TURNER – The SAD 52 school board has backed full-day kindergarten starting in the fall of 2006
It would cost about $200,000, according to Superintendent Thomas Hanson, anticipating the need for at least two, and perhaps three, new teachers added to the two who now teach half-day kindergarten at the primary and elementary schools in Greene, Leeds and Turner.
The co-chairwoman of the 30-member committee studying the move to full-day, Principal Theresa Gillis of Turner Primary School, reminded directors that the committee has been studying and researching full-day kindergarten since the fall of 2004.
“All the research shows full-day K to be most beneficial for the students,” Gillis said.
Hanson asked the board for a commitment not to cut full-day funding if there is a crunch at budget time, “which there will be.”
Board member Wallace Veilleux of Greene, chairman of the board’s Finance Committee, said, “It will be good to take a look at all our programs and see how we can fit this in. It’s 1 percent of our budget.” The current year school budget is $20.6 million, with $519,000 less coming from the three towns than the year before.
On a motion “to support implementation of full-day kindergarten philosophically and financially beginning in the fall of 2006,” the board voted to have the committee continue its work. The vote was 8-1, with Turner board member Harris Bradeen opposed.
Bradeen said he could not support a program asking for $200,000 more from taxpayers, who have repeatedly complained of high taxes.
In other business:
• The board approved hiring Hillary Bohn for a grade six teaching position at Leeds Central School, where she has been an education technician for two years and a substitute teacher. Jason Breton was hired as data manager/repair person. He has been an educational technician in the district since 1999 and supervised a computer lab at Leavitt Area High School.
• Hanson informed the board that 14 nominations have been received for the Patience Norman Prize for Teacher Excellence that will be awarded to a deserving teacher in the district by the Maine Community Foundation. The prize carries a $5,000 award. He said board members Jon Woodard of Greene, Joshua Morris of Turner and Catherine Carey of Leeds will be the directors serving on the selection committee with Burdin and himself.
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