The big topic at the February 10 School Board meeting was the possible expansion of Rye City’s half-day kindergarten to full-day.

By Sarah Varney

The big topic at the February 10 School Board meeting was the possible expansion of Rye City’s half-day kindergarten to full-day.

Superintendent Dr. Frank Alvarez reported that both parents and teachers began raising the issue soon after the school year started. “In the past, most parents were opposed to the idea,” he noted.

An expanded day would focus on a “more relaxed atmosphere” and could help with the transition to first grade by increasing stamina for learning, the Superintendent said. He stated that the goal is not simply to provide additional hours of instruction to keep up with the Common Core curriculum.

The two models likely to be considered are for five full days with the addition of music and art for six additional hours, and a four-day model with a half-day on Thursday that would add 3.5 hours a week. Both models would include teaching assistants in the classrooms. Currently, kindergarteners have just two full days during the week and are dismissed at noon the remaining three days.

A stream of mothers and a pair of fathers stood at the microphone and spoke mostly in favor of the expansion. Molly Ness, an assistant professor of language and education at Fordham University and the mother of a 4-year-old, presented a pile of data supporting full-day kindergarten. “Follow the data” was her main message.

Several other parents, some recent converts to the full-day kindergarten camp, stressed that full-time additional assistance would be needed to make the change effective. “I love the program that we have, but I feel like the long day program is coming. It’s here. The only way to maintain that one-on-one attention is with a teaching aide,” said parent and Midland kindergarten teacher Melissa Pelletieri.

Osborn kindergarten teacher Dina Gelman echoed that sentiment. “The four additional hours would be used for social skills and creative play,” she said. But, she added, an aide or teaching assistant in the classroom would be essential. “The only way that I can see that we could do this is with a degreed teaching aide. The only way to preserve the integrity of the program is to have another body in the classroom.”

Those extra people need to be “top-tier”, said Beth Rigert, mother of four. “I don’t want to see us just sliding this under the door. It’s like my mother used to say ‘If you have the money, you can buy it, but if you don’t you can’t.’”

Several mothers, two in favor of full-day kindergarten and one against, gathered signatures and letters as part of organized presentations to the Board. Jennifer Neren collected some 50 supporting letters from parents at all three elementary schools over two days. Alyson Walsh, who is opposed to full-day kindergarten, presented a petition with 50 signatures in favor of maintaining the half-day program.

Bridget McGowan, mother of two, gathered 147 signatures in support of a full-day program. She addressed the difficulties that working mothers face with the current half-day schedule. “I’m all for the full-day kindergarten. I love spending time with my daughter and I’m lucky that I can bring my daughter to work with me when I have to. But I pay taxes in order for my child to go to school, not to be sitting with me at work,” she said.

While there is no official proposal for full-time kindergarten in front of the Board, and therefore no estimate on the cost of an expansion, Dr. Alvarez said that information on the feasibility of such a program would be offered at a future meeting.