Post by momto4 on Dec 6, 2009 10:31:05 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/lifestyles/1918095,2_5_AU03_D308COL_S1-091203.article
December 3, 2009
By KRISTINE LIPTROT Oswego School District
Over the years I have come to relate making changes within a school system to solving a Rubik's Cube. When I first got the puzzle, I worked to just get one of the six sides completed -- using all my effort to create one side of a single color. However, to be successful, all six sides needed to be in perfect order. Only those who could strategically align each individual row, then side, then entire puzzle, would be successful.
Much is the same with implementing districtwide change in a school system. Each "side" of an initiative must be strategically aligned with all the other "sides" before it too can be successfully completed. There's the academic side, the logistical side, the financial side, the feedback side, the recommendation side, and finally, the approval side. The initiative cannot be completed until all sides are aligned.
In the Oswego School District, the full-day kindergarten initiative is under consideration as we investigate the best ways to continually improve our children's education. As the district reaches the midway point in its three-year full-day kindergarten pilot, discussions are under way as to the future of the program once the pilot concludes in 2011.
What we know
The feedback the district has received regarding the full-day kindergarten program has been overwhelmingly positive. Parents like the full-day option so much that there is a waiting list. Teachers are reporting improvements in students' academic progress, both at the kindergarten and first-grade levels.
Financially, additional funding from the state is provided to schools for full-time students. While the state's reimbursement for the first year of full-day kindergarten won't cover all the implementation costs, in subsequent years the revenues from the state are expected to exceed the cost of running the program.
Where we are now
While administration continues to gauge the academic and financial benefits of the program, they also started to investigate the logistical issues with expanding the program. District administration is evaluating what classroom space is available in the district to determine if expansion of this program can be done at each elementary school. Available facility space and/or construction options are all being considered -- especially in light of the district's growing enrollment. To provide additional space for more full-day kindergartners, a possibility may be to build more additions on to existing schools or use a few schools that have additional space as satellite full-day kindergarten "centers." Another option is to reconfigure the schools to serve kindergarten through fourth-grade students in our elementary schools and fifth- through eighth-graders in our junior highs. Yet, another option is to build more elementary schools, as more will be necessary to serve the district's increasing enrollment.
Once administration determines how to best house the students, then the academic and financial impacts must be reconsidered. Prior to all final proposals, a lot of "if -- then" conjectures are evaluated.
Where we are going
The district respects the opinions and concerns of its families. After administration develops an academically and logistically sound option to expand full-day kindergarten, feedback from the community will be sought. There will be multiple opportunities for parents to find out more information and offer their insights. Opportunity for public input is also available during the public comment portion of the Board of Education meetings. Coming agenda items for Board of Education meetings are posted on BoardDocs, which can be accessed at www.oswego308.org.
It is the goal of each district administrator to use his/her expertise to ensure its "side" of this puzzle is in alignment with the other sides so a thorough plan can be presented to the Board of Education. Ultimately, it will be up to the board to approve any continuation of the full-day kindergarten program beyond the three-year pilot.
Kristine Liptrot is the director of communications for the Oswego School District. She can be reached at kliptrot@oswego308.org.
December 3, 2009
By KRISTINE LIPTROT Oswego School District
Over the years I have come to relate making changes within a school system to solving a Rubik's Cube. When I first got the puzzle, I worked to just get one of the six sides completed -- using all my effort to create one side of a single color. However, to be successful, all six sides needed to be in perfect order. Only those who could strategically align each individual row, then side, then entire puzzle, would be successful.
Much is the same with implementing districtwide change in a school system. Each "side" of an initiative must be strategically aligned with all the other "sides" before it too can be successfully completed. There's the academic side, the logistical side, the financial side, the feedback side, the recommendation side, and finally, the approval side. The initiative cannot be completed until all sides are aligned.
In the Oswego School District, the full-day kindergarten initiative is under consideration as we investigate the best ways to continually improve our children's education. As the district reaches the midway point in its three-year full-day kindergarten pilot, discussions are under way as to the future of the program once the pilot concludes in 2011.
What we know
The feedback the district has received regarding the full-day kindergarten program has been overwhelmingly positive. Parents like the full-day option so much that there is a waiting list. Teachers are reporting improvements in students' academic progress, both at the kindergarten and first-grade levels.
Financially, additional funding from the state is provided to schools for full-time students. While the state's reimbursement for the first year of full-day kindergarten won't cover all the implementation costs, in subsequent years the revenues from the state are expected to exceed the cost of running the program.
Where we are now
While administration continues to gauge the academic and financial benefits of the program, they also started to investigate the logistical issues with expanding the program. District administration is evaluating what classroom space is available in the district to determine if expansion of this program can be done at each elementary school. Available facility space and/or construction options are all being considered -- especially in light of the district's growing enrollment. To provide additional space for more full-day kindergartners, a possibility may be to build more additions on to existing schools or use a few schools that have additional space as satellite full-day kindergarten "centers." Another option is to reconfigure the schools to serve kindergarten through fourth-grade students in our elementary schools and fifth- through eighth-graders in our junior highs. Yet, another option is to build more elementary schools, as more will be necessary to serve the district's increasing enrollment.
Once administration determines how to best house the students, then the academic and financial impacts must be reconsidered. Prior to all final proposals, a lot of "if -- then" conjectures are evaluated.
Where we are going
The district respects the opinions and concerns of its families. After administration develops an academically and logistically sound option to expand full-day kindergarten, feedback from the community will be sought. There will be multiple opportunities for parents to find out more information and offer their insights. Opportunity for public input is also available during the public comment portion of the Board of Education meetings. Coming agenda items for Board of Education meetings are posted on BoardDocs, which can be accessed at www.oswego308.org.
It is the goal of each district administrator to use his/her expertise to ensure its "side" of this puzzle is in alignment with the other sides so a thorough plan can be presented to the Board of Education. Ultimately, it will be up to the board to approve any continuation of the full-day kindergarten program beyond the three-year pilot.
Kristine Liptrot is the director of communications for the Oswego School District. She can be reached at kliptrot@oswego308.org.