Kalispell schools to offer all-day kindergarten

The Kalispell School District will implement all-day, everyday kindergarten at its five elementary schools this fall, following the approval of the school board at its regular meeting Tuesday night.

Three trustees were absent from the meeting, but those present unanimously approved initiating all-day kindergarten next school year. District-wide there will be 14 kindergarten classes, most of which will have between 20 and 22 students.

Edgerton School will offer four kindergarten classes, one of which will be an integrated section for children who need extra care or attention.

Russell School and Hedges Elementary each will offer three kindergarten sections; Peterson and Elrod each will offer two.

Parents may choose to send their children for full- or half-day programs - or not at all, because kindergarten is optional in Montana. Half-day programs may benefit younger children or those not quite ready for full-day instruction.

But district officials anticipate many parents will choose the all-day option; in districts where full-day kindergarten already is available, very few parents opt to enroll their kindergartners in a half-day program.

"It will be interesting to see, but I would bet that at least half of them are enrolled in a full-day kindergarten program by Christmas," Superintendent Darlene Schottle said.

Kindergarten classes will be set up so mornings include core instructional components, including math, writing, reading, handwriting and phonics. Afternoon instruction will include those elements but will expand on core skills children learn in the morning.

"That's the time when we feel as a team where we'll reinforce, we'll enrich, we'll extend a lot of the basic skills," Edgerton Principal Darren Schlepp told the trustees. Schlepp has been part of a team that, since 2002, has investigated the possibility of initiating full-time kindergarten in the district.

To accommodate the expanded program, the district had to hire seven new kindergarten teachers. Trustees approved the new hires Tuesday night.

Also at Tuesday's meeting:

. The board approved a new, two-year contract with Kalispell Education Association, the local teachers' union. According to the agreement, union members' salaries will increase 4 percent in 2007-08 and 3.5 percent the following school year.

The contract also reduces the number of pupil instruction-related days from eight to seven in 2008-09, increases stipends for department heads, increases sick leave payout by five days and expands the use of bereavement leave. The contract allows teachers to exchange six sick days for one personal day one time during the school year.

Board members and union representatives who attended the negotiations agreed this year's discussions were more productive and cooperative than in years past.

. The board approved a two-year contract with Kalispell Tutors Federation. The agreement provides for a 3.5 percent salary increase each year.

. The board approved a two-year contract with the Maintenance Engineers Association. The agreement provides for a 4 percent salary increase next year and a 3.5 percent increase during the 2008-2009 school year.

. The board approved the 2007-08 transportation plan. The plan will, among other things, provide more bus-riding opportunities for students who live within three miles of their schools. It also provides for ride times under one hour.

County commissioners have to approve the plan before School District 5 can finalize contracts with its bus contractors. The district will present the plan at the commissioners' June 25 meeting.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com