Written by
Stacia Kalinoski
AP graphic of school classroom desks
ROCKFORD, Mich. (WZZM)- State lawmakers voted last year to require public schools to implement all-day, every day kindergarten starting this fall.
But one district is still hoping to convince lawmakers to change their minds before the governor's budget is finalized.
Governor Rick Snyder unveils his 2012-13 budget proposal next Thursday, Feb. 9.
Monday, Rockford Schools Superintendent Mike Shibler sent out a letter to his district and to local legislators.
While he says he's not against implementing all-day, every day kindergarten down the road, he says his district simply cannot afford to do so right now, after last year's budget cuts.
A section of his Meadow Ridge kindergarten class points out problem number one about going to school all-day, everyday. There's not enough space for the other half-day kids to hang up their coats.
Meadow Ridge Elementary School would have to add on about six more classrooms and hire 17 more teachers by next fall to comply with the state's new demands.
"It just doesn't make any sense, logically, economically, educationally, to do something like this during an economic crisis," said Shibler.
He's pushing lawmakers to draft a bill that would hold off, at least until schools get some funding restored.
The way things stand, Rockford will have to find $1.8 million to implement the program, or they stand to lose $2.4 million from the state as a consequence. Each school will only qualify for full-time equivalency per-student funding if they implement the program.
Districts still may offer half-day programs, but will lose half of their per-pupil funding for each student.
"We would have to reduce our secondary teacher population in order to balance our budget," said Shibler.
But the state's argument? We're already giving you that money, says Representative Tom Hooker, (R) Byron Center.
"If you're going to get full-day funding, you should have full-day classes. If it's half-day, half-day classes," said Hooker.
But for Shibler, the central issue is timing. Districts already lost $470 per child in state funding this school year. The $1.8 million he would spend on all-day, every day K would bump up his loses another $225 a student to $695.
"I really truly believe this is an initiative by our lawmakers to cut more money from K-12 budgets in a way that doesn't appear to be directly cutting," he said.
He stands to lose more than just money if the program expands.
"Ten parents, I'm not exaggerating, 10 parents have already called. And they told me, if we go to an all-day, everyday kindergarten program, they will not enroll their kids," said Shibler.
"One thing that I've found, that unless the leadership is on board with what changes are happening, it's probably not going to go anywhere," said Hooker of drafting a bill.
Senate Democrats Communications Director Robert McCan says the governor has hinted he will restore some of last year's $1 billion in education cuts, but he and State Representative Brandon Dillion (D) Grand Rapids say there will likely be a lot of limitations put on the money. McCan says if some money were to head to elementary kindergarten programs, it still likely wouldn't be enough to help ease the burden.
There are a few districts currently switching over to all-day kindergarten.
Wednesday, we'll show you a local district that's taking a unique approach to doing so. The principal says they have overwhelming parental support to make the change.
By Stacia Kalinoski