Comments on: Would You Pay $3,055 For Full Day Pre-K?

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:47:22 +0000

That jives with what I read during a similar kitchen sink search.

By: karass

karass — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:39:23 +0000

Whoa, you had me in a taxpayer panic for a second, thinking that the 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue was as expensive as a new stadium (although it is certainly as valuable IMHO). So I did one of those kitchen sink searches through CSD eBoard (aaargh! Why isn’t there a decent search function?!) and found a document from the 11/09/2009 Board meeting that seems to suggest that the school is only costing 8.4 million. But while there, I found a paragraph that supports what Rachel Fiore had posted–CSD seemed to be hoping that SPLOST IV-VIII would allow us to pay the debt instead of having to use the general fund:

Financial Impact

“$10 million capital lease financing to be paid back through general fund. The financing strategy utilizes interest only payments (under $400,000) for the first 3 years, and the remaining 22 years would be principal and interest payments (under $700,000). The long term plan considers moving the obligation from the general fund to the capital fund when the SPLOST IV referendum is on the ballot. “

By: Robbie

Robbie — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:11:01 +0000

Football is very educational:

PreK: Teaches kids to count from 1- 4 (First through Fourth downs)
K: Teaches counting to ten (1st & 10, 2nd & 8, etc.)
1st Grade: Teaches counting up to 15 (Personal Foul, fifteen yard penalty)
2nd grade: Teaches numbers up to 50 (50 yard-line on down)

Once you accept the educational merits of sports then spending $400M for a stadium doesn’t seem so crazy. Isn’t that the same amount we’re spending on the 4/5 academy?

By: karass

karass — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:32:43 +0000

I stand corrected and don’t want to take anything away from the parents and CSD staff who were part of the renaissance. Having a high quality preK in CSD probably just built upon that renaissance. But I do remember a time when it seemed like two-income families in Decatur were sending their kids straight to Paideia, The Children’s School, Cliff Valley, The Friends School, Arbor Montessori, St. Thomas More, Waldorf, etc. without even considering CSD. The preK option gave them pause for thought because it was better than leaving kids one more year in daycare before they went on to private elementary school. I know of families who then got hooked on the concept of the neighborhood elementary school. Before that they just transitioned right from driving them to daycare on their way to work to driving them to private school on their way to work.

By: another pre-k teacher

another pre-k teacher — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:11:00 +0000

Sharon-

The way the state is funding the 1/2 day includes 4 instructional hours and 1 hour of planning for the teacher. I can’t see anyway that 2 half days could be a viable option because that would make for a teacher who works longer than 8 hours/day. For instance, arriving at 7:00 first session 730-1130. Lunch. Second session 1200-400. Planning 400-500. Plus, Bright from the Start has tons of documentation and assessment requirements for students. Doubling the number for the teacher would make it very difficult.

By: just cranky

just cranky — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:07:16 +0000

The CSD renaissance began long before the late 1990s; more like 1990 and on, before Zell Miller and the lottery. The elementary schools were overcrowded by 1996 and the renovations and expansions began shortly after. It’s interesting how if you weren’t here then, it didn’t happen.

By: nelliebelle1197

nelliebelle1197 — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:45:21 +0000

The preK teachers have always been CSD employees. Only the 0-3 program was affected by the YMCA getting the boot.

By: Chrissy Weeks

Chrissy Weeks — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:22:56 +0000

I pay more than that for private preschool because even tough I live in Decatur I could not get my child into College Heights. And yes I am thankful I can afford to do so and I realize not everyone can. It does bother me that the system is not fair.