Alternate Kindergarten Program Opens in Long Valley

While full day kindergarten was approved unanimously by the Washington Township school district for the first time this spring, some parents don’t believe it’s the right move, and are taking a different route.

That’s why St. Luke’s Parish on West Mill Road, which already runs a preschool program, is opening an alternate program for families who don’t feel their kindergarten-aged students are ready for full days Monday through Friday.

“It was the parents’ idea, and a few of them came to me to see if we could start our own program,” said Sue Keating, a preschool teacher at St. Luke’s. “I know the majority of parents in town are in favor of the full day kindergarten, but some aren’t, and that’s why we’re offering this.”

The school district, ; an enhancement from the current morning and afternoon double session it instructed.

During an open to the public meeting in March, Superintendent Jeff Mohre explained that now is the best time to implement the full day program as the district’s enrollment has declined, which has led to an opening of classroom seats.

Keating said the church, which approved the program to use the available space in the building, reached out to parish members to see if anyone would be interested. As of now, five families have verbally agreed to joining the alternate kindergarten program.

Classes would run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, and be taught by New Jersey certified teachers, Keating said.

If demand for enrollment in the program grows, Keating said there are enough teachers ready to take on the work.

“We have several teachers in line and ready to take on a class if we have enough students,” Keating said. “Each teacher would instruct about 10 children in a class.”

Current enrollment for Washington Township’s kindergarten class, across the district, is 160 students as of May 21, according to Mohre.

Cost for the alternate program, as of now, is $5,000 for the full school year. That can change, however, based on the size of enrollment, Keating said.

While the school district hasn’t discussed the program with St. Luke’s, Keating said the preschool program often receives positive feedback from the kindergarten teachers.

The alternate program also puts much control in the parents’ hands, Keating said, especially when it comes to amount of classroom time.

“We’re here to meet the needs of the parents,” Keating said. “If a parent feels their child can only handle a 9 a.m. to noon schedule, that’s fine. The parents have the choice.”