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A Mt. Lebanon School Board committee studying a possible move to full-day kindergarten will present its findings Tuesday to a district task force.

Made up of district staff, parents and residents, the committee interviewed officials at eight schools, researched the potential impact and studied various full-day kindergarten programs. The school board is expected to decide in late May or early June on whether to switch from half- to full-day kindergarten starting in the 2006-07 academic year.

"The trend statewide seems to be moving in the direction of a full-day program," said acting Superintendent George Wilson. "But we need to see if this is the right move for our district."

Eighty-seven of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts and 15 of 43 in Allegheny County offer full-day kindergarten, according to the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

Cost will be a key factor in deciding whether to go full-day at Mt. Lebanon, Wilson said. The district would have to add teachers. Mt. Lebanon currently has 11 kindergarten teachers, four of them part-time. The district has space to handle full-day kindergarten, officials said.

Tacy Byham, of Vernon Drive, hopes the district makes the switch. Her son Spencer begins kindergarten next fall. Byham, who recently attended a school orientation, was dismayed to learn that the district has yet to move to full-day kindergarten.

"I plan to supplement my son's day with a kindergarten enrichment program every afternoon," she said. "I know of other families who plan to have their child in private kindergarten to allow them a full academic day of curriculum."

Noel and Sharon Slater, of Hazel Drive, have mixed feelings. They have two daughters, one in kindergarten and one who will attend in 2007.

"Obviously, it's nice to have the kids home with you," said Sharon Slater. "Then again, I think it is better for them to be in a full-day program."

Associate Superintendent Pamela Pulkowski said feelings are strong on both sides.

"This decision is going to be made after we have gathered as much research as possible and received input from the community," she said.

Josephine Posti, who serves on the task force and is the mother of a first-grader at Lincoln Elementary and a 3-year old, said parents are eager for answers.

"We're trying to do our due diligence to get the pulse of the community and communicate our findings so we can make the best decision," she said.

Posti's son Jacob attended half-day kindergarten at Jubilee Christian School. The school went to full-day classes for five days to help students prepare for the longer days in elementary school.

"The kids were so excited," Posti said. "What I saw from those full days is that the students were able to accomplish the same amount within their curriculum but in a more relaxed atmosphere. There was just more time to transition between activities and there was more social interaction."

Mt. Lebanon has 336 kindergarten students in its seven elementary schools.

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