SD43 welcomes all-day kindergarten, says superintendent
The Tri-City News
By Diane Strandberg
August 27, 2009

All-day kindergarten, if it comes to School District 43, won't replace half-day kindergarten and won't be all work and no play.

School District 43 superintendent Tom Grant welcomed the news in Tuesday's throne speech that the province has recommitted itself to introducing all-day kindergarten for five-year-olds in September 2010.

"We're ready to implement it," said Grant, noting the district has done a great deal of leg work in advance of the expansion. But he said he is awaiting more details to see how the program will be rolled out.

Among the issues that have to be dealt with is finding — and paying for — trained teachers as well as finding classroom space.

But Grant said he welcomes the announcement because all-day kindergarten can improve school success for children.

A lot of preparation has gone into how it would fit in with early learning programs in the district, Grant said, and the need for extra classroom space will be considered in a facilities review this fall….

"We would look at what's developmentally appropriate."

He also said parents would be given the choice of enrolling their children in either half-day or full-day kindergarten.