SOUTH BEND — South Bend school board members voted Monday night to implement full-day kindergarten. The only question: how to pay for it.

After years of debate, the vote was unanimous. Full day kindergarten will begin this fall, but some are worried about the $416,000 a year price tag.

L'Ron Williams remembers art projects, story time and afternoon naps when he was in kindergarten, but there was something missing.

"I went through half day kindergarten when I was little, and I don't think I really grasped everything I could've," he said.

That's why he worked so hard to make sure his son T'Andre went to Marquette Primary this year. The school has a full day program.

"I think it's important to catch kids early on to get those socialization skills... just to work on getting a head start," said Whitney McMillin, who supports full day kindergarten.

Teachers, administrators and school board members thought so, too, but not without some reservation.

"I have a really, really difficult time approving this program when I haven't seen the money there to cover them," said school board president Sheila Bergeron.

But they do have a solution.

"We're going to take what the state gives us, and we're going to make cuts in April to pay for it," said board member Marcia Hummel.

The problem with that plan, some say?

"You have no idea what that means - whether it's people, programs, whatever. That's likely to impact children," said Carolyn Peterson, National Education Association South Bend President.

Parents said school spending is about prioritizing, and full day kindergarten is at the top of their list. Some were even willing to foot some of the bill themselves.

"I'm willing to pay for things I see as important. I think it would be worth it," McMillin said.

The question now: What isn't worth enough and could be cut? With the corporation's budget already stretched paper thin, there is no easy answer.

For Williams, there is also only one: "Wherever it needs to be cut, that's where it needs to be."

All 1,600 of the corporation's kindergartners will begin full days this fall. The board will take a closer look at those potential cuts on April 13.

The school board also voted 6-1 to start and "early college" program.
About 100 students who wouldn't otherwise qualify for college will help "pilot" the program at Riley High School.

Again, there are questions about funding. There is enough matching grant money committed to get the program off the ground. Hummel says administrators haven't accounted for full transportation or textbook costs, and she says the corporation can't afford to foot that bill.

And It appears there may be a speed bump that could delay the opening of a New Tech High School for at least a year.

Superintendent James Kapsa told the board he secured enough money to pay for start up costs and to remove asbestos and mold in the Marycrest Building.

The corporation needs to raise another $1.3 million in donations by June to finish remodeling the building and staffing it in time to open this fall.

Some board members say the Marycrest Building is not a good fit for the program, but Kapsa said action is needed soon.

"If, in fact, we decide to go on, then we need to start recruiting. If we're going to delay it, then we have to look back on how that's going to affect the entire project," he said.

Several board members already want to delay the opening until 2010.
They also talked about putting the program at Eggleston School next year, while looking for a permanent building. Board members must decide next week.