To the editor:

Kudos to the Mehlville Board of Education and our leaders in administration for unanimously approving tuition-free, full-day kindergarten, effective with the 2013-2014 school year.

Research overwhelmingly shows that early intervention pays off big time later in a child’s education.

This is a big victory for our community and children. Opponents to full-time kindergarten have valid points that should not be dismissed, but when weighing the scales, it’s lopsided compared to providing this service.

Mehlville is one of the last school districts in the state of Missouri to adopt this.

When young families make a decision on where to live and raise a family, this is one factor they will consider. I know firsthand that we have lost families to other communities that provide this service.

It’s nice to see our board working together toward a common goal of making our school district a better place to educate our children, one day at a time. Huge dividends pay off down the road when children are given more opportunities to succeed.

Our legacy will be defined by how well we raise and educate our children. This is a big step in the right direction.