The Kyrene School District governing board has voted to fund free all-day kindergarten in all 19 of its schools at a cost of approximately $2.5 million this year.
With major cuts to the education system, the state legislature will likely refuse to allocate about $34 million for full-day kindergarten state-wide beginning July 1 this year.
However, at a meeting Jan. 11, school administrators, parents and community members addressed the district board, most recommending that all-day kindergarten be funded to provide the best education to local students.
The board voted 3-2 to accept that recommendation.
“We are having this discussion because the legislature made the decision to eliminate funding for full-day kindergarten. That was an economic decision, but it wasn’t really an educational decision,” said Gina Taylor, an assistant superintendent for the district.
In all-day kindergarten, students get 1,032 hours of instruction versus 489 hours with half-day kindergarten, Taylor noted.
Currently, 99 percent of students enrolled in kindergarten are in all-day kindergarten; however the district also offers half-day kindergarten.
Local parent Jennifer Bowen, who recently moved back to the district so her kids could attend Kyrene schools, pleaded with the board to fund all-day kindergarten.
“I would like my daughter to be in full-day kindergarten,” Bowen said. “I don’t want her just sitting in Kids Club for half the day.”
Some, however, asked the board to delay its vote until the state releases official budget plans for education.
“Funding all-day kindergarten could prohibit Kyrene from implementing other programs, and could have additional ramifications on class size and teacher pay,” a local parent said.
“I ask that you delay your vote, until we actually know what kind of money we are working with.”
Karin Smith, chief financial and operations officer for Kyrene, presented financial predictions to the board, including a “potential enrollment impact survey” that asked parents what they would do if Kyrene did not provide all-day kindergarten.
Smith recommended that Kyrene fund all-day kindergarten in order to remain competitive with other surrounding districts and maintain enrollment rates.
“We do know that our neighboring districts are offering free all-day kindergarten,” she said.
“Because we are in the beginning of the registration cycle, we are asking you to consider this (free all-day kindergarten) this evening.”
Registration began Jan. 3 for Kyrene, and Smith said parents had already questioned whether the district would provide all-day kindergarten.
Parents will be able to visit Kyrene schools at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20 for kindergarten orientation, which Smith said was further reasoning for the board to make the decision early on.
Kyrene board members Bernadette Coggins and Beth Brizel voted against funding, though each expressed the importance of kindergarten to students.
Brizel said she was concerned with the impact of additional funding on other programs, teacher salaries and arts education.
A statement released after the Jan. 11 meeting by Dr. David Schauer, the district’s superintendent, supported the board’s vote.
“Full day kindergarten must be a top priority and funding needs to be provided while we advocate that the state legislature reinstate this funding as soon as possible,” Schauer said.
