Cliff Buchan
News EditorHeather Marxís son Taylor was a kindergarten student two years ago when Forest Lake Area Schools went with an all-day, alternating day format.
Faced by the prospect of sending another son, Alex, to a kindergarten program of the same design in the fall of 2004, Marx, a 10-year resident and mother of five children, says she and her husband Don will likely home-school the boy.
An estimated 620 kindergarten parents in ISD 831 may soon be faced with a similar decision for their kindergarten son or daughter.
The revival of the all-day, every-other-day kindergarten program surfaced earlier this year as a cost-cutting move for the district in the event the Nov. 4 operating levy vote would be defeated.
The public last month did not approve the five-year levy to raise $2 million a year to head-off budget cuts and program reductions. The levy ballot question lost by a sizeable 5121-3662 margin.
Handed that defeat, school administrators, with the backing of the school board, are moving ahead with plans to make budget adjustments. One of the changes is tied to the kindergarten program.
Under a plan now being studied, the current half-day, every day program would switch to an all-day, every-other-day program.
The district went with the latter program two years ago as part of a budget adjustment process.
But it was not popular and when the districtís 2001 operating levy won voter approval, the half-day, every-day kindergarten program was one of the first add backs to win support for the 2002-2003 school year.
New plans
In light of the levy defeat last month, Superintendent Lynn Steenblock says the district is moving ahead with its plans to reduce expenditures by $2 million for the 2004-2005 fiscal year.
ìWeíre implementing the cuts,î Steenblock said.
The all-day, alternating day program will save $265,000 in transportation costs by the elimination of one bus route each day, Steenblock says.
As part of the budget-cutting process, 25 teachers will also be eliminated. School officials have said another seven teachers would have to be cut at the elementary level if the kindergarten format is left as is.
As planning for the all-day, alternating day format continues, Steenblock said he has convened one meeting of the districtís kindergarten teaching staff to begin a program review and seek ideas on ìwhat can we do betterî to have a successful program.
Teachers will soon share ideas and he is planning a second meeting of the entire kindergarten staff to further review the all-day, alternating day format. A date for the second brain-storming session has not been set, he said.
One idea that is gaining favor, he said, is to offer the program on a pre-determined schedule that will eliminate the problems that existed two years ago.
The new idea is to designate students to attend school on either a Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thursday schedule with alternating Fridays. When the program was tried two years ago, students attended every other day on a straight schedule.
Bill Bresin, school board president, said the full board is slated to review the 2004-2005 budget in January.
ìWe are getting pressure not to do it, but we are moving ahead,î Bresin said of the kindergarten change. ìWe still have to make cuts next year.î
But Bresin said the board could be open to change. ìWe always have an open mind,î he said.
Parental woes
For Carol and Bob Gemuenden of Forest Lake, a program change for the fall of 2004 would mean a third family schedule change.
Two years ago their daughter Maddi, now in the second grade at Scandia Elementary, experienced the all-day, every other day program. Last year, daughter Megan was in the half-day, every-day program that was restarted.
The coupleís third daughter, Amanda, is slated to start school this fall. Kate, 2, is waiting her turn.
ìWe know itís not the best situation,î Carol Gemuenden said of the all-day, every other day format.
ìWe found the inconsistencies of the schedule to be the worst,î she said. ìThese initial years (in school) are so very important.î
Even with a predetermined schedule, Gemuenden said the young students wonít get the daily attention they now receive in the classroom. Illness can also create havoc with any schedule, she adds.
Gemuenden said she doesnít know the best solution for the school district but hopes the board will look at other avenues to achieve its required budget cuts.
What will Bob and Carol Gemuenden do if the program change comes to be? Carol Gemuenden says Amanda may well enroll at Scandia Elementary.
As a stay-at-home mom she says she will work with Amanda at home on her days away from school.
But the couple may consider other options. She is checking on the possibility of enrolling the youngster at St. Peterís Elementary School where the family attends church. St. Peterís offers an all-day, every-day kindergarten program.
ìYou have to keep your options open,î she says.
Heather Marx agrees and says she is adamant she will not put another child through the same system that Taylor experienced two years ago.
In the month of November two years ago, she said her son was in school a total of seven days.
Both Marx and Gemuenden believe the limited number of days in school for kindergarten students are not enough for the retention the kids need.
ìI donít agree with the program,î Marx said. ìThere is not enough repetition for kids.î
Both parents said time spent in pre-school this fall will be in excess of what they may get under the new program next fall.
ìMy son going to pre-school now receives more time than he would in this program,î Marx said.
Marx adds that the all-day, every-other-day program did little to help Taylor like school. The Forest View second-grader has adjusted now, Marx says, but it wasnít always that way.
ìTaylor hated kindergarten,î she says. ìHe hated school.î
Marx for one says she believes the district has the ability to find the funding to keep the kindergarten program as is next fall. She said she supported the levy proposal in November but is now finding herself wondering if the school is spending its dollars wisely.
ìItís not enough?î she asks of the districtís budget. ìThey should have enough money. I donít know why they donít.î
Cliff Buchan
News Editor
Heather Marxís son Taylor was a kindergarten student two years ago when Forest Lake Area Schools went with an all-day, alternating day format.
Faced by the prospect of sending another son, Alex, to a kindergarten program of the same design in the fall of 2004, Marx, a 10-year resident and mother of five children, says she and her husband Don will likely home-school the boy.
An estimated 620 kindergarten parents in ISD 831 may soon be faced with a similar decision for their kindergarten son or daughter.
The revival of the all-day, every-other-day kindergarten program surfaced earlier this year as a cost-cutting move for the district in the event the Nov. 4 operating levy vote would be defeated.
The public last month did not approve the five-year levy to raise $2 million a year to head-off budget cuts and program reductions. The levy ballot question lost by a sizeable 5121-3662 margin.
Handed that defeat, school administrators, with the backing of the school board, are moving ahead with plans to make budget adjustments. One of the changes is tied to the kindergarten program.
Under a plan now being studied, the current half-day, every day program would switch to an all-day, every-other-day program.
The district went with the latter program two years ago as part of a budget adjustment process.
But it was not popular and when the districtís 2001 operating levy won voter approval, the half-day, every-day kindergarten program was one of the first add backs to win support for the 2002-2003 school year.
New plans
In light of the levy defeat last month, Superintendent Lynn Steenblock says the district is moving ahead with its plans to reduce expenditures by $2 million for the 2004-2005 fiscal year.
ìWeíre implementing the cuts,î Steenblock said.
The all-day, alternating day program will save $265,000 in transportation costs by the elimination of one bus route each day, Steenblock says.
As part of the budget-cutting process, 25 teachers will also be eliminated. School officials have said another seven teachers would have to be cut at the elementary level if the kindergarten format is left as is.
As planning for the all-day, alternating day format continues, Steenblock said he has convened one meeting of the districtís kindergarten teaching staff to begin a program review and seek ideas on ìwhat can we do betterî to have a successful program.
Teachers will soon share ideas and he is planning a second meeting of the entire kindergarten staff to further review the all-day, alternating day format. A date for the second brain-storming session has not been set, he said.
One idea that is gaining favor, he said, is to offer the program on a pre-determined schedule that will eliminate the problems that existed two years ago.
The new idea is to designate students to attend school on either a Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thursday schedule with alternating Fridays. When the program was tried two years ago, students attended every other day on a straight schedule.
Bill Bresin, school board president, said the full board is slated to review the 2004-2005 budget in January.
ìWe are getting pressure not to do it, but we are moving ahead,î Bresin said of the kindergarten change. ìWe still have to make cuts next year.î
But Bresin said the board could be open to change. ìWe always have an open mind,î he said.
Parental woes
For Carol and Bob Gemuenden of Forest Lake, a program change for the fall of 2004 would mean a third family schedule change.
Two years ago their daughter Maddi, now in the second grade at Scandia Elementary, experienced the all-day, every other day program. Last year, daughter Megan was in the half-day, every-day program that was restarted.
The coupleís third daughter, Amanda, is slated to start school this fall. Kate, 2, is waiting her turn.
ìWe know itís not the best situation,î Carol Gemuenden said of the all-day, every other day format.
ìWe found the inconsistencies of the schedule to be the worst,î she said. ìThese initial years (in school) are so very important.î
Even with a predetermined schedule, Gemuenden said the young students wonít get the daily attention they now receive in the classroom. Illness can also create havoc with any schedule, she adds.
Gemuenden said she doesnít know the best solution for the school district but hopes the board will look at other avenues to achieve its required budget cuts.
What will Bob and Carol Gemuenden do if the program change comes to be? Carol Gemuenden says Amanda may well enroll at Scandia Elementary.
As a stay-at-home mom she says she will work with Amanda at home on her days away from school.
But the couple may consider other options. She is checking on the possibility of enrolling the youngster at St. Peterís Elementary School where the family attends church. St. Peterís offers an all-day, every-day kindergarten program.
ìYou have to keep your options open,î she says.
Heather Marx agrees and says she is adamant she will not put another child through the same system that Taylor experienced two years ago.
In the month of November two years ago, she said her son was in school a total of seven days.
Both Marx and Gemuenden believe the limited number of days in school for kindergarten students are not enough for the retention the kids need.
ìI donít agree with the program,î Marx said. ìThere is not enough repetition for kids.î
Both parents said time spent in pre-school this fall will be in excess of what they may get under the new program next fall.
ìMy son going to pre-school now receives more time than he would in this program,î Marx said.
Marx adds that the all-day, every-other-day program did little to help Taylor like school. The Forest View second-grader has adjusted now, Marx says, but it wasnít always that way.
ìTaylor hated kindergarten,î she says. ìHe hated school.î
Marx for one says she believes the district has the ability to find the funding to keep the kindergarten program as is next fall. She said she supported the levy proposal in November but is now finding herself wondering if the school is spending its dollars wisely.
ìItís not enough?î she asks of the districtís budget. ìThey should have enough money. I donít know why they donít.î
Top of Page
