Mequon-Thiensville School District adding a 4-K program in 2015, and some aren't happy about it

MEQUON (WITI) -- The Mequon-Thiensville School Board on Monday evening, November 17th voted to add a 4-K program for the 2015-2016 school year -- and it's a decision not everyone is happy with.

"Am I against it? Absolutely. I think it`s a ridiculous program," Alex Mazur said.

Mazur runs the Kids Rule Academy -- an early-childhood education and daycare center in Mequon. He says the school board's decision to offer 4-K next year won't affect his enrollment, but he says he's sounding off for the kids.

"They`re not ready. They`re just simply not ready, physically and emotionally. They are not ready for this much stress. They are not ready to ride public transportation school buses. They are not ready to be exposed to an elementary school setting," Mazur said.

Lumen Christi Catholic School offers kindergarten for three and four year olds, but its students receive a faith-based education. The school's director of recruitment says she doesn't expect the Mequon-Thiensville School District's new 4-K program to take away from its enrollment.

"I think the school district is doing it primarily for a financial reason. They see that more students in their classrooms means more money from the state," Laura Rowe said.

"All they needed was money to cover the hole in their budget -- simple as that," Mazur said.

Mequon-Thiensville Superintendent Demond Means says the decision was simply to give families in the community an option.

"We understand that for an equity standpoint, every single family in the Mequon-Thiensville community can`t afford a private opportunity or private option," Means said.

93% of the school districts in the state of Wisconsin have some form of kindergarten for four year olds. The Mequon-Thiesville School District has become the latest school district to add the option.

"We continue to believe a four-year-old kindergarten program is good for children from an academic standpoint," Means said.

Registration for the Mequon-Thiensville 4-K program begins in January 2015.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Mequon-Thiensville School District.