Kent Moms Want All-Day Kindergarten

The all-day kindergarten debate continues tonight when the will vote on a state waiver exempting Kent from providing all-day kindergarten classes for the next two years.

Several Kent parents plan to attend the meeting, which is set for 7 p.m. at Franklin Elementary School, to voice their opinions on the subject.

Kent City Schools Superintendent Joseph Giancola said previously the district is hopeful a new bill in the Ohio legislature will repeal all-day kindergarten requirements in an effort to help the state's school districts save money.

In the meantime, Giancola said that would exempt the district from providing an all-day kindergarten for the next two years.

Joelle Liedtke, president of the Davey Preschool Parent Organization, said she's torn on the issue. Her family was able to afford tuition for her son to attend all-day kindergarten classes at last year, but they would like to see it provided next year as well so their daughter can attend.

"My husband and I believe in the benefits provided to children by full-day kindergarten," Liedtke said. "We hope that free full-day kindergarten is provided in Kent schools as soon as possible – all children in Kent deserve to get the best start possible."

Proposed Ohio House Bill 30, if passed, would eliminate the all-day kindergarten requirement for public schools. Many, including Ohio Schools Superintendent Deborah S. Delisle, expect the bill will gain approval and eliminate the requirement.

Rep. Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, who introduced the bill, told Columbus TV station NBC 4  he introduced the bill to help school districts save money.

Angela Barzizza-Young has two children who will be entering kindergarten next year. She believes the educational benefits of all-day kindergarten curriculum far outweigh the financial costs.

"I know that it may be costly initially, but as a community don't we want give our children the best?" she said. "Several of my parent friends who have had their kids in both the full-day and half-day Kent programs have complained that our children in Kent are being shocked in first grade with that which is expected of them."

Like Liedtke, Barzizza-Young expects to be able to afford the tuition costs for all-day kindergarten elsewhere if Kent does away with its program.

"I'm not thrilled, but I'm more agitated that those who can't afford to pay in our community must settle for a mediocrity for their kids," she said.

Multiple studies have shown the benefits to children enrolled in all-day kindergarten curriculum. The Indiana Department of Education lists several benefits on their website citing individual studies on the issue.

Other states, including Arizona and Wisconsin, tout the benefits of all-day kindergarten. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction also points to some negatives, chief among them the costs associated with hiring additional teaching staff and aides to run the curriculum.

For parents like Melissa Wallace, if Kent does away with the program for now it means her child likely won't attend the district where she lives. Wallace's 4-year-old daughter attends preschool classes in the Akron school where she works, and she's considering paying for her to attend kindergarten classes there if Kent does not have all-day kindergarten.

"I feel strongly that I want her to attend kindergarten through grade 12 in the school district where we live with the other neighborhood children," Wallace said.