Full Day Kindergarten and Redistricting

A parent sent me an email expressing concerns about the increase in class sizes K-5 throughout our district should a proposal for full day kindergarten with redistricting be approved and funded. Here was my response:


Unfortunately there is no perfect solution - not enough classes, not enough funds, greater expectations, a wider lens of the competitive global educational environment.  Looking at all of the contributing factors, we have to work to make the best possible decision that will have the greatest educational impact.

You are correct, based on the projection in the presentation, we would be increasing the number of classrooms with overages by approximately 50% of present. We could solve some of that with the original sister school proposal, but that too has tradeoffs. That proposal allows us to more efficiently balance enrollment.  There are a number of hybrids from Dr. Thornton's original proposal - (clustering grades, leasing portable classrooms,  outside rentals, etc.) that will likely have some consideration.  A benefit to FDK is that there is a long-term budgetary savings in that fewer remedial resources are required for each student - so perhaps that will allow us to redirect funds to solve more of the identified issues moving forward.

Increased class sizes have been a result of declining revenue and population fluctuations where schools like Cumberland Hill are growing or elsewhere where changes vs. budget force squeezing more students into a class. Basically we've had the same bottom line number for the budget for five years. But within that budget there have been increased demands - like RTI requirements at all levels, increased accountability, and significant increases of tuition paid to charters. We've worked to realize funds and contain costs within our budget (like the structural savings in the ICSE healthcare piece and the elimination of buybacks (buybacks alone is an approximate $100K annual savings)) - that accumlated savings, however, is insufficient in order to build a better program.

Maybe the funding authority will see both FDK AND lower class sizes as a priority. I know when Chairman Mutter was on the council we worked with him to identify a means to "progress monitor" student achievement, hence the purchase of Aimsweb. It wasn't in the budget - it was added by then chairman of finance - now Chairman Mutter.

It's a tough balancing act - we are trying to be as fair as possible to all students while working to raise the achievement profile for every student. Everyone looks at this through a different lens - my high school parents appreciate the benefit of FDK but would prefer more electives at the high school.

I hopeful that in the end, it will be a solid solution along with the acceleration of the funding formula. It's so alarming to me that the RIDE is willing to shortchange students from a funding perspective on so many levels - and has acknowledged the funding gap. And built a seven year adjustment and called it a solution. Seriously?

The funding authority (both state and local) has the ability to help create a more competitive district. It has to have the will and the passion to do it.