Developmental Kindergarten Will Replace Half-Day Kindergarten In Johnston

Half-day kindergarten will no longer be an option in the Johnston school district. However, parents will have the choice to place their children in developmental kindergarten, which will be offered in the 2012-2013 school year.

Johnston school board members voted to discontinue the half-day kindergarten offering at the end of the current school year, and to implement developmental kindergarten, said board member Deb Henry in a later interview.

“We had some families taking their children to other districts. Quite a few people take their children to Dallas Center-Grimes, which has developmental Kindergarten,” she said.

There were 28 students signed up for half-day kindergarten for next school year.

The developmental kindergarten program bridges the gap between 4-year-old preschool and kindergarten for students whose parents would like more time before traditional kindergarten.

Henry added that the change will provide better education continuity.

School board members also approved adding a high school student to the school board. First, however, students will need to do a written proposal telling why they want it and get at least 50 people to sign it. The student would be able to express his or her opinion, but would not be able to vote.

“I think it will give us more input from the student perspective,” Henry said. “I think it shows that the board respects the opinions of high school students.”

Board members addressed an additional subject for high school students – the proposal to provide iPads for every student at the high school. No decisions were made Monday night on the iPads. The total cost to purchase the iPads, software and other items for implementation is estimated at $1.44 million.

A number of benefits were suggested for implementing the iPad project, called the 1:1 Initiative. Reasons include:

• Improving student engagement
• Improving teaching and learning
• Helping students become good digital citizens
• Using digital tools for academic and personal learning
• Eliminating the digital divide

Board President Marcy Cordaro said in an interview Monday she believes the iPads are a good idea.

“This is kind of the wave of the future in education,” she said. “I know the committee looking into the idea checked out other school districts that already give students iPads or computers.”

Henry said she had some reservations about the iPads, and would like to see curriculum developed for using the iPads before a decision is made to purchase the equipment.

Additionally, board members discussed more details on videotaping school board meetings. They previously voted to approve videotaping meetings, and are now working on a policy. The school district’s technology department will be looking into how best to accomplish the archiving and showing of the meeting footage.

Cordaro noted there are a number of options and that the board will hear more about the technology, perhaps as soon as the next school board meeting.