In an attempt to benefit student education and the district’s budget, Oxford school officials are hoping to establish an all-day/alternate day (ADAD) program for kindergartners next fall.
School board members are expected to vote on it at their Tuesday, April 11 meeting.
In January, superintendent Virginia Brennan-Kyro formed a Kindergarten Committee, which consisted of elementary principals, kindergarten teachers and parents, to research the benefits of the ADAD program.
Oxford kindergartners currently attend half-day/everyday (HDED) sessions, but with ADAD, the students would be on a two-and-a-half day schedule, either a full day on Monday and Wednesday, or Tuesday and Thursday, and a half-day on Friday. Each child’s schedule would depend on where they live in the district.
Out of the 28 school districts in Oakland County, seven follow an ADAD program, including Brandon, Rochester, Holly, Huron Valley, Lake Orion, South Lyon and Walled Lake.
‘We said we’re not doing this here in Oxford if it’s not going to be in the best interest of the kids,? said Oxford’s Director of Curriculum Jim Schwarz at an informational meeting at Clear Lake Thursday night. ‘Regardless of the cost savings.?
Schwarz told the large group of parents that with the current HDED program, the cost to run school buses at noon five days a week throughout the district costs ‘a little in excess of $100,000.?
The ADAD schedule would only need noon transportation on Fridays.
Aside from the budget, though, the Kindergarten Committee found many other benefits ADAD offers by researching other schools who’ve adapted the program.
Principals Sue Hannant (Clear Lake) and Lydia Lopez Engel (Daniel Axford) were a part of the committee and traveled to Delta Kelly Elementary in Rochester to observe their four-year-old ADAD program.
‘We had some concerns, we had some questions, but we also knew we had to open up our minds because frankly, (we) didn’t know anything about it,? Engel said.
While at Delta Kelly, the committee had the opportunity to talk with kindergarten teachers about the program, see how the children worked throughout the day and also spoke with parents of ADAD students.
‘The parents were looking for a different option,? Engel said. ‘They were looking for childcare and for more of a full day program.?
The committee selected two parents from each Oxford elementary school for their next visits to Lake Orion’s Carpenter Elementary, who’s been using ADAD for 12 years, and the newly adapted progam at Pioneer Elementary in Holly.
While the committee was touring the schools, the school district sent a survey home to Oxford parents to find out what they would do if the program was offered.
Seventy-three percent wrote they were ‘very? or ‘somewhat likely? to keep their children in the program.
Hannant said the general consensus between teachers at all three schools was that none of them would go back to a traditional kindergarten program.
Those once skeptical Oxford parents, like Shari DuVoogd, said they left the schools with a change of heart.
‘I was one of the parents who (said) absolutely, 100 percent no way would I ever send my kids to the ADAD program,? she told parents at the meeting.
Being able to see the program up close and personal and talking to the teachers helped her change her opinion.
‘It is so key to have a teacher who has the time and is relaxed for the kids to learn the best,? she stressed.
Diane Lukas-Noe, a kindergarten teacher at Clear Lake, also said she had ‘reservations? about the program, but after visiting the schools agrees wholeheartedly that the longer day would be beneficial.
‘We move so much in Kindergarten, but it still isn’t enough time for these young ones,? she said.
By establishing a full day program, Engel said they noticed it gave teachers the flexibility to extend their lessons instead of rushing through it in three hours.
Teachers are also more apt to reach the benchmarks set forth by the state because of the longer schedule.
Some parents, however, were still worried that their kindergartner couldn’t physically and mentally handle a full day at school.
‘You might think your child can’t nap (with a full day), but (Delta Kelly) found out within the first few weeks that the kids didn’t even need a nap time,? Hannant said.
Other benefits of the ADAD programs at the other schools included an easier transition into first grade and, if necessary, the option of childcare on their off days.
For parents who work and cannot fit their schedules to the ADAD program, Oxford would offer a kindergarten enrichment program consisting of some math, writing and play time. It would be available for $20/half day and $35/full day with no midday transportation provided.
Engel said there will be a traditional kindergarten model held only at Lakeville Elementary for those parents who refuse to participate in the ADAD program, however, there will need to be a minimum of 24 students per class to operate.
Parents at the meeting were also concerned about how teachers professional development days, half days, holidays and snow days would effect their child’s education, but Schwarz reassured them officials are working on a calendar to fix that problem right now.
The only negatives the committee said they heard about ADAD at other schools was the parents lack of knowledge about the program.
‘Holly chose not to discuss anything with parents and just said they’re doing it,? Hannant said, which is why Oxford held the informational meetings.
Although she knows some parents may still be apprehensive about the program, committee parent Shari DuVoogd urges anyone with questions to contact her.
‘I’m excited about it and I think it’s going to be great,? she said.
Kindergarten registration begins April 27.