Cheshire Public Schools Feasibility Task Force Meeting May 30, 2013 Full Day Kindergarten Cheshire Public Schools Feasibility Task Force Meeting May 30, 2013

Agenda Welcome Why Full Day Kindergarten? Purpose of the Task Force Full Day Kindergarten Information Survey Results Enrollment and Space Issues Option #1 – 2014 - 2015 Funding Implications Plan Next Meeting

Full Day Kindergarten Task Force Members Courtney Barber-Devine, Parent Deborah Burns, K – 8 Curriculum Coordinator Scott Detrick, Assistant Superintendent Ann Donnery, Principal Darcey School Lynn Glynn, Kindergarten Teacher Lynn Goldaper, Kindergarten Teacher Jill Hale, Parent Cathy Hellreich, Board of Education Member Russ Hinckley, Principal Chapman School Kelly Lenz, School Community Coordinator Jeff Natale, Parent Kristen Pannone, Parent Kathy Rahn, Teacher Elissa Tessier, Parent

Why Full Day Kindergarten?

Kindergarten: The Need for Time Kindergarten is a critical year for all children – a year of transition from preschool programs or home to their first formal schooling. It marks the start of a child’s long-term K-12 experience in our schools. It is our first opportunity to get to know each child and begin to build important foundations to facilitate learning skills that will last a lifetime.  

Purpose of Feasibility Task Force To explore various methods/strategies for implementing full day kindergarten in the Cheshire Public Schools.    

Connecticut and Full Day Kindergarten 73 school districts; 7 Charter Schools and 11 Magnet Schools provide full-day kindergarten to all children.* 63% of Connecticut kindergartners are in full-time programs.* 40% more districts offer full day K than five years ago.* DRG B – Greenwich, West Hartford, Woodbridge, Glastonbury, Madison *October 11, 2011 SDE Kindergarten Enrollment

Cheshire Public Schools Kindergarten Survey

Survey Comparison 2013 2000 Please indicate all that best represents you: Answer Options Response Percent Parent 76% Non-Parent 24% Number of Cheshire Parents/Non-Parents Answer Options Response Percent Parent 99.2% Non-Parent 0.8%

Survey Comparison 2013 2000 What are the greatest strengths of the present kindergarten program at Darcey School? Mark three or N/A if you don't have an opinion. Answer Options Response Percent Class Size 31.9% Learning Environment 57.1% Teacher Qualification 41.9% What are the greatest strengths of the present kindergarten program? Mark three. Answer Options   Response Percent Learning Environment 16.3% Teacher Qualification 13.9% Reading/Writing/Speaking Curriculum 13.1%

Survey Comparison 2013 2000 What are the most prevailing issues that need to be addressed in the present kindergarten program at Darcey? Mark three or N/A if you don't have an opinion. Answer Options Response Percent Program Hours 54.9% Reading/Writing/Speaking Curriculum 20.4% Attention to Individual Needs/Strengths 16.6% What are the most prevailing issues that need to be addressed? Mark three. Answer Options   Response Percent Class Size 14.2% Reading/Writing/Speaking Curriculum 10.8% Attention to Individual Needs/Strengths 12.2%

Survey Comparison 2013 2000 How strongly do you feel that extending the kindergarten program hours would address these needs and concerns? Mark One. Answer Options   Response Percent Very Sure/Probably 51% Definitely Not/Probably Not 28% How strongly do you feel that extending the kindergarten program hours would address these needs and concerns? Mark one. Answer Options Response Percent Very Sure/Probably 77% Definitely Not/Probably Not 11%

Kindergarten Enrollment in Cheshire 2013 - 2016 Anticipated Enrollment Class Size Budg# A.I. Total 16 18 20 2013 – 2014 = 228 + 25* = 253 Full Day Classrooms Needed = 16 14 13 2014 – 2015 = 254 + 25* = 279 Full Day Classrooms Needed = 18 16 14 2015 – 2016 = 247 + 25* = 272 Full Day Classrooms Needed = 17 16 14 (*Saint Bridget’s Factor)

Classroom Space Availability 2014 - 2015 Darcey 9 existing classrooms Norton 3 reduce L.R./SPED spaces Doolittle 1 reduce L.R./SPED space Highland 3 reduce L.R./SPED spaces Chapman 3 2 open/reduce LST space Total 19

Classroom Space Availability/Capacity Estimated TOTAL – DRAFT Darcey -K 9 Birth to 3 3* Pre-school 3* Norton 25 Doolittle 30 Highland 41* Chapman 18 ______________________ Total 114* 124 130

A = Number of Students Enrolled Enrollment by Year A = Number of Students Enrolled B = Number of Classes 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 A B K 254 16 247 242 241 15 245 243 1 251 287 17 280 274 273 277 275 2 271 255 291 284 278 281 3 14 4 323 258 13 294 5 370 19 321 272 257 292 285 279 6 356 18 377 327 283 262 297 290 2011 114 2038 110 1947 107 1903 103 1904 1914 104 1937 1924 105

Option #1 – 2014 - 2015 Darcey -K 8 or 9 Birth to 3 3* Pre-school 3* Classrooms 1- 6 K Total Darcey Norton (25) 22 3 25 Doolittle (30) 29 1 or 0 30 4 or 5 Highland (41) 37 4 41 4 Chapman (18) 15 3*_____18________________ Total 103 11 114 122 128

Option #1 Summary 2014 - 2015 All Day Kindergarten in CPS: Norton K – 6 Chapman K – 6 Highland 1 – 6 Doolittle 1 – 6 Darcey – Kindergarten for Highland and Doolittle

Potential Funding Implications (Based on 16 Full Day Kindergarten Classrooms) 8 Classroom Teachers $560,000 8 Instructional Assistants $116,000 Furniture: Tables, Chairs, etc. $75,000 Materials/Supplies $50,000 Total Cost $801,000 Cost Savings: Transportation -$125,000 Reduction in transportation costs for a full day program compared to a half day program (2 runs instead of 4) TOTAL $676,000

Next Steps… Meeting: Tuesday, June 18th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Discussion: Other Options – Reorganization/Redistrict Ideas to Gain Support – Research, Marketing, Curriculum, Organization Develop a Plan