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63 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, September 17, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 27, 2004 All-day kindergarten proposal put on hold By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Lisa Burt was not happy when she learned that her child’s all-day school program was tabled just 12 days before it was scheduled to begin. "I’m madder than hell and I’m writing a letter," said the mother of four. "I have to totally revamp what I had scheduled for my child." Burt is one of 11 parents who signed up to pay $500 a quarter so their children could attend all-day kindergarten at Griffin Creek Elementary School. Thursday’s decision by Medford School District officials came as a surprise to Griffin Creek Principal Ginny Hicks as well. "We’re disappointed to be letting it go," said Hicks. "Full-day kindergarten is good for all kids." Advertisement The Medford district last year began providing all-day instruction for kindergartners at seven elementary schools that serve students of low-income families. Federal Title 1 funds pay for the extended school day and test results show the kids excel with extra instruction. Schools such as Griffin Creek that don’t receive Title 1 money offer half-day kindergarten. This month Griffin Creek offered parents the option to pay for a teacher for the second half of the day. A similar program exists in Bend. Burt had enrolled her son Gentry, 5, in the full-day program. "Saying everyone cannot pay and we should take it away is reverse discrimination," said Burt. She said she’d rather see the school set up a scholarship fund so all children could go, rather than doing away with the entire program. "I think the better solution is to say, how can we help people who can’t afford it?" Superintendent Kathy McCollum said an editorial in Thursday’s Mail Tribune served as a catalyst for evaluating whether the program was appropriate for a public school system. The editorial stated that children whose parents don’t have money for full-day kindergarten tuition need just as good an education as the children of those who do. McCollum said when they first decided to go forth with the project, it was purely a financial decision. But after the editorial, the school officials called each other, questioning whether it was the right decision. "It caused me personally to take pause in the decision I’d made," she said. "As public educators, we need to be very sensitive to the haves and have-nots." The school board will discuss the issue during its Sept. 7 meeting. McCollum said the program may be an option for next quarter or next semester if concerns can be resolved. She said the state only reimburses for half-day kindergarten. "I wish very much that we could offer full-day kindergarten at all our schools," she said. Whether all-day kindergarten ranks high on the district’s list of needs will be part of the board’s discussion. "Even if we did have extra money in our school district, I’m not sure this is where we’d put it," said McCollum. School board Chairman Mike Moran said he likes the idea of all-day kindergarten, but not the Griffin Creek proposal as is. "I’m a little uncomfortable with us providing something that not everyone can take part in," he said. But "in order for us to provide it for everybody, it’s a large cost." Adequate school funding for all is the primary issue, said Moran. "The taxpayers need to look at this as it’s an obligation that they need to take more responsibility for." Share your views The Medford school board will review whether to provide all-day kindergarten for schools that do not have Title 1 funding at its next meeting, set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, in the South Medford High School cafeteria, 815 S. Oakdale Ave. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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