The schedule of kindergartens in the Del Mar area will remain the same

After reviewing parent and teacher suggestions, the Del Mar Union School District will continue to use its current daycare schedule. Currently, the first six weeks of school are the minimum days for kindergarten students: they leave at 12:30 instead of 2:30 to give teachers time to assess their new students.

Last year, trustee Katherine Fitzpatrick asked the district to consider an alternative schedule with full day kindergarten from the start of school. She believed that students could benefit from more valuable classroom time, and in addition, it could ease the burden for families who need extra care for their children during the first six weeks.

In October, the district conducted a survey of parents and out of 978 responses, 57% of parents preferred the kindergarten schedule to start with a full day on the first day of school, and 43% said they were satisfied with the current kindergarten schedule.

At the board meeting on February 15, the board received information received from kindergarten staff: 100% of teachers strongly recommended that the six-week minimum daily routine be maintained.

Longtime Del Mar Heights Kindergarten teacher Gina Vargus said the first six weeks of school are valued for student assessment, as kindergarten is the only class where teachers don’t know who the students are, they just come in “a list of 20 favorites.”

Teachers say the first six weeks in kindergarten are an emotional time and more hectic than most classes – they learn and experience so much in the first month. The schedule provides time to adjust as students experience breakdowns and accidents, and this gives teachers one-on-one time to build rapport and learn about their individual needs.

“After much thought… I really think we have a program to be proud of,” Vargus said. “He makes great kids ready for first grade.”

Shelley Petersen, Assistant Superintendent of Education, said that implementing full-time kindergarten would require hiring about 21 replacement teachers from the start of school to support student assessment time, at a cost of $115,605. According to the teachers of all nine schools, having another adult in the room who does not know the structure and system of the kindergarten can have negative consequences.

Petersen also noted that in collecting parent feedback, she has made a concerted effort to communicate to parents that childcare is available and free of charge to eligible parents.

Most board members agreed with teachers’ feedback about keeping the start of the school year as it is, but Fitzpatrick was looking for direction to move forward with change.

“It’s a small majority, but the majority of parents want a full-time daycare,” Fitzpatrick said. “How do we find a middle ground, because I think it’s very important that we listen to the opinion of the parents, and not just cast it aside.”

Trustee Erica Halpern said she was confident that if parents were asked, knowing that 100% of teachers supported keeping the schedule the way it was, they would be more supportive of it. She said that since the idea was proposed by Fitzpatrick, the board hasn’t received a single email or speech on the subject: “We haven’t heard a word about it.”

“I trust teachers and professionals, they have made clear the benefits of having it,” said President Gi Wah Mok. “I think I’m happy with where we are.”