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Fort Knox Schools teachers, administrators preparing for changes in new academic year

By Eric PilgrimAugust 2, 2024

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Four-year-olds will be attending school this year! Van Voorhis Elementary School students will be learning in a brand-new building!

Fort Knox Schools teachers, administrators preparing for changes in new academic year
As anticipation grows for the start of the Fort Knox Schools 2024-25 academic year, administrators are asking parents to know what their roles are. (Photo Credit: Jenn DeHaan, Fort Knox News archive image) VIEW ORIGINAL

While these changes have been anticipated for a while, the excitement has been growing over the summer, says the new superintendent at Fort Knox Schools, Kimberly Dunn. Especially exciting for her is the entrance of Universal Prekindergarten.

“It’s been something we’ve wanted,” said Dunn, who started at Fort Knox June 2. “Overseas, we had Sure Start, which is very similar.”

According to the Department of Defense Education Activity, Sure Start is a full-time preschool program “designed for eligible military children and families living overseas, including in Europe.”

“The difference with Sure Start is you had to qualify based on risk factors,” said Dunn. “With Universal Pre-K, you don’t have to qualify.”

This is her first time at Fort Knox since starting her education career 24 years ago. She’s been in DODEA schools since 2010.

Dunn said there are some misconceptions with Universal Pre-K. One misconception is that the 4-year-olds will be interacting with older children.

“Everything that [the children] need will be provided in their class, or even in their outdoor learning environment,” said Dunn. “It’s almost all done in their setting. They will eat there; they will play there; they really won’t mingle with the other grades. But they will get to participate in some big programs going on – book fairs or assemblies, for instance.”

The excitement for them will be getting to go to school with the big kids, said Dunn.

“I remember when my boys were getting ready to go to school, all going to middle school, and they had their big backpacks,” said Dunn. “My 4-year-old had on his backpack and thought he was going to school, too. He wasn’t. He was going to daycare.

“I think the kids will be excited to go with their big brothers or sisters; to them they’re going to the big school, but really they’re going to our Universal Pre-K – still at the big school.”

The 4-year-olds will be learning from a play-based curriculum, according to Dunn, who said at least one hour of their time will be devoted to it.

“The students themselves will direct where they go and what they want to do during their time,” said Dunn.

Another misconception is rest time for the universal pre-k students. Dunn said it’s not naptime, just a quiet time. The children can either nap during that time or sit quietly.

Fort Knox Schools liaison Brenda Weatherington said some of the issues that parents may face is getting their children to and from school. According to the new Fort Knox policy – Memo No. 9 dated Jan. 22 – parents must supervise their younger children to and from school.

“Under the age of 3rd Grade, students must be supervised within the neighborhoods on the way to and from school,” said Weatherington. “Some people have asked if their 3rd Grader can accompany their kindergartner sibling. No. The maturity of a child in kindergarten is not that 3rd Grader’s responsibility. That is a parent’s responsibility.”

Parents with 4-year-olds who need to get to work early and work late and have signed up to drop their children off at the child development center will still need to register their children at the school. The schools will be responsible for busing the children to and from the childcare development centers.

Fort Knox Schools teachers, administrators preparing for changes in new academic year
One big change in the new academic year is an installation policy that states children below 3rd Grade must be escorted to and from school by a parent or guardian. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News archive image) VIEW ORIGINAL

Another misconception that has surfaced is the suggestion that children under 3rd Grade can ride their bikes to and from school unsupervised.

“That policy refers to children getting to and from school – whether walking, on a bike or a surfboard,” said Weatherington.

Dunn wants parents to pay attention to when each of the schools open the drive-up lines to receive children.

“Sometimes parents will drop their kids off early because they have something to do,” said Dunn. “Nobody is there watching and providing the supervision that their child needs.”

The elementary schools, to include universal pre-k, and Scott Intermediate School, will start receiving children at 8 a.m.

Weatherington also emphasized caution at the crosswalks. She is asking parents to teach their children to stop, look and listen before crossing the streets.

Fort Knox Schools teachers, administrators preparing for changes in new academic year
Fort Knox Policy Memo 9 – “Installation Child and Youth Supervision” dated Jan. 23, 2024, spells out the changes parents need to know for the new academic year. (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Fort Knox Garrison) VIEW ORIGINAL

“Use your eyes, use your ears, and then use your feet,” said Weatherington. “That’s the parents’ responsibility for getting them across the crosswalk. There are no crossing guards that man the crosswalks.”

Elementary and intermediate students in 3rd Grade and above within a one-mile radius of their schools are authorized to walk to and from school. For middle high schoolers in 7th-12 grades, it’s 1 ½ miles. Buses are offered for students living beyond those limits.

Weatherington said police officers will be out throughout the school year watching to ensure motorists don’t pass school buses that are stopped to pick up children. The police will be ticketing violators.

“If motorists are passing, they will be cited,” said Weatherington. “That’s an automatic fine and they can lose their driving privileges on the installation.”

Weatherington and Dunn both urged parents to keep positive control of their children to ensure a smooth and safe start to the school year.

“There will be a lot going on at the start of school, especially now that there are 4-year-olds,” said Weatherington. “It’s the parents’ responsibility to make sure their young children and safe.”