Despite emotional pleas from Daniel Boone School District residents about the merits of full day kindergarten, the board did not vote on March 9 to restore the full-day program.
“The board has received a lot of public backlash due to Mrs. Torchia’s kindergarten presentation [at the Curriculum and Instruction Committee meeting],” said Board President Richard Martino.
“Board members didn’t know about the presentation. We don’t want to rush into that — or the building closure. Three weeks isn’t sufficient time” to make a decision and implement the changes.
“Her statement that there is no cost to the district [for a full day program] is wrong,” said Martino, adding that any savings the district realizes from teacher furloughs and retirements should be applied to the district’s current $2 million retirement cost.
Finance Committee Chairman Andrew Basile said the district gained $444,000 when full-day kindergarten was reduced to a half-day program in 2011-12.
Beverly Albright, Douglassville, said the discussion of a building closure on Feb. 23 “was thrown out as a smoke screen to full day kindergarten.”
Albright encouraged the board to vote for full day kindergarten.
“We need something positive in the newspaper — to bring people here,” said Albright, adding that a strong kindergarten foundation prevents special education.
“Mrs. Torchia hurried the presentation because she realized it could be done this year,” said Albright.
Jennifer Harding, Douglassville, said the school district needs full-day kindergarten.
“We need it to bring the kids back — bring the young families in to spend money here — and bring the businesses here,” said Harding.
“It’s important to people to have full-day and from a community perspective it makes the community more attractive,” said Rebecca Dowell, Douglassville, adding, “We want the school district to be a place where people want to be, not where they want to exit.”
Martino said the state doesn’t mandate public school districts to provide full day or half day kindergarten.
“One-and-a-half years ago, we had a $3.5 million deficit, and we were considering eliminating sports, music, kindergarten, some educational programs, and increasing taxes to the index.”
“The board has managed to keep all of that,” said Martino, adding that the district’s debt is currently $88 million with an anticipated $120 million in interest payments.
He said full-day kindergarten should have been presented months ago, not three weeks before kindergarten registration.
“We all think full-day kindergarten is a good thing,” said board member Tamara D. Twardowski, adding, “but we’re trying to balance the needs of all students. No one is sitting here saying it is bad. If we can bring back full-day and keep it without losing music, sports, or educational programs, that is great.”
“The timing wasn’t right – before kindergarten registration – but it could be ready in two to three years,” said Twardowski.
Board member Brian Doty said he would like full-day kindergarten to be a permanent Daniel Boone program.
Board member Connor Kurtz agreed, adding that there needs to be much more board discussion followed by a well-developed plan.
