Huron school leaders propose optional junior kindergarten at Buchanan, say no new funding needed

Heather Devore, principal at Buchanan, and Rhonda Klute, the district’s preschool partnership coordinator, presented a proposal for a voluntary junior kindergarten option at the Huron School District during the Jan. 27 special board meeting. Devore said the program is intended for children who are age‑eligible for kindergarten but who may benefit socially and academically from a less formal year before entering regular kindergarten. “This proposal is not asking for any additional funding or staffing at this point,” Devore said.

The district would locate junior kindergarten at Buchanan, provide the same access to breakfast, lunch and specials as regular kindergarten, and follow district hours. Devore said the program would use South Dakota kindergarten standards and the state’s early learning guidelines, teach thematic units (reading, language arts, pre‑math), and emphasize social and self‑regulation skills. The district proposed capping the first JK class at 15–18 students and starting a wait list if demand exceeds capacity. Devore described a potential half‑day option if families prefer it and noted that students enrolled in JK would be placed in regular kindergarten the following year.

During board discussion, members asked about retention rates and eligibility for students with special education needs. Devore said the district has observed higher retention locally than in nearby districts and hopes JK could reduce the need for repeating kindergarten. She told the board JK could be an option recommended by a student’s team, including parents, for children who would benefit from an additional year of development. The preschool community in Huron, Devore and Klute said, has been supportive; Klute reported nine preschools and roughly 193 kindergarten‑age children in local preschool programs.

Superintendent Dr. Steinhoff told the board he supports the idea and said he would place junior kindergarten on the next board agenda as a new business item with a recommendation to approve. The board did not take a formal vote on the proposal at the Jan. 27 meeting; Steinhoff’s announcement sets the item for a future decision.

Next steps: the board will consider junior kindergarten as new business on the next regular agenda, where members can vote on a formal implementation plan and any staffing or budget changes if enrollment projections require them.