The Town of Webb UFSD Board of Education invited the community to its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 17 to gather comments regarding the implementation of a pre-kindergarten program at the school.
The discussion was prompted by a request by a Town of Webb parent who recently approached the board on considering such a program.
Board President Julie Zaykoski began the open forum by stating that the purpose of the discussion was to gather facts which might help to determine the viability of such a program as it pertains to class sizes, cost, curriculum, and perhaps most importantly, need.
Among those voicing their opinions on the subject were representatives from the area’s Kinderwood Preschool Program, an early education program which has served the community for over 40 years.
The concern expressed by the Kinderwood board, as well as multiple community members, was that the implementation of a state-funded, state-mandated pre-k program would ultimately shut Kinderwood down.“As you all know, we have had many successful students and graduates of both the programs, so it is our hope that the Town of Webb School will continue to collaborate with Kinderwood in the positive and productive manner that we have enjoyed in the past,” said Kelly Greene, Kinderwood vice-president.
Greene also expressed her concern that with a state program parents would have far less say in their children’s education (as compared to the current program), that students would be pushed— at too young of an age—into a structured academic program, and that there would be little to no opportunities such as skiing, snowshoeing, swimming and horseback riding outside of the classroom for the children to enjoy.
In the opinion of those affiliated with the Kinderwood program, a state-run program would not allow children to learn at their own pace and in their own way.
Additionally, it was argued that the town would lose an important aspect of cultural tradition, and community- centered involvement in the developmental future of its children.
However, some parents disagreed.
Some hoped that the creation of a pre-school program would help to supplement the already existing program, and better prepare their children for kindergarten.
“My first grader came to kindergarten here last year ready to learn, and I have to tell you we were sorely disappointed that kindergarten was really taught at a level appropriate to three and four year olds.
“I thought that there could have been more there. If we hadn’t gone and taken her, kept her home one day a week, it would have been a wasted year,” said Town of Webb parent, Steve Bick.
This was because other children in the class were not as prepared, according to Bick.
Kinderwood President Page Hannah was not in agreement, and distributed a letter to the audience describing the educational value of the current program.
In part, her letter stated: “Kinderwood and the Town of Webb UFSD have worked together to best prepare children for readiness to enter kindergarten.
Mr. Germer (school principal) has kept us up to date with the constantly changing State Education Department’s “Common Core State Standards.”
“The Kinderwood Board takes very seriously its responsibility as a certified New York State Early Educational Provider, to offer a program that supports the social, emotional, and academic needs of the children in our community.”
Discussion also arose regarding the possibility of adding hours to the Kinderwood program, as well as the continued collaboration with the school district, to maintain a curriculum and level of preparedness that satisfies state guidelines and expectations.
Another issue raised was that of class size, and what an additional program would mean.
On average, according to Kinderwood’s Head Teacher, Diane Heroux, 75 to 85 percent of all eligible children in the area attend Kinderwood.
Old Forge mother of three, Kristin Greene, spoke in support of Kinderwood, and believes that a pre-k program would not enrich Kinderwood, rather, it would replace it.
She added that she believes the pre-k discussion was created as a means of fixing the area’s daycare problem. But putting preschoolers in an all-day school situation because of the lack of daycare is not the answer, she said.
“That is not a school problem—that’s a parent problem and a community problem, and pre-k is not the answer,” she said.
While the majority in attendance felt there was not yet enough information to make a decision about a pre-school program, it was widely believed that continued collaboration between the school and the existing program would be, for the time being, more beneficial to the community.
Following some discussion, Board of Education member Joe Phaneuf said an audience member’s suggestion that they ask themselves if a school-based pre-k program would provide something not currently provided by Kinderwood, resonated most with him.
He said he didn’t really hear anything in the discussions suggesting that a school-based pre-k would deliver more than what is currently available, other than a different set of concerns or problems, such as transportation.
However, he said he would be willing to listen to further arguments.
“If we saw—which we haven’t—any data that showed that the kids coming in from Kinderwood were not prepared to be in kindergarten then I think that’s a bigger issue,” said board member, Patty Josephson.
Ultimately, the discussion came down to a question of whether or not the community feels the state should be responsible for the development of preschool age children, or if it is the responsibility of both the individual families and the community.
“I got on the board because my personal opinion is that it takes a community to raise a child. It’s not the individual and it’s more than the family, it’s the community,” said newly-appointed board member, Sharon Evans.
Evans said she believes, from personal experience, that any type of pre-school education is beneficial to a student, but that the socialization aspect of a program like Kinderwood is one of the most beneficial for the transition into kindergarten.
