By Tom Jordan
The Rockville Centre Board of Education began its public discussions on the 2001-02 school budget last week by reviewing several proposals that would significantly change the way the district's elementary schools operate. The board has been considering extending the kindergarten program so that each of Rockville Centre's five elementary schools would house a full-day program since September. Other items on the agenda included foreign language instruction, additional math, writing and spelling programs, and a reallocation of Project GREAT.
The Feb. 6 public discussion drew an audience of approximately 75, most of whom were present to state their feelings about the proposed plan to extend the kindergarten program at a cost of $667,000 the first year and about $550,000 thereafter. Though the turnout was much greater than a typical school board meeting, responses were mixed for and against.
Throughout the five public presentations made by the board since September, which examined the expected impact of a full-day program, the number of people supporting the plan and those opposed has been nearly identical.
During the meeting, one resident questioned the overall benefit of extending the kindergarten day. How many things are more important than a full-day program at this point? We need the money for other things.
I started the year feeling the same way, responded Diane Condon. Except that my son is now doing a full day's work in two and a half hours.
Wendy Spelfogel and Randy Keady presented the board with a six-page memorandum in support of all-day kindergarten. That decades of research demonstrate the long-term, positive impact of quality early education is undeniable, they wrote. In view of this, we believe the trend in New York toward providing a full-day kindergarten program for children makes good sense. And we vigorously support the implementation of a full-day program in Rockville Centre.
Board member Keith Gaskell said there are several obstacles that could derail the implementation of all-day k. One is that we have one of the top performing districts in the county, in the state and in the country without it, he said. Two is the nearly $700,000 cost. Three, some feel that five-year-olds are too young for the rigors of sitting through six hours of instruction. Four, is a lack of space, which is the biggest obstacle.
The board introduced a space-utilization plan in September based on projected enrollment that would allow extended-day programs to be taught at Covert, Hewitt, Riverside, Watson and Wilson. The plan would necessitate the reallocation of classes and programs at each school, and additional teachers. There are currently 5.5 full-time equivalent instructors for kindergarten, and at least 12 would be needed to facilitate an all-day program.
Elementary school principals, Joanne Spencer of Hewitt, Tricia Bock of Riverside, Darren Raymar of Covert, Joan Waldman of Watson and Ann Peluso of Wilson each submitted detailed budget reports and answered questions from the board. Spencer requested a $51,930 budget, an increase of seven percent, for Hewitt, the largest school in the district with 478 students. Bock of Riverside, the smallest in the district, asked for a budget of $17,744, a jump of six percent. Raymar asked for a three percent increase to $25,822. Peluso requested the largest increase, 7.6 percent, while Waldman submitted a proposal with no increase.
At the next budget work session, scheduled for Feb. 13, the board will review the middle school, high school, music and athletics budgets. The last opportunity for the public to comment on the all-day k proposal before the board decides whether to include it in the budget is March 6.
