SAD 21 leader Thomas Ward was happy with how two public meetings went on the subject.
CANTON – Following two public hearings on the pending merger between SAD 21 and the Peru School Department, SAD 21 Superintendent Thomas Ward is pleased.
He said there were “very good questions” being asked and attendance at both hearings – 30 at Monday’s in Carthage and 36 at Tuesday’s in Canton – revealed positive outlooks toward the merger.
He attributed this to the facts of the merger process being fully explained.
“I’m trying to be fair to everyone involved, but this merger is not going to make everyone happy,” Ward said.
A majority of Canton residents at the meeting, though, wanted to discuss the aspect of all-day kindergarten. That’s something they don’t have in Canton.
But if the merger is approved, and the state builds a new $10 million school to satisfy overcrowding and lack of space needs, Ward said the new SAD 21 could then provide all-day kindergarten classes and pre-kindergarten classes.
Some parents, however, wanted to see SAD 21 start offering all-day kindergarten now.
“Right now, we don’t have the space to have full-day K. But if people want it, they have to speak up for it, and we’ll see how we can do it. Maybe we can have a full-day K if the board feels that in all of our communities it’s fiscally responsible,” Ward added.
He said parents do not have to send their children to kindergarten because it’s not state law to do so.
But, “in our rural area, where both parents of families are working to survive, it really makes sense to offer all-day K,” Ward added.
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