Full-Day Kindergarten Hot Topic for Little Silver Board of Ed

The suggestion of moving to a Full-Day Kindergarten program was the major topic discussed at the Little Silver Board Of Education Meeting held on Thursday, Sept. 15 at Library.

While an official vote to go ahead with the project wasn’t held, board members were in complete agreement in regards to moving ahead with at least bringing an architect into the picture to start working on the plans to expand the classrooms at .

With many options available, Superintendent Dr. Carolyn M. Kossack recommended the option involving the addition of two classrooms. Otherwise, she suggests doing nothing at all.

To keep the Kindergarten classrooms at a size small enough (student-wise) as to not hinder the students’ chances of learning, this move would bring the total number of Kindergarten classrooms to five. The technology program would be the only room requiring relocation.

With a tremendous amount of research having been done by Kossack and Business Administrator Board Secretary Amy S. Lerner, they found that construction of this magnitude could cost between $750,000 and $1,000,000. The construction would involve creating two more Kindergarten classrooms within the Point Road building.

It was discussed that funds for this venture could be attained by utilizing $250,000 from their capital reserve. In addition, a $750,000 referendum was also discussed. Kevin Brennan would like to see how far they can tighten these numbers before they decide to vote on this issue.

With parents requesting a full-day Kindergarten for various reasons, data was collected that shows students in a full-day Kindergarten have displayed a propensity to increase their reading and mathematical skills at a greater rate than those students who attend half-day Kindergarten.

Some of the moneys required to move forward with this project can also be attained if the board decides to move forward with the solar energy project, with installers expected to be invited down to discuss this possibility more at their next meeting.

With Sept. 2013 being an aggressive goal, Kossack would like this Kindergarten issue to be ready to be publicly voted on by the March 8 election.

Wanting an opportunity to think this matter through more thoroughly, Christian Smith stated, “If this move goes smoothly, it would be a great thing for the town and a great achievement for Kevin and Carolyn. However, it would reflect very poorly on us if it doesn’t.”