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Nerad Details His First-Year Vision To Madison School Board
New Superintendant Interested In 4-Year-Old Kindergarten, High School Technology
UPDATED: 8:53 am CDT July 15,
2008
MADISON, Wis. -- For the past two weeks, Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendant Dan Nerad has been learning the ropes in Madison. He said he has been doing a lot of listening and learning.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportOn Monday, he officially brought his ideas to the Madison School Board, for the first time laying out a vision for his first year as superintendant."I guess my hope, over time, is that while I'm learning about the Madison Metropolitan School District that I can also help inform the school district of important new directions I hope we can take over time," said Nerad.One idea Nerad said he believes should be revisited in Madison is 4-year-old kindergarten.The district has tried to lay the groundwork for the program, but a hefty price tag has been the major stumbling block."We know that it's right around 60 percent of Wisconsin public school districts now have a 4-year-old kindergarten program to advance that level of learning in relationship to school standards, curriculum and standards that much earlier," said Nerad. "I think we have an obligation to take a fresh look at that and see if that program is possible."One school district taking that leap this year is Green Bay, Nerad's former district.The 2008-2009 school year will be the first year of 4K in that district.Former Superintendant Art Rainwater sent letters to the governor trying to change the way state funding comes to schools involved in the program.Educational experts said the startup costs for 4K can be prohibitive. Under the current system, school districts have to cover the entire cost for the first year of the program.After the first year, the state kicks in two-thirds of the funding and covers the full cost after four years.A study the Madison school district did in 2004 estimated the startup costs for 4K to be around $7 million, which could be tough to find in the current budget.Nerad also said he wants to look at the city's high schools and determine whether there can be some specialized programming developed to better prepare students with technology and civic literacy skills.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportOn Monday, he officially brought his ideas to the Madison School Board, for the first time laying out a vision for his first year as superintendant."I guess my hope, over time, is that while I'm learning about the Madison Metropolitan School District that I can also help inform the school district of important new directions I hope we can take over time," said Nerad.One idea Nerad said he believes should be revisited in Madison is 4-year-old kindergarten.The district has tried to lay the groundwork for the program, but a hefty price tag has been the major stumbling block."We know that it's right around 60 percent of Wisconsin public school districts now have a 4-year-old kindergarten program to advance that level of learning in relationship to school standards, curriculum and standards that much earlier," said Nerad. "I think we have an obligation to take a fresh look at that and see if that program is possible."One school district taking that leap this year is Green Bay, Nerad's former district.The 2008-2009 school year will be the first year of 4K in that district.Former Superintendant Art Rainwater sent letters to the governor trying to change the way state funding comes to schools involved in the program.Educational experts said the startup costs for 4K can be prohibitive. Under the current system, school districts have to cover the entire cost for the first year of the program.After the first year, the state kicks in two-thirds of the funding and covers the full cost after four years.A study the Madison school district did in 2004 estimated the startup costs for 4K to be around $7 million, which could be tough to find in the current budget.Nerad also said he wants to look at the city's high schools and determine whether there can be some specialized programming developed to better prepare students with technology and civic literacy skills. Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
