By Tom Jordan
After weighing the pros and cons of expanding the current half-day kindergarten format at public hearings over the past five months, the Rockville Centre Board of Education is still undecided on whether to add the cost of an all-day program to next year's school budget.
After analyzing everything from curriculum to space-utilization in prior meetings, the board presented an overview of what the program might cost to an audience of about twenty-five on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Board members estimate the price tag will be between $544,000 and $670,000 per year.
Much of the expense, approximately $510,000, would go towards paying the salaries of the new teachers needed to implement a longer program. The district currently employs teachers to cover 5.5 full-time equivalent positions, and a full-day program would require up to an additional 8.5 full-time positions be filled.
If the district went the route of hiring full-time teachers for music, art and physical education, it would cost the district another $150,000. An alternative to that is the hiring of aides for those special classes, which would cost substantially less about $25,000.
Approximately $18,000 of the cost increase expected with all-day k could be offset by the elimination of midday bus runs.
Some members of the board expressed disappointment during the meeting that the hearings have not provided more definitive feedback from the community.
During the portion of the meeting in which visitors address the board, at least twelve residents commented. But an informal vote in which board President Meg Koch asked for a show of hands appeared dead-even. Board member Bill Burke said he counted ten for the program and eleven against.
However, residents who did speak were adamant about their positions.
This will never be a dead issue until we have this, said Brandy Young, a resident. Other districts that have instituted all-day programs are not reversing themselves. There must be some benefit. I want my kids to benefit from an extended program now, not somebody else's kids five to seven years from now.
Of the 55 school districts that comprise Nassau County, 30 offer all-day kindergarten. Baldwin is expected to begin an all-day program next year.
Another parent was less supportive of the program. Do we really need to push our children when they're five?
