Manchester Schools To Offer Full-Day K'garten

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.


NORTH MANCHESTER - "Mr. (Steve) Schumaker and I are tired of waiting," said Dr. Diana Showalter, Manchester Community Schools superintendent, Tuesday night.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has been talking about full-day kindergarten, and the Indiana legislature currently is working on making up their minds about statewide full-day kindergarten.

While the governor and legislature are still waiting, Manchester Community Schools is moving forward.[[In-content Ad]]

This fall, parents of kindergarten students will have the opportunity to choose half-day or full-day kindergarten for their children. Showalter said state lawmakers may not make a decision about full-day kindergarten until mid-summer and that is too late to properly plan for the 2007-08 school year.

So far about three-fourths of parents say they will enroll their students in the full-day program.

The 2007 program is planned as a pilot program, giving teachers, parents and students the chance to see what all-day kindergarten is all about.

Showalter said the expected incoming class of kindergartners is small, and MES has an extra classroom to accommodate the added full-day students.

Kindergarten teachers will visit other schools that already have full-day programs to get ideas about how to approach the challenges of the new program.

Schumaker said he will present financial plans for the program at next week's school board meeting. He said if the legislature does not approve anything for next year, the school will apply for grants to fund the pilot program.

The school board will make the final decision on the full-day kindergarten program at a later meeting.

NORTH MANCHESTER - "Mr. (Steve) Schumaker and I are tired of waiting," said Dr. Diana Showalter, Manchester Community Schools superintendent, Tuesday night.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has been talking about full-day kindergarten, and the Indiana legislature currently is working on making up their minds about statewide full-day kindergarten.

While the governor and legislature are still waiting, Manchester Community Schools is moving forward.[[In-content Ad]]

This fall, parents of kindergarten students will have the opportunity to choose half-day or full-day kindergarten for their children. Showalter said state lawmakers may not make a decision about full-day kindergarten until mid-summer and that is too late to properly plan for the 2007-08 school year.

So far about three-fourths of parents say they will enroll their students in the full-day program.

The 2007 program is planned as a pilot program, giving teachers, parents and students the chance to see what all-day kindergarten is all about.

Showalter said the expected incoming class of kindergartners is small, and MES has an extra classroom to accommodate the added full-day students.

Kindergarten teachers will visit other schools that already have full-day programs to get ideas about how to approach the challenges of the new program.

Schumaker said he will present financial plans for the program at next week's school board meeting. He said if the legislature does not approve anything for next year, the school will apply for grants to fund the pilot program.

The school board will make the final decision on the full-day kindergarten program at a later meeting.
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