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BOURBON - Triton School officials like the idea of Governor Joe Kernan's proposal to offer full-day kindergarten to more Indiana students, but said funding is a major concern.
Triton Elementary School principal Tom Bowers said, "I believe very strongly in full-day kindergarten. We need to have our children ready for school and get them here as quickly as we can."
Triton Schools superintendent Ted Chittum also thinks the plan could be beneficial.
"I think it would be a good thing for kids," he said.
However, Chittum said money would play a big part in how beneficial the plan could be.
"It would only be good for local school systems if they fund it," he said.
The plan is currently being examined by the Indiana House of Representatives. It provides the option for 20,000 more kindergarten students to attend a full-day program in the fall and, gradually, over the following years to offer voluntary full-day to all Indiana kindergartners. The proposed legislation would be funded by re-routing $30 million of state lottery and gambling money from the teachers' pension stabilization fund and appropriating $11.5 million per year for three years from the Common School Fund.
According to House District #17 Representative Steve Heim, the funding plan is only a temporary provision. He said further funding of the plan relies on state legislators adding the program to the regular budget.
State funding would be necessary for many school systems, including Triton to provide for the additional staff and space needed for full-day kindergarten. Chittum said Triton Elementary would be tight on space. He said the program would probably be phased in, a few students at a time, to allow the school to make space and staff provisions.
Meanwhile, Triton Elementary School is operating its own plan to give some kindergartners the extra instruction they need for a smooth introduction to school. The school offers an extended day program for 26 kindergartners. The program was started this year. Students needing extra help with language skills were selected for the program through a screening test and faculty visits to the students' homes.
"Each student in the program has a normal half-day experience," Bowers said.
Thirteen of the students attend the morning kindergarten class and thirteen of them attend the afternoon class. Those in the afternoon class participate in the extended day program in the morning and those in the morning class have their extended day instruction in the afternoon. The program costs students' families $15 per year.
Bowers said the school is also working with local preschools to coordinate an easier transition for the students into kindergarten.
"We're in the business of training all children to be successful before and when they enter our doors," Bowers said.
