Assuming voters approve the budget, the LoPresti School will have a full-day kindergarten program in September, school board members promised Tuesday.
It’s a big assumption, because last year the town had to hold four votes before residents approved spending plans for the town and for the school district.
During a school board meeting Tuesday, Fred Stanek made a motion for the board to “show a commitment” to all-day kindergarten, something currently not available within the Seymour School District. The board unanimously approved Stanek’s motion.
Watch the video the see the motion.
Asked directly if the “show of commitment” was a selling point for the school budget, Stanek declined to characterize it that way.
Full-day kindergarten programs are beneficial in many ways for young students. Click here to download a report from the National Education Association outlining the benefits.
The Seymour school budget, if approved, will include the hiring of two kindergarten teachers at the LoPresti School, through the grant money of the Keep Our Educators Working Act of 2010.. “The commitment” is also for two literacy tutors who are already funded by the grant, and would continue.
A public hearing on the Seymour town and school budget is scheduled for Wednesday is set for 7 p.m. at Seymour Middle School at 211 Mountain Road.
The $50.69 million budget proposal includes $29.8 million for the Board of Education. The school district would see a $722,000 increase if voters approve the budget.
