating an early childhood/kindergarten center or renting a local storefront. Funding options range from reallocating existing resources, pursuing grants or title funding and cutting costs by offering summer school online rather than in a classroom, according the committee.
“Clearly, we have a long way to go,” Mitchem said. “It’s really just an exploratory project at this point.”
Board members seemed to agree full-day kindergarten should be part of Valley View’s future.
“It’s definitely needed,” board member Liz Campbell said. Jim Curran, noting that he sent all three of his own children to all-day kindergarten, agreed.
“I think it’s worth it,” he said.
Board vice president Rick Gougis noted that, aside from academic benefits, full-day kindergarten could help single and working parents who struggle to find child care for students enrolled in a half-day program.
“What we do now is difficult,” he said. “I think that’s the driver for some of the enrollment numbers at [private kindergartens].”
Moving forward
The next step for the all-day kindergarten committee is to bring Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Gary Grizaffi on board to explore the costs associated with the program. The committee is also looking to recruit parents, community members and private school representatives to help continue its work.
If the district does add a full-day option, that doesn’t mean its current kindergarten program will disappear. In Illinois, school districts that offer full-day kindergarten must continue to offer a half-day program as an alternative for parents who do not wish to send their kindergartners to school full time.
Mitchem said while the committee’s goal is to launch full-day kindergarten at the end of next school year, it could take longer to get all the pieces in place for such a large undertaking.
“The sooner we get this in place, the better,” he said, noting the committee hopes to be able to present a plan for implementation to the board within the next 90 days.
Survey says
Here’s how residents responded to the full-day kindergarten survey:
1. Valley View School District is considering offering an all-day kindergarten program. Is this a good idea?
Yes: 85 percent; No: 15 percent
2. If interested, would you be willing to pay approximately $150 per month for your child to attend?
Yes: 34 percent; No: 66 percent
3. If you answered "No" to the previous question, is it due to:
Cost: 73 percent; Only want half-day option: 14 percent; Other: 13 percent
4. If the all-day kindergarten program is not offered at each school site, would you be willing to have your child transported to another school site at no cost to you?
Yes: 66 percent; No: 35 percent
5. Do you have a child who will enter kindergarten in:
- 2011-12: 16 percent
- 2012-13: 19 percent
- 2013-14: 15 percent
- 2014-15: 7 percent
- None: 46 percent
Lisa Salazar
7:49 am on Tuesday, July 12, 2011
With two children currently in the VVSD (one entering kindergarten this year) and one who will enter kindergarten in the 2016-17 school year, this is a hot topic for me. When I took this survey, I nearly fell off my chair at the proposed $150/month fee. While I understand that there will be significant expenses associated with implementing a full-day kindergarten program, I think it is the responsibility of the VVSD Board and Administration to take a closer look at the district finances and make appropriate cuts to find those funds BEFORE asking parents to pay $1200/year. Frankly, while I've been relatively satisfied with the education my eldest has received over the past five years, I don't feel it's a strong enough education to warrant what is essentially "tuition" for a full-day kindergarten program. I know what I pay in property taxes and don't feel I should have to pay a monthly tuition for public school.
Annie H.
2:18 pm on Tuesday, July 12, 2011
I agree, Lisa. Though I have older children in the district now, it sort of defeats the purpose of "public" education if we are paying $1200 a year for this kind of program. Isn't that what our taxes are for? As it is, we pay so much in other fees for a so-called public education...it's frustrating.
I do think this could really benefit kids, in terms of education, and parents in terms of work schedules and childcare. However, before it is launched, I sure hope they do the hard work to find alternate funding sources and/or cut in the budget where they can.
Lettuce
6:31 am on Thursday, July 14, 2011
I am still amazed that the state does not require kindergarten to be a full day for all students. And the extra $150 a month is insane. We already pay fees for our kids' "free" public education. My guess is that having kindergarteners more ready for first grade could actually SAVE the district money in the long run - with fewer kids requiring extra services and interventions to catch up with their peers.
dabrooklongtime
4:06 pm on Thursday, July 14, 2011
I'm shocked that $150 a month is such a crazy amount to parents. I spend far more thatn $1200 a year in daycare costs for the half a day my child is not in school, not to mention that daycare is not an investment toward my child's future, but being in a certified teacher's classroom is. Furthermore, half day kindergarten would still be offered and is a "free public" education. If people want more in a school two things have to happen: 1. additional fees for additional programming i.e. $150 a month for all day kindergarten 2. raise overall taxes. The fee would only cause financial strain on those who make the choice to send their child(ren) to all day kindergarten. An overall tax raise would effect people who won't profit from the program anyway. I stand corrected, there's always the third option 3. cut programs, teachers, staff, transportation, co-curriculars to "find" money so no one pays anything extra, but the program exists, however we lose other stuff. Seems to me asking for people who are gaining something from a program to help fund the program at a cost that is easily 1/5 of what would otherwise be spent in daycare is pretty reasonable.
Lisa Salazar
5:52 pm on Thursday, July 14, 2011
I could go on for hours about why I feel $150/month is a ridiculous fee for a public school kindergarten. As far as comparing $150/month to daycare fees, I get it. We are fortunate that my husband is able to be home with our children right now. When our oldest was in kindergarten, we chose to send him to a full-day kindergarten at a private school because it was cheaper than sending him to the public school and paying for daycare. We don't pay for daycare now, so the "fee vs. daycare" argument doesn't apply to our situation. I understand that there will be additional costs associated with implementing a full-day kindergarten program. I'm asking that the Board and District do a serious audit of the administrative positions in the district (as that is one of the key places that significant amounts of money are often spent, particularly in benefits and retirement) and other places where money can be cut. We elect school board members as our representatives and rely on them to be good stewards of our school funds. I fully believe there are places where cuts can be made that wouldn't negatively impact our students, and could create funding opportunities for the full-day kindergarten program.
Rhonda R
6:19 pm on Thursday, July 14, 2011
I'm sure newly crowned Superintendent Mitchem can find some change buried in the bloated administrator salaries...just a thought. And don't count on the school board members to do anything. Mitchem owns the board now, 5 to 2....
Gretchen M
2:19 am on Friday, July 15, 2011
So let me understand the comments of the first writers...$150/month is too much to pay for a student in all day kindergarten which Valley View School District is not required to provide. Lisa, Valley View's school board has cut the budget by $20 million in the past two years. Should there be a referendum to put to a vote to see if all of the taxpayers want to pay for all day kindergarten? I can tell you how the result of that one will turn out. People always want more when it doesn't come directly out of their own pocket. Some want all of the taxpayers to "foot the bill" to provide the building related costs and the personnel to provide all day kindergarten for their children, when the part which is truthfully appealing to them is free all day child care.
Gretchen M
2:21 am on Friday, July 15, 2011
So let me understand the comments of the first writers...$150/month is too much to pay for a student in all day kindergarten which Valley View School District is not required to provide. Lisa, Valley View's school board has cut the budget by $20 million in the past two years. Should there be a referendum to put to a vote to see if all of the taxpayers want to pay for all day kindergarten? I can tell you how the result of that one will turn out. People always want more when it doesn't come directly out of their own pocket. Some suggest that all of the taxpayers "foot the bill" to provide the building related costs and the personnel to provide all day kindergarten for their children, when the part which is truthfully appealing to them is free all day child care.
Ken
7:00 am on Friday, July 15, 2011
I'm just wondering where the money is going to come from to pay for all of these expenses (new teachers, building space, transportation, materials...) when the district is already short almost $8 MILLION that is owed to us by the state.
Rhonda R
9:41 am on Friday, July 15, 2011
Since the District has experienced delays in payment from the State for several years now, why not pass a budget excluding the $8 million payment? And skip the all day kindergarten (for now), until we can afford it.
They are currently working on the new budget, and it will be made available to the public in August (check vvsd.org for clarification).
Personally, I believe the board needs to cut $tens of million more. (just my opinion)
romeorobin
3:13 pm on Friday, July 15, 2011
I think that $150 / month is nothing compared to the costs of daycare. We are not fortunate enough to have a stay at home parent and consequently spend way more than that amount each year on daycare. I would not be apposed to spending that money if it is going to help my child in the long run. Our district, state, and nation trail far behind in education and at this point we should be willing to try alternate options to increase our scores.
Concerned Parent
5:38 pm on Friday, July 15, 2011
Your still going to have to pay for before & after school care. What are you going to do with the little kids from 7 - 9 am and from 3 pm - 5:30 pm? Suddenly put your kid from "no school" to 10 - 11 hours at the school. How about you foot the bill for your own childcare. Isn't $ 150 a month a steal in order for your child to get a great head start?
how big will the classes be? Where will the classroom space come from? How many new teachers will be hired? what programs will be cut to fund all day kindergarten? lets start with HS sports and invest the money in the little children.
Rhonda R
6:19 pm on Friday, July 15, 2011
Truth hurts, but lets look strictly at the numbers. To start an all-day kindergarten program will add more cost to the District. Unless the District is willing to cut in other areas of the budget, like HS sports, admin. salaries, etc. They will only be adding to the budget deficit.
How can we embrace any new program without considering the cost to taxpayers first? Will the $150/mth per parent cover the cost for extra teachers, aides, classroom supplies, etc?
I know all-day kindergarten sounds good, but lets look at the numbers first.
Rhonda R
6:29 pm on Friday, July 15, 2011
Maybe the committee and board have crunched the numbers already. If so, it would be nice to see that information included in the article. (for the number geeks like myself) :)
D.A.
9:36 am on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Ok...so u all are saying pay for your ChildCare....we also have to pay registration fees for the oyher children and the older they get the more expensive it gets. We have to pay book fees....THEY ONLY USE THE BOOKS...they turn them back in...do we get our money back? NO! Valley view nickles and dimes everyone for everything. It is ridiculous how much FREE PUBLIC SCHOOL is costing us a year already!!