
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 2, 1993                   TAG: 9312020131
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MICHAEL CSOLLANY
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

RADFORD ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN PLAN COMES IN FOR CRITICISM

A plan to start all-day kindergarten in Radford schools by shifting grades\ from one school to another was criticized by several board members and school\ principals.

School Board member Betty Plott suggested that third graders be moved to\ Belle Heth Elementary School, so that a proposed all-day kindergarten program\ could start at McHarg Elementary School.

In turn the sixth grade would be moved from Belle Heth to John N. Dalton\ Intermediate School. Through "flex-scheduling" some students arriving earlier\ and others departing later - and through mobile units, Plott said the school\ could absorb the extra students.

Superintendent Michael Wright and Dalton Principal Robert Young said that flex-scheduling would be difficult, if not impossible, given current space limitations.

Board member Chip Craig said the achievement of the sixth graders could be at risk if they are moved to a campus that includes high school students. "The scores of our sixth graders are going to be diluted if they're moved from being the big kid on the block" at Belle Heth to the "low person on the food chain," at Dalton, he said.

Wright also said transportation arrangements would make busing difficult for flex-scheduling.

Plott's suggestion was one of several heard at the Radford School Board's work session Tuesday night on all-day kindergarten. Board members said no decision will be made until after its retreat in early 1994.

Radford is one of only 20 school systems in the state with half-day kindergarten, and many educators in the district are supporting a proposal to move to all-day kindergarten. Other proposals heard at Tuesday night's meeting included:

Board member Carter Effler suggested an all-day kindergarten program only for students at risk.

"All the studies seem to say that educationally disadvantaged people need all-day kindergarten more," he said. "Would it be possible to identify these children in January and make an all-day kindergarten for them (for the rest of the school year)?" he asked.

Other board members noted the possibility that construction might be required if kindergarten couldn't be started using existing buildings.

Such planning should consider all the long-term space needs of the schools, board members said.

"If we're going to get into any major construction, we're going to need much more than our usual 6-year plan," Board Chairman Guy Gentry said.

by CNB