School Budget Includes Full-Day Kindergarten

District 13 school officials took another step this week toward offering full-day kindergarten this year.

On Wednesday night, Superintendent Susan Viccaro proposal which included spending on full-day kindergarten starting in August. Under the proposal, full-day kindergarten would be offered at no additional cost by "shifting current resources," Viccaro said.

Three teaching positions would be moved from upper grade levels where enrollment is declining, to kindergarten. In addition, approximately $73,000 in transportation savings would provide the additional funding needed to purchase supplies, furniture and pay for three teacher assistant positions.

See below for the complete full-day kindergarten expenditure analysis

Viccaro laid out her proposal to add full-day kindergarten in 15-page summary given to board members. The proposal would increase the school day from 2 hours, 40 minutes to 6 hours, 30 minutes — additional time Viccaro and several others have said is needed to prepare students for the Common Core standards.

Prior to the discussion, parents weighed in on the proposal to add full-day kindergarten.

Christine Montgomery, a licensed clinical social worker whose 4-year-old daughter will enter kindergarten in the fall, said full-day kindergarten will give teachers more time to connect with their students.

"For my daughter, it will also be a time of fewer transitions and disruptions in her day and I'm sure that it's like that for other parents as well," Montgomery said.

Denise Brennan, who teaches first grade in Glastonbury, said she supports full-day kindergarten both as a parent and an educator.

"There's just not enough time to do everything we need to do and that full-day would allow us not to cram more curriculum really into the program but allow us to teach the curriculum that's already there," she said.

Viccaro said if the board decided not to offer full-day kindergarten in the fall, the district would save about $150,000 next year due to the elimination of the teaching positions.

"This is the year 2012. The time has come," said Chet Raczka, a Durham resident and former chairman of the Board of Education. He said the board would face criticism either way. "So do what's right for the kids."

Full-Day Kindergarten By-The-Numbers

Projected Savings

• FY13 Cost of current Grades 1,2 & 5 teachers           $150,258
• Transportation (eliminate mid-day run)                      $73,200
• Health benefit for 2 retiring teachers                         $33,000

                                                                            Total: $256,458

Projected Costs

• Three new kindergarten teachers                           $150,258
• One kindergartener moved to full-time                   $23,100
• 1.5 teachers assistants                                          $27,240
• Classroom equipment & furniture                           $4,989
• Books                                                                     $786
• Curriculum Development                                       $5,250
• Professional Development                                         $960
• Supplies                                                                $3,479
• Health Benefits for new employees                          $40,000

                                                                            Total: $256,242