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BOURBON - Kindergartners at Triton Elementary School will spend at least 90 minutes of classroom time each day focused on reading skills.
Principal Tom Bowers told the school board Monday the 90-minute block of reading time is one of the requirements that came along with the $200,000 Reading First grant the school received last year. Bowers cited the reading initiative as one of the time constraints necessary to eliminate a recess period for half-day kindergartners.
Anita Williamson, a grandmother of a Triton student, told the board she believes taking away the recess period is unwise. "With everything we hear about the obesity epidemic, why are we taking away their exercise?" Williamson said.
Schools superintendent Ted Chittum pointed out that full-day kindergartners will still get two periods for recess. He said half-day students often have the opportunity for exercise before or after school. "We looked at play time as something they could get out of school," Chittum said.
However, Chittum said that the change is not concrete. "If it gets to a point that it's not working, I'll be the first to say, 'Let's make a change,'" he said.
The board members and patrons attending the meeting took tours of both the elementary and junior/senior high school buildings. In the elementary school, Bowers pointed out two storage areas that are furnished to provide areas for reading interventions. Students in kindergarten through third grade needing extra help with reading skills will meet with teachers for 30 additional minutes of reading practice beyond the required 90-minute block.
At the high school, principal Mike Chobanov noted a classroom that was converted to accommodate 13 junior high special needs students who will study at the school through a JESSE co-op this year. Chobanov said the number of students is up from four last year.
