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All-Day Kindergarten At Pettisville?

School Board To Decide At Friday Special Meeting


The Pettisville School Board plans to decide if the district will offer all-day kindergarten next fall at a special meeting Friday, Feb. 18, 7 am, in the office of Steve Switzer, superintendent.

During its Monday, Feb. 14, meeting, the board reviewed results of a survey that showed parents had mixed feelings regarding full-day or half-day kindergarten.

Survey results showed a majority preferred half-day kindergarten, but the margin is smaller when compared to those who will have a child in kindergarten in the future.

Of those who had a child attend kindergarten in the past six years, 50 expressed a preference for half-day kindergarten, 23 would have preferred full-day kindergarten, and 13 had no preference.

But of those who have a future kindergarten student, only 15 chose half-day, and 12 chose full-day for their preference.

A large number of respondents did not answer the question, either because they had no future kindergarten student or because they had no preference.

Lisa Aeschliman and Lynne Hoffmire, kindergarten teachers, attended the meeting and presented their view that the district should move to full-day kindergarten.

Over 90% of respondents said they could support whichever choice the board made. Building

Following the special meeting, board members will tour the new school under construction.

With the exception of the gymnasium and agriculture shop, the building is now mostly contained and heated so work can continue on the interior.

Switzer updated the board on the fund-raising drive by the Pettisville School Foundation to cover the cost of a special atrium that is planned for the new facility.

New estimates for the atrium show the total projected (Continued from first page) cost at $701,963. Thus far, the Foundation has pledges totaling $558,635.

Switzer said if the Foundation is not able to raise the entire cost of the atrium, the district would have the option of accepting the atrium with a plan of paying a set amount each year until the balance of the cost was paid.

He said hopefully, “this option would not be necessary. However it is good to know that we do have options that will allow us to complete the atrium.” Engineering Contract

In other business related to the construction project, the board approved a $9,000 contract with the Buehrer Group to provide engineering services for the wind turbine. The costs of the turbine are mostly covered by grant funding.

A timetable for the turbines shows bids for the project being posted Feb. 21, with bids being opened on March 23 and contracts awarded on April 20.

The next board meeting is Monday, March 14, 7 pm in the school library–D.J. Neuenschwander



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