Before voting 8-0 to adopt full-day kindergarten Monday night, the Butler School Board heard a presentation on the benefits of making the switch from a half-day session.

Julie Hopp, the district's director of curriculum, instruction and professional development, cited research showing that full-day kindergarten and reading skills benefit students throughout their education. Studies have found that 85 percent of juvenile offenders have problems with reading, Hopp said.

Brian White, district superintendent, in an interview, said that families who have already enrolled their child in kindergarten will get a letter from the district informing them about the change.

The district will offer these families the chance to meet with the principal of their elementary school. A half-day, morning program will still be offered for next year, because some families had already made arrangements for their children, White said.

Mid-day transportation will not be offered for half-day students.

In the budgeting process, administrators were anticipating 23 sections of kindergarten with 20 students per class — totaling 460 students. This year the district has about 400 kindergarten students.

A full story appears in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.