REGION 15 PILOTS AM KINDERGARTEN DELAYED OPENING SCHEDULE

  In the past, when inclement weather made it necessary to delay the opening of school, Region 15 has cancelled morning Kindergarten. Only the afternoon Kindergarten classes were held.

  The past practice of a ninety-minute delay (and AM Kindergarten cancellation) raised a level of concern regarding the equality for AM Kindergarten students, prompting consideration of a new delayed opening schedule for these children. There have been seven delays this school year.

  In order to ensure that these children receive enough quality teaching time, Dr. Frank Sippy, Region 15 school superintendent, is piloting a new system for morning Kindergartners. On days when the district has a ninety-minute delayed opening, morning Kindergarten will now no longer be cancelled, but rather the students will start school ninety-minutes later than the regular starting time.

  On delayed opening days, afternoon Kindergarten classes will follow their regular daily schedule.

  “This is an issue of lost instructional time,” said Dr. Frank Sippy, Region 15 school superintendent.

  The new schedule will begin after the mid-Winter break in February. The district is announcing the change now in order to give parents and caregivers as much advanced notice as possible to make new accommodations for the late opening plans.

  “We are piloting the new schedule for the rest of this school year and are looking for parent and teacher feedback,” said Dr. Sippy. “We’ll make any adjustments to the Kindergarten schedule next year, if necessary,” said Dr. Sippy.