With strong first-year numbers, a kindergarten-enrichment program will continue until the school district is able to offer full-day kindergarten classes.

Tuesday, November 02, 1999

With strong first-year numbers, a kindergarten-enrichment program will continue until the school district is able to offer full-day kindergarten classes.

That’s what Albert Lea Family Y Executive Director Dennis Dieser told the school board Monday. In partnership with the school district and community education, the Y serves as administrator of the fee-based enrichment program, Kinder-Express.

&uot;We’re hearing a lot of positive feedback,&uot; Dieser said. &uot;It’s been real positive. It’s a good standby until we can get all-day kindergarten.&uot;

With 38 students currently enrolled, Kinder-Express provides an additional half-day learning environment and is intended to supplement the district’s half-day kindergarten curriculum.

While it’s a fee-based program, families are eligible for Minnesota educational tax credits in April to help pay enrollment fees. Norwest Bank is also offering interest-free loans to families until they receive the tax credits, he said.

The Freeborn County Family Services Collaborative has also provided a grant to the Y to support the program; the grant amount and final fees weren’t disclosed at Monday’s school board meeting.

&uot;Our goal is to be there and help meet the needs of the school district,&uot; said Dieser, also a former member of the school board. &uot;I thought it would be good to update you that the program is off and running.&uot;

&uot;I would like to compliment the Y for being a good partner with the school district,&uot; said Grace Schwab, school board treasurer.

Schwab and other board members have maintained that all-day, everyday kindergarten remains a board goal because research proves early childhood learning is essential for continued academic success.

But with enrollment declines resulting in reduced revenues and budgets always tight, the district can’t afford to extend its kindergarten curriculum.

As an estimate, salaries and benefits alone exceed $290,000 to extend its half-day kindergarten curriculum. For its part, the Legislature hasn’t considered increasing education funding to school districts for such spending.

Until the Legislature does provide additional funding and if there’s further interest, the Kinder-Express option will continue in Albert Lea, board members maintain.