parent power  By Dr. Jo Lynne DeMary 

Where Will We Put the Preschoolers?

Q During the 2008 General Assembly session, there was so much discussion regarding pre-kindergarten programs. My child’s school is crowded and already uses 10 trailers for classrooms. How are we supposed to accommodate 4-year-olds?
 
A Certainly your district is not expected to implement this program without adequate space to do so. Space considerations are especially important for young active children. Many other districts besides your own do not have enough room in school buildings to serve eligible students.
 
The Virginia Preschool Initiative is actually 12 years old. Currently, money is available to serve almost 19,000 Virginia 4-year-olds who meet various criteria for being at risk of not succeeding in kindergarten and beyond. The Governor seeks to expand the VPI program considerably over the next few years.
 
If we subscribe to the research showing that children who attend high-quality preschool programs are more likely to finish school, find good jobs and are less likely to commit a crime, then perhaps districts need to be more creative in locating spaces to house these programs and partnering with other agencies that serve young families.
 
 
Q I am concerned about what appears to be an increase in incidences of school violence. In some cases the school is locked down. Does this mean I can’t pick up my child from the school when this occurs?
 
A The concept of a school lockdown does involve a “no one in, no one out” scenario. Children are not permitted to leave the school during a lockdown, nor are persons allowed in. 
 
The purpose of the lockdown is to protect our teachers and young people. Doors are locked, and the children must follow the directives of school administrators. Usually school administrators and law enforcement officers are trained to handle these situations, and schools have written lockdown procedures. 
 
On the other hand, school division personnel need to be sensitive to parental concerns. They should utilize effective communication tools during these occasions so parents receive accurate information and know that students are OK and that the situation is under control. 
 
Parents also need to know how to access their students and where and when to pick them up. It is important for parents and the community to understand these procedures before an incident actually occurs that necessitates lockdown implementation. 

Jo Lynne DeMary was superintendent of public instruction for Virginia and is currently director of the Center for School Improvement at VCU. She believes that parents empowered by knowledge are the best partners in their children’s education.

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