Post by Chris_Wendt on Mar 27, 2012 5:32:29 GMT -5
As noted in the thread about the Top Ten Passed BAC Recommendations, there were THREE (3) separate recommendations passed concerning full-day kindergarten in Wantagh.
One of these proposals, the top vote-getter among the three, called for the district to step-up and claim the $640,000 in state aid available for this coming budget year, and actually implement full-day kindergarten in September. This is certainly do-able. This recommendation, Number F-2, was ranked tied for fourth among all recommendations passed by the BAC.
The second and third of the 3 full-day K recommendations, Numbers 4 & 5, were ranked in a tie for 6th place among all passed recommendations.
Number 4 called for the Board of Education to support full-day kindergarten, from which the Board should infer, implement it, or schedule the implementation with a date certain for the near future.
Recommendation Number 5 called for a feasibility study be undertaken for the implementation of full-day kindergarten. This recommendation speaks for itself, and if the Board decides to do a feasibility study, it would relive them of the inconvenience of having to decide about full-day kindergarten, one way or the other, at least for the time being. Of course, there would still be that other inconvenient matter of the $640,000 of state aid that is available to Wantagh, right now, which could evaporate in the future.
Curiously, Recommendation Number 6, also passed by the BAC, calls on the Board to conduct a study of the "Princeton Plan" model for the three elementary schools. Implementing some version of the Princeton Plan could reduce the future sustainment cost for full-day kindergarten, and could certainly lead toward the eventual implementation of a Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program in Wantagh.
The danger of the Board of Education ignoring these recommendations concerning full-day K, (plus UPK), and the Princeton Plan is in the combined situations of declining enrollment and fiscal pressure. If nothing is done to balance school enrollments and expand the capacity utilization of Mandalay, then some day in the foreseeable future, despite all claims and posturing to the contrary, the Board would have to close either Mandalay or Forest Lake in order to meet legal spending and tax limitations.
I am not suggesting the Board will ignore these recommendations. Certainly, Dr. Bonuso told the BAC, with three Board Members present, that the BAC recommendations would be used to guide the development of the final budget. We certainly should take the Superintendent at his word about that.
(Hperlink to BAC Recommendations thread - Click!)
Hopeful,
Chris Wendt
One of these proposals, the top vote-getter among the three, called for the district to step-up and claim the $640,000 in state aid available for this coming budget year, and actually implement full-day kindergarten in September. This is certainly do-able. This recommendation, Number F-2, was ranked tied for fourth among all recommendations passed by the BAC.
The second and third of the 3 full-day K recommendations, Numbers 4 & 5, were ranked in a tie for 6th place among all passed recommendations.
Number 4 called for the Board of Education to support full-day kindergarten, from which the Board should infer, implement it, or schedule the implementation with a date certain for the near future.
Recommendation Number 5 called for a feasibility study be undertaken for the implementation of full-day kindergarten. This recommendation speaks for itself, and if the Board decides to do a feasibility study, it would relive them of the inconvenience of having to decide about full-day kindergarten, one way or the other, at least for the time being. Of course, there would still be that other inconvenient matter of the $640,000 of state aid that is available to Wantagh, right now, which could evaporate in the future.
Curiously, Recommendation Number 6, also passed by the BAC, calls on the Board to conduct a study of the "Princeton Plan" model for the three elementary schools. Implementing some version of the Princeton Plan could reduce the future sustainment cost for full-day kindergarten, and could certainly lead toward the eventual implementation of a Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program in Wantagh.
The danger of the Board of Education ignoring these recommendations concerning full-day K, (plus UPK), and the Princeton Plan is in the combined situations of declining enrollment and fiscal pressure. If nothing is done to balance school enrollments and expand the capacity utilization of Mandalay, then some day in the foreseeable future, despite all claims and posturing to the contrary, the Board would have to close either Mandalay or Forest Lake in order to meet legal spending and tax limitations.
I am not suggesting the Board will ignore these recommendations. Certainly, Dr. Bonuso told the BAC, with three Board Members present, that the BAC recommendations would be used to guide the development of the final budget. We certainly should take the Superintendent at his word about that.
(Hperlink to BAC Recommendations thread - Click!)
Hopeful,
Chris Wendt
