MUSD’s free all-day kindergarten stays for next year

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Once again a packed room of parents, staff and community members came to Wednesday evening’s school board meeting. Most were there to hear the fate of all-day kindergarten.

In a 4-1 vote, with board member Lori Glenn voting no based on financial considerations and the number of cuts to art, p.e. and music, the MUSD governing board voted to maintain the district’s free all-day kindergarten program, directing staff to rescind all reduction in force notices for kindergarten teachers.

Prior to the vote, several teachers and parents spoke during the Call to the Public, to implore the board to consider the merits of all-day kindergarten.

Butterfield fifth grade teacher Elizabeth Zimpleman spoke for a free all-day program. “Ask yourselves what this community can afford for tuition.  If you abandon free all-day kindergarten, be prepared to see parents abandon the Maricopa educational system.”

Jeff Miller, a 20-year community resident, broached the concerns of some regarding not following through with the failed override intention of doing away with all-day kindergarten.  The original flyer stated that should the override fail, “full day kindergarten would be eliminated assuming it is not funded by the state.” Miller asked the board not to worry about the idea of false promises.  “Think about the children first,” he said.

Parent Jennifer Larsen acknowledged the benefits of a full day of kindergarten instruction provided free of charge. “If you charge us, it will really hurt those of us who do work or only have one parent working.”

Amanda Ball, a Butterfield Elementary kindergarten teacher and parent, encouraged the board to approve all-day kindergarten by citing research showing all-day kindergarten students score higher on standardized tests with greater academic achievement levels in math, reading and writing. “Parents will look to districts that have all-day programs,” Ball said. “If I don’t feel this district can offer that, I’m going to go somewhere else.” She added that charging tuition would separate “haves from have nots.”

Parent Marty McDonald termed all-day kindergarten “the best solution for this district and this community.”

Board member Carrie Vargas moved to approve all-day kindergarten, saying, with regard to the override’s failure and the demise of all-day kindergarten, “I have a difficult time believing this is the will of Maricopa. I have a hard time charging when unemployment and the foreclosure rate is so high.”

Tracy Davis, board member, added, “We have an obligation to give that boost to our kids,” noting that all-day had already been advertised as part of last month’s kindergarten roundup.

“I’m tired of Maricopians coming to this board and saying, like little spoiled kids that if you don’t give us what we want, we’ll take our kids out of Maricopa.  Then leave. This district will survive. You’re going to find the same problems in other districts,” said board member Tim White. “My vote is for it, but I don’t like the way you try to railroad the board.”

Regarding charging tuition for all-day kindergarten, that motion failed 5-0. Superintendent Jeff Kleck asked the board to consider that “a large group of students who need it the most are those who can’t afford it.”

Glenn added, “With 51 percent of our students on free and reduced, even $200 is taking food off the table and paying electricity.”

Official board acceptance of the district budget is not until June so, according to Kleck, there is still time to make adjustments and change considerations. “But it would be hard not to honor a verbal commitment to the community,” he said.

Governing board members unanimously approved the personnel schedule, including reduction in force of 21 positions.  Questions were raised about a foreign language instructor, a gifted program teacher and the volunteer coordinator, whose duties will fall on district office staff next year.

White expressed his concern regarding the elimination of the bus supervisor position. “Who is going to take the responsibility? Any violations on them, these buses are going to be shut down.” 

Business Director Aron Rausch indicated that district staff was working with the transportation director to make sure those duties are covered.

A fee schedule exhibit also received unanimous board approval. Kleck explained that the first priority was to establish the four classes of facility users. “The fee schedule is what we’re using now; two or three weeks from now we’ll come back with the new fee schedule.” During the Call to the Public, Nancy Smith thanked the district for asking nine different organizations to come in and work with them on the fee schedules.

Maricopa Unified School District’s next regularly scheduled governing board meeting is Wednesday, April 28.

Photo by Joyce Hollis