Discontinuing Half-Day Kindergarten, Adding Student Representation on the Agenda for Johnston School Board

It could be a case of out with the old and in with the new at Monday's Johnston Board of Education meeting.

The Board is set to discuss and approve a policy that would establish a non-voting student member to the board starting next fall, while they are also being asked to discontinue the half-day kindergarten program.

Student Board Member
While has been a long-time discussion for the board, the board first read a policy at the April 24 meeting.

While board members , questions remained on when the student would begin their position.

Discontinuing Half-Day Kindergarten
Earlier this year, the board approved creating a new to bridge the gap between preschool and kindergarten.

In the process, several families signed up for the new program leaving very small numbers for the half-day kindergarten program.

As a result, the district is recommending discontinuing the half-day program.

At the April 24 meeting, Bruce Amendt, executive director of academic services, gave the board an .

At the time of the meeting about 28 students were registered for the program, while there were still eight families interested in half-day kindergarten.

Amendt said with a number that low, the district would recommend discontinuing half-day kindergarten and letting families decide between developmental kindergarten, kindergarten or open-enrolling to another district.

Other agenda items include:
First reading of a policy for board meeting
Discussion of Johnston School District Parent/Student 2012-13 Handbook
Discussion and reading of director's code of conduct, authority and responsibility and committee principles

The board meets at 6 p.m. at the .