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Posted on Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 12:40 p.m.

Dexter schools to vote Monday on all-day kindergarten proposal

By Danielle Arndt

Dexter Community Schools will revisit a proposal to implement district-wide all-day kindergarten at tonight’s Board of Education meeting.

Saline Area Schools voted in favor of switching from a half-day program last week.

Dexter Superintendent Mary Marshall said all-day kindergarten would cost the district a total of about $450,000.

The schools would lose approximately $277,000 by discontinuing childcare service for half-day kindergarten pupils whose parents work. But Dexter would save about $75,000 by eliminating the bus runs in the middle of the day.

Dexter would need to hire the equivalent of one part-time and two full-time classroom teachers and one full-time special area teacher to conduct art, music and gym classes.

Marshall estimated hiring the three and a half educators would cost a total of $238,000 for salaries and benefits.

Tonight’s meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Creekside Intermediate School Media Center, 2615 Baker Road.

Staff reporter Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.

Comments

A Dexter Person

Sat, Jan 7, 2012 : 10:01 p.m.

Dexter will have to hire 2 1/2 teachers., how great is that if you are a teacher or a member of the teachers' union? What about the Childcare staff people who will get a cut in hours or lose their job entirely? Or the bus drivers who worked at mid-day? How many of these people has this decision impacted? Does the district really save when it's employees lose?

Beth

Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 3:49 p.m.

Ann Arbor has been strangely silent on this issue - any word on whether or not they're planning to expand to districtwide all-day K as well?

SemperFi

Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.

All day kindergarten is a great idea. Structure in childrens' lives doesn't make them automatrons, but it does give them extra time to socialize and learn to learn. It's not a crime for kids to be away from their parents for 6-7 hours a day. Use the time you have with them to inspire and direct them. I've seen too many stay at home children that get parked in front of the TV so mommy can get some work done. I suspect that the kids that can't handle K curriculum and have a hard time socializing probably haven't been to a quality preschool or aren't learning it at home. My wife and I both work(we have to, to make our family plan work) and our 2 children have been in day care since they were a few months old. They are now in high school and are in the top 10% academically, active in sports, have quality friends and are really good, loving kids. Let me reiterate my point; It's not about how much time you spend with them, it's about HOW you spend your time with them.

JustMyOpinion

Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 2:02 p.m.

All day Kindergarten sounds great for some kids who are languishing in childcare otherwise. I hope they naps, however, as its a long time for such small children to be at school

aamom

Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 8:06 p.m.

Kindergarten curriculum has changed so much since most adults went to school at 4 and 5 years old. This change in K curriculum and the all day Kindergarten at my kid's school is why I have held my kids back. I get flack from other parents who don't like older kids in the class, but I feel it is more developmentally appropriate. I check yearly with the teachers of my children to see if it has been problematic for them and they consistently say they wish more people would do it. They were ready for serious academics. They weren't needing to work on sitting, walking in a line, etc. like the other really little kids were. The teachers don't have time to teach that kind of thing anymore given all of the increased academic demands.

Linda Peck

Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 7:06 p.m.

It is a sad state of affairs, little children away from home and parents all day long.

SemperFi

Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 3:32 p.m.

Its a sadder state of affairs when the child is at home receiving no socialization skills and get most of their education from video programs.

JustMyOpinion

Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 2 p.m.

For many people, working as a parent is a necessity, not a choice.

a2person

Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 1:08 a.m.

Um. OK. I'll try again. Linda Peck, this seems like a deliberate attempt to incite a mommy war. Please don't.

jcj

Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 6:53 p.m.

A little better explanation of the cost would be helpful.Would cost about $238,000 for the teachers what is the other $212,000 paying for?

jcj

Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.

I did not know public schools were for profit businesses!

lefty3921

Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 7:21 p.m.

The other $200k is a loss in revenue. So they are saying that the cost for the teachers will go up by $238k PLUS there will be a $202k loss in revenue from not being able to charge for childcare.