Van Buren school board OK?s all-day, every-day kindergarten

KEOSAUQUA ? Seeking to help improve student achievement, increase literacy and address possible equity issues, the Van Buren Community School Board has accepted a recommendation to adopt all-day every day kindergarten for all students.

Superintendent Lisa Beames and administrator Jenny Smith presented and discussed Iowa Assessment Results at the March 21 board meeting.

Currently, students go three days a week in the first semester and every day in the second semester. Operation Boost program, where selected children go every day, begins in the second quarter of the first semester.

?We?re one of the few in the state that do not have all-day every day kindergarten and the only one in our [area education agency],? Beames said. She said the Boost program helps, but having all the children all-day every day is more beneficial.

When the boost program was started 20 years ago, 27 percent of the students were in poverty. Now, 48 percent of Van Buren students get free and reduced lunches.

?We need the dollars to help all kids,? Beames added. ?We need every minute of instruction time we can get with the kids.?

Beames presented assessment test results showing concerns in certain aspects of literacy, including spelling, which leads to reading problems.

Board members asked about pre-kindergarten programs and Beames said she didn?t have enough data to judge the impact of pre-K on student achievement.

The school board also approved moving forward on a schoolwide Title I application and purchasing a new elementary school reading series.

?We?re overdue for new reading materials,? Beames said. ?One of the main criticisms from the high school staff is the lower level of writing ability from students. In defense of teachers, they haven?t had the best materials to work with.

?Overall, professional development is key. It?s important to make sure teachers are properly trained in the five pillars of literacy. It starts with a proper foundation and having the kids here all day every day,? she said. ?The most exciting thing is that the staff will have a consistent K-6 program, throughout the elementary.?

Eventually, she wants the district to expand the literacy program to middle school.

In other action:

? The board approved an agreement reached with the teacher?s association. The package calls for a 3.65 percent increase at a cost to the district of $121,759.76, according to district officials. The board accepted it on a vote of 6-0, with resigning President Brian Starnes abstaining.

? The board heard from a delegation asking the board support Van Buren?s music program. They are concerned recent cuts in the music department are beginning to have a profound impact on the program.

Student Calvin Mertens said music plays a key role in the education of young people.

?Studies show that participants who are exposed to music increase their memory and intellectual capability and are less likely to be into drugs, alcohol and non-attendance at school,? Mertens said. ?Music is important to a well-rounded education, essential to the arts and should be available to everyone.?

However, he noted, the school essentially eliminated a position by not filling a vacancy.

?Now one teacher is expected to serve 296 students in junior and senior high school. Mrs. [Marcie] Atwood does a wonderful job, but she can?t do it all.?

Mertens said his own future has been impacted by the recent cuts. He competed for a music scholarship in Ames and judges noted he lacked a particular skill that would?ve been taught in music theory, had it not been dropped.

Mertens said he ?understood the budget situation the district is in,? but sports have taken precedence over music at Van Buren.

?In sports, every five years, each team gets new uniforms. We?re still using the same choir robes we had in 1978. Also, last year, the school spent $89,500 on coaching salaries. Why can?t we take some of that spent on coaches and give it to the music program to hire an extra teacher?? he asked. ?We?re showing more interest in extra-curricular activities than in something that is a core educational responsibility of the school.?

Mertens cited activities that have been dropped or reduced because of cutting the music department to one position at the junior-senior high school: All-state music auditions; high school music theory; high school music appreciation; junior high instrumental contest; high school instrumental lessons; high school vocal lessons; large group contest; Oktoberfest marching band; jazz choir/jazz band; and solo/contest entries.

The reduction in instrumental is mainly due to few or no lessons; vocal groups also are compromised without adequate director time, according to Mertens.

Instructor Bob Galloway agreed with Mertens. He relayed an experience attending a Barry Manilow concert. Manilow credits his ability, as well as his life, to a high school music teacher.

Manilow, Galloway said, has dedicated his life to supporting high school music programs threatened across the country because of tight finances.

Galloway continued, ?When you destroy music, you are destroying a part of the arts department. You are destroying humanity. You will lose an opportunity to help young boys and girls. I ask you, don?t kill your music department. The talent is there.?

Greg Jones, Van Buren activities director, said, ?The fine arts department is a key component to education. I say, push our chips forward and go all in.?

? The board approved a non-certified salary increase of 3 percent. Board member Terry Jester abstained.

? A proposal for the career academy was tabled for at least one year.

?The concept is great, but it comes with a cost,? Beames said. Board members cited potential transportation costs.

?It?s a great program, but it needs to be great for us,? said Starnes.

? The board approved the construction of a baseball crow?s nest. The board received an anonymous donation of $5,000 for the crow?s nest.

Bruce Franklin created drawings and estimated supplies for the construction would cost $5,000. The total, including labor, will be approximately $10,000.