Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Measure to expand day fails by 169 votes.
Verona will continue to have three-quarter days for kindergarteners after voters turned down full-day classes at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The measure, which would have had Verona kindergarteners begin full school days ending at 2:45 p.m., was turned down by just 169 votes. As a result, kindergarteners will continue to be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. A total of 5,367 Verona residents voted on the issue, with 2,599 voting in favor and 2,768 voted against the measure, according to unofficial results from the Essex County Clerk. However, the results do not yet take absentee or provisional ballots into account, said Verona Municipal Clerk Sue Neale on Wednesday. “I felt like there was a great deal of support for the program from a well-…
Monday, November 5, 2012
Ballot question seeks voter approval to change program length.
Verona voters will have the final say on full-day kindergarten when they vote on Nov. 6. Kindergarteners currently attend three-quarter-long days, but some parents have gone to the board seeking to extend the day. “There have been some concerned parents that want to go to a full day and we agreed that if voters support it, then we would be happy to have it,” said Superintendent Steven Forte. If passed, kindergarteners would attend school until 12:30 p.m. from September through the winter holidays. In January, students would begin a full day, ending at 2:45 p.m., if the measure passes. Parents opposed to the full day said the idea was unnecessary and said kids should be kids and be able to be home, Forte said. “I can see both sides,” he …
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Residents to cast their vote on the measure in November elections.
Although parents of preschoolers in Verona have been petitioning for full-day kindergarten periodically over the years, next year just might be their breakthrough year. A determined group of parents have recently organized to raise the issue once more, and this time their proposal is quickly gaining traction. “We have taken it the furthest than any other group has in the past,” said Crystal Bichalski who along with Dana Wynne initiated the movement for full-day kindergarten. “We are committed to this." After their children entered kindergarten this year the two started conducting their own informal poll of parents at school pick-up times. They found an interest existed among other parents in town and approached the new Superintendent of…
L Freschi
8:08 am on Thursday, March 8, 2012
As an educator and a parent, I do not believe that an additional 1.25 hrs per day of instructional time at the age of 5 will have a major long term impact on most children. According to several national studies, the children who benefit the most from 'full day K' are those who are at risk. I do not believe that most students in our district fit that profile. Kindergarten unto itself is not … more ›