Kinnelon Parents Voice Concern Over Pre-K Program

It was a short meeting, as the  met for the final session in 2010 Thursday at the auditorium. But several parents stood and expressed their concerns over the district's Pre-K/junior kindergarten program during the public-comment period.

The district is currently in the process of reviewing its program, which involves a partial-day program, looking at alternatives for cost-savings.

Mothers showed their support for the existing program, citing both statistical and anecdotal evidence. They stated that only two schools in the county, Kinnelon and Mine Hill, offer the current half-day format.

"[Pre-K] is its foundation, this district is so great because it gives that extra push," voiced a concerned parent.

The board is still weighing its options on the decision.

Parents also voiced concern over what they called "unsafe bus routes" in the district.

One parent spoke to the narrow roads on which the buses travel. Superintendent James Opiekun said there was not much the district could do about the problem.

Opiekun said the crowding of cars on borough roadways usually creates the unsafe nature of the routes. He also said this is a problem district-wide and that it is not only a concern in the neighborhood of the parent who spoke.

"You could throw a dart at a map of Kinnelon, and run into a dozen similar situations," he said. Opiekun said the board would look into the issue further.

Also during the meeting a new policy was approved for athletes returning from concussion syndromes. According to the policy, athletes will need seven symptom-free days in order to return to school.