Free, Full-Day Kindergarten Will Depend on Parent Interest

Superintendent Eric Knost said during Mehlville’s School Board meeting that it was his desire to offer all children free, full-day kindergarten. The decision to offer it, however, will not come unless parents want it.

“We don’t know how many people will take advantage of it,” Knost said. “We need some hard numbers first before making a decision.”

Knost said that, based on previous enrollment numbers, there are 934 potential students that could enroll in full day kindergarten. He said the program would be funded by the state, but that is also dependent upon enrollment.

Knost added that he would like to keep the option of half day kindergarten available if there are enough children in the building that want it. If only a few students are enrolled in half day, however, parents could still take the out of school halfway through the day.

In order to find out how many parents are interested in a free, full-day option, enrollment will take place earlier this year. Sometime in October, parents will receive enrollment forms asking them which option they would preferr.

“By December, we want to have the ability to either recommend it for next year or not,” Knost said.

Knost said he hoped parents will choose the full day option.

“Full day is the way to go,” he said.