Resolution

This past Friday, we received a letter in the mail from Superintendent Dawn Tarzian. This is what it read:

November 20, 2007

Dear Ron and Denise,

Thank you for you patience in waiting for this response regarding your complaint about the kindergarten enrichment program at the Corvallis School District. It appears that the one unresolved issue involved the right of children of "low-income families" to attend without tuition any supplemental kindergarten program offered beyond half time. We contacted the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to seek guidance. As you have heard from Representative Gelser, ODE will not share the attorney opinion regarding this matter.

In light of this news, we contacted the district's attorney once again to seek guidance. As a result, beginning this school year, the kindergarten enrichment program will be free to low-income families who registered for this option.

Your inquiries raised issues that needed clarification and I am glad to tell you that we have worked with principals to clarify how the kindergarten program will work. Transportation will be provided for families who live beyond one mile from their neighborhood school. The basic kindergarten program will be explained as the main program that provides the academic and social structure for kindergarten students. The supplemental program extending the time at school for kindergarten students will be referred to as enrichment, rather than all-day kindergarten. I use the term "enrichment" because it is not an academic program that offers any teaching beyond the regular kindergarten program. And now, rather than providing limited or partial scholarships, low-income families can send their students to attend the enrichment portion without tuition.

If you still feel that your complaint is unsatisfied, please contact Julie Catala to arrange an appeal hearing with the school board.

Sincerely,

Dawn Tarzian
Superintendent


We are a bit confused by the statement regarding ODE refusing to share the attorney opinion, mostly because have heard no such thing from Representative Gelser. Nonetheless, we are pleased with this resolution. We hope that the principals have been properly instructed, and are anxious to attend the kindergarten meetings in the coming months.

We passed the news on to Representative Gelser and Jennifer Moody.