SCHOOLS: Kindergarten complaints

I am writing this letter to inform and bring awareness to the public about the decisions and policies of a local school district. Post Falls School District is the ONLY district in the region to still only offer part-day kindergarten options for kindergarten students.

While neighboring districts have made provisions over several years to provide full day options for families, Post Falls has failed to be able to make that a priority or a change.

Furthermore, Post Falls School District is not able to accommodate the state required instructional hours for students within the short day, and has therefore cut all recess for all kindergarten students in the district. Let me say that again, kindergarten students in Post Falls do not have any access to outdoor recess.

Can you imagine the disappointment a child must feel to go to school and never get recess? Can you imagine watching all the other children get to go play outside and you never can? We should all know how important outdoor play and breaks are for everyone; especially 5-year-olds.

While all school districts are getting funding to provide free meals for all children, kindergarten students in Post Falls are not offered any food during this part-day model. While other districts are providing full-day instruction with recess and meals, our kindergarten students are missing out and experiencing unfair inequities due to the poor planning of the adults in the system.

I have reached out to the district with little response back.

RACHEL EIFLER

Post Falls