After Brighton Area Schools announced it would not offer half-day kindergarten and junior kindergarten options for the upcoming 2013-14 school year, many parents voiced their unhappiness over the decision.
In Superintendent Greg Gray's most recent Friday Letter, he wrote that the district will now consider the programs, depending on how much interest there is from district families.
There will be sign-up sheets at all Kindergarten Round-Ups next month for those parents interested in half-day junior kindergarten and kindergarten programs.
"After the level of interest is collected, the district will be able to make a better decision on whether there is enough support to run half day programming," Gray wrote.
Ginger Cox, one of the many concerned parents, met with district administrators about the issue.
”I am happy and excited to see Brighton exploring the need for half-day Kindergarten and half-day junior kindergarten," she said. "There are many families that sill want and need these programs. I think that Brighton can remain a Premier district by meeting the needs of all children by offering choice programs."
Jennifer Jabre, a resident living in the Brighton Area School district, is a full-day kindergarten teacher in a nearby school district.
"There are benefits to both all-day and half-day and there are cons to both of them as well," she said. "A person can find research to support whatever position they want to support. What I think is crucial is choices for families. Full-day is not for every child nor does every child need full-day. There is great talk about the curriculum being more demanding but that is just a piece of the puzzle. Where does social emotional development come in? Where does developmentally appropriate come in? These are also pieces of the puzzle that must be looked at."
"The bottom line is there must be choices for families," Jabre said. "Again, not every child needs full day and full day is not for every child."
Kindergarten Round-Ups will be held at Spencer and Hawkins Elementary Schools on March 5 and Hilton and Hornung Elementary Schools on March 6, from 6:30-8 p.m.
Those with further questions or concerns may contact Gray at grayg@brightonk12.com.
