Funding cuts unlikely to impact full-day kindergarten
CONNELLSVILLE — The elimination of a state funding source will not likely impact the Connellsville Area School District’s full-time kindergarten program for the next year, according to discussion by board members on Monday.
Directors agreed to consider a motion to retain the current program through the next school year at its regular meeting on Wednesday.
The Accountability Block Grant at one time sustained the kindergarten program, said Dr. Tammy Stern, acting superintendent, but due to budgetary cuts at the state level, the school district will no longer be a recipient of the funding.
According to Stern, two years ago, the district received $1.2 million and when the amount was trimmed to about $465,000 last year, the district supplemented the program from the district’s general fund.
One option for the 2013-2014 school year, would be to use available federal funds to meet the salary expenses, with the district having to earmark about $800,000 from the general fund to meet other costs of the kindergarten program.
“The (federal funding) would be available only if the kindergarten program remained full time,” said Stern. “If it returned to a half-day program, the district would not be able to use the federal funding.”
Approximately 350 students are enrolled in the district’s kindergarten program, down from previous years, said Stern.
“Registration is next week, so we’ll have a better idea of numbers for the next school year,” said said.
Director Francis Mongell said to cut the program to half-day sessions would not be in the best interest of the district or its students.
“When the full-day kindergarten program was begun, it increased the classroom time by 60 percent,” he said. “It has made a difference.”
Board President Jon Detwiler agreed that the program has been beneficial to his children.
“The last two (to be in the program) entered first grade able to read,” he said.
Connellsville moved to a full-time program in 2004. All Fayette County school districts have full-time kindergarten programs.
Turning to other matters, the board is poised to take action in the following business at its Wednesday regular meeting:
n Approve a summer food program at Bullskin Township, Dunbar Township, South Side, Springfield and Zachariah Connellsville elementary schools.
n Authorize application for a fresh food and vegetable program for elementary schools.
n Admit Angela Molinaro and Sara Hriscisce as non-traditional students in the Connellsville Career and Technical School cosmetology program.