By Tom Jordan
Determination to be made next May
In response to gathering public sentiment to extend the kindergarten day, the Rockville Centre School District began examining the possibility of introducing a full-day program for the 2001-2002 school year during the September 19 public work session.
PTA leaders and school board members are in agreement that an all-day, or extended-day, kindergarten program would help youngsters get a head start on their schooling. But, major obstacles regarding lack of space and cost would have to be solved before such a program could become reality, said Schools Superintendent, Dr. William Johnson.
The district took the first step in addressing those issues when Dr. Johnson presented data from a recently-concluded report concerning the utilization of space in each of the district's five elementary schools.
The report used projected enrollment information, provided by a demographic consultant, for each grade K through 5, including special education classes. In determining how many students are expected to be in each class, the district can anticipate how many classrooms will be needed. There are currently 11 'sections' or classes of half-day kindergarten throughout Rockville Centre schools; each occupying a classroom for one half of the day. If the program was extended to an entire day, twice the classrooms -- and support staff -- would be required.
The space utilization report is the first of what will be a five-installment study to examine the feasibility of instituting extended-day programs at Covert, Hewitt, Riverside, Watson and Wilson elementary schools.
"It's tight, but it can happen," Dr. Johnson concluded.
The plan would necessitate the reallocation of classes and programs at each school, but only Hewitt would require "extensive" work, Dr. Johnson said. Nineteen rooms are currently being used for regular instruction at Hewitt, and in order to accommodate four sections of all-day kindergartners, the demographer anticipated that 24 classrooms would be needed. Part of the reason that four sections would be needed, instead of the current three, is the assumption by the district that the approximately 10 children who attend private, all-day kindergarten, would attend Hewitt.
Next month, the report will focus on New York State's kindergarten standards. In November, kindergarten curriculum changes will be explored and, in December, the board will analyze staffing, transportation, program and other considerations. The report will conclude with a look at cost implications in January.
No determination will be made about extending the kindergarten day until May of 2001.
Suggested changes
- Covert (35 kindergarten students anticipated in '01-'02)
Would involve some reconstruction in the library area, creating a kindergarten room of approximately 800 square feet and a library of 1,200 square feet. Rooms 109 east and west would become one room and would accommodate the second section of kindergarten. The resource room would be moved to room 107A and ESL would be moved to 106A.
The district's maintenance crew is qualified to complete all of these projects.
- Hewitt (70 students in '01-'02)
Four sections of kindergarten would be required. Room 8, currently used for academic support, will become a regular classroom. Room 12B would become a resource room, and art and music would be moved to the auditorium. Two rooms on the second floor would be converted to classrooms and another would undergo extensive renovation. Bathrooms on that floor would also have to be renovated.
- Riverside (26 students in '01-'02)
The school can accommodate the necessary two sections at every level with all-day kindergarten. Except for the placement of a bathroom, little or no reconstruction of the building would be necessary.
- Watson (36 students in 2001-'02)
Some services would be reassigned to space created in the library. Guided reading services would become mobile, moving from room to room. Offices for guided reading / academic support staff will be created in the library, designated as rooms 104 A and B.
Wilson (64 students in 2001-'02)
With three rooms already being used for kindergarten, reconstruction of the facility would be minimal, requiring only the addition of a bathroom. A fourth kindergarten classroom would be created by moving art classes to room 1A.
Esther McKenna contributed to this story.
