K4 in Elmbrook not likely for next fall

POLL

Should Elmbrook have a K4 program?

Yes. It is needed to keep pace with other districts: 61%

No. The additional cost is not worth it: 38%

I am not sure. I need to hear more about the proposal: 7%

Total Responses: 513

Yes. It is needed to keep pace with other districts

No. The additional cost is not worth it

I am not sure. I need to hear more about the proposal

vote

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A 4-year-old kindergarten program isn't likely to be resurrected next year in the Elmbrook School District, judging by School Board members' comments Tuesday.

Six of seven board members who chose to weigh in on the topic said they likely would vote "no" to the proposal when the issue comes up for consideration Feb. 14.

Other priorities

Board President Tom Gehl, speaking after an overview of the proposal by district administrators, summed up the sentiment by pointing to a list of other priorities, including the transition of staff and families in the wake of the Hillside Elementary closing at the end of the year, the change in administration with several retirements including that of Superintendent Matt Gibson and an ongoing evaluation of a new block schedule.

"With all these factors, I cannot support implementing a 4K program next year," Gehl said.

Others echoed that feeling, noting they are not convinced that K4 is immediately needed to add quality to the district's offerings while possibly complicating its financial picture.

In addition to Gehl, board members noting their likelihood to vote "no" were Glen Allgaier, Jean Lambert, Meg Wartman and Kathryn Wilson. Bob Ziegler did not comment.

Wanting to keep it alive

Gibson, who prefaced board remarks by pointing out the importance of looking at K4 as part of an overall strategy to bolster declining district enrollment, followed the board discussion with a request that they at least vote "yes" on the concept in order to keep it alive for a future implementation.

Few parents were in the audience, but two spoke in response to the board's remarks.

"My son is in third grade and he benefited from the 4K program back in 2007," Jessi Vanharen said. "Your enrollment management study teams have said you should have 4K, and the community survey said you should have 4K. We saw our taxes go down this year and that offers a little bit of cushion."

Kate Delaney agreed.

"I have a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old and I'm expecting, so I am exactly the kind of person who is in the population who wants 4K," she said. "There are real advantages of 4K because it's important to social and emotional development."

Earlier action

On Jan. 10, the district proposed to bring back the K4 program that had been discontinued after a pilot in 2005-06 and 2006-07. At that meeting, Gibson said Elmbrook needs a K4 program to stay competitive with peers, both academically and financially. A financial model at that meeting showed that the owner of a $300,000 house would pay $70 to $100 more each year to fund the program.

Gibson also told the board it was essential to make a decision by the end of January in order to properly plan and fit the program into the district's Jan. 31 kindergarten open houses.