Next school year Bluffton Exempted Village Schools will implement all-day kindergarten in tandem with the existing two-year, half-day program.

During the Jan. 15 Bluffton school board meeting all-day kindergarten proposal passed by a 3-2 vote. Voting in favor of the plan were Ken Lugibihl, Rene Smith and Jeremy Scoles. Voting against the plan were Wes Klinger and Brad Fruchey.

Greg Denecker, Bluffton superintendent explained to the Icon, the reasoning for the change, saying that there are many reasons for moving to an all-day format for our students.

• First, research suggests that all-day kindergarten helps to bridge the gap between kindergarten and first grade. The all-day format will more than double the academic time our kindergarten teachers will have with their students. 

• Second, research indicates that early intervention for at-risk students yields higher academic benefits for those students. Again, the increased teacher-student contact time will allow these students more opportunities for academic success. 

• Third, the Ohio Department of Education and our state legislature continue to increase the number of standards and assessments that apply to our elementary students. As a result, more time is needed to prepare our students for these assessments and standards so that students may achieve the skill and knowledge-levels needed to move onto the next grade. The all-day format helps fulfill that need.

He said that while some may have mixed emotions with this decision, Bluffton is one of the last districts in the area to change from a half-day to an all-day kindergarten format.

“About 90 percent of all Ohio schools have implemented all-day kindergarten,” said Denecker. “While we do not have to follow what every other school district does just for the sake of conformity, it is imperative that our students are given every opportunity to succeed, especially as the new assessments are implemented. 

“We know these assessments will be more rigorous than in the past and that there will be a need for higher critical thinking skills at all grade levels tested.  With that said, parents who strongly oppose the all-day format will still have the option of picking up their children after the half-day is over.”

Bluffton will continue to offer the two-year kindergarten program in a half-day format, as it currently exists. 

The superintendent said that the two-year kindergarten program has been successful, and Bluffton will continue to offer it as long as there is a need in the district. 

He added that the Ohio Department of Education notified the school district that Bluffton is eligible, based on current enrollment numbers, for a funding increase to cover the cost of any additional teachers needed to implement the all-day kindergarten program.

“Our district has an extremely strong academic record and tradition,” he said. “It is in our students’ best interests to continue to prepare them to excel among their peers across the state and the nation.”

Parents with questions or concerns may contact Tim Closson, elementary principal, or Denecker in the superintendent’s office.