Serio Pitches All-Day K

Parents could be sending their kids to kindergarten all day next year. It’s not a done deal, but there seems to be more support among elected town officials than opposition to create the first-ever full-day K in East Haven.

As evidenced at Wednesday’s Board of Finance meeting.

School Superintendent Anthony Serio brought his budget proposal to the board to sell his request for a 2.17 percent hike which includes funding for all-day kindergarten.

“This is probably the lowest (increase) the Board of Education has ever brought forth,” Serio told the committee. About half -- or $460,000 -- of the $957,852 budget increase would go to creating expanded kindergarten. A big chunk of the other half, he said, is for essential, nonnegotiable items like electricity, fuel and medical and Workers' Comp. The school board is asking for $45,010,464 for FY ‘12.

Serio said the expanded kindergarten day is optional, not a mandate. “Do we have to do it? No. Can we put it off for a year? Yes,“ he said.

But the superintendent told the finance board, which makes budget recommendations to the mayor, it’s needed as many children entering kindergarten are not prepared. And this is the best time to do it, he said, as teachers are not getting a pay hike in 2011-‘12 and there’s still some federal stimulus money on hand. The expansion would require hiring five new teachers and leasing four portable classrooms.

The board struggled with the idea because of budgetary constraints. And at least one member couldn’t be sold. Republican Charlie “Doc” Schlegel said it’s not a good idea because young children need a daytime nap.

“I’m going to play devil’s advocate,” said Schlegel “I’m not a proponent of all-day kindergarten because these children don’t have that span to last all day in a classroom. It’s a convenience for the parents, like a daycare.”

Serio countered. He said some children go to Little YellowJackets when the kindergarten day is over.

“Some don’t go home until 6 (p.m.) and don‘t have a naptime,” he said. “What we’re finding is some of our kids, especially non-English speaking, need the extra attention.” He said $300,000 of the $460,000 cost is for the five new teachers’ salaries and benefits.

Democratic Mayor April Capone, chair of the finance committee, and Democrats Noreen Clough and Richard DePalma voiced tentative support of a full-day program. They agreed with Serio that children would benefit academically and socially and it’s time East Haven had it.

The superintendent said 2011-12 is an “ideal” year because the teachers’ newly ratified three-year contract includes no pay hikes in the first year and then 3.2 percent in years two and three.

“Every day I work in my office trying to trim (the budget),” said Serio

Capone said while she favored full-day kindergarten money is tight and she recently had to deny the acting police chief’s request for two new squads and two SUVs.

The Board of Ed is also asking for $577,000 for capital projects -- $276,000 for four portable classrooms for all-day kindergarten. Business Manager Jason Lathrop said the state will reimburse 67 percent of the cost and possibly more

Serio said some kindergarteners go to New Haven charter schools to get a full day and some don’t return to East Haven for first grade. “I would like to keep the kids in their home schools,” he said.

After the meeting, Richard DePalma said he agreed with Serio that the time to implement expanded kindergarten is now. Along with teachers’ pay increasing in FY ’13, the $1 million remaining from the federal stimulus grant will be used up by the end of FY ‘12.

DePalma said though the operating costs for all-day kindergarten won’t decrease in FY ‘13 and could add one mill to the tax rate, it’s better for the taxpayer to start the expanded kindergarten in FY ’12 so the hike would be spread out over two years.

“I’d rather have my bill go up a little every year than a large increase (in one year),” said DePalma. Asked if he would support the new kindergarten plan, he said, “I have a lot to digest.”

Capone sounded more sold on the idea.

“All-day kindergarten is something I’ve supported since 2005 when I ran for Council. I think it’s something that should have been done 10 years ago in good times when the money was there,” she said. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll support the (school) budget.”

Serio had told the board that the budget reflects $260,000 in savings from ending one of two leases the Board of Ed has at 290 Dodge Ave. Two programs are housed in the industrial building, Adult Ed and Pathways. Adult Ed’s lease runs out this year and Pathways’ has another year on it. The school board had voted to bring Pathways back to Hays School and for Adult Ed to take over its rental agreement for the final year.

Capone said savings could also be realized by the town taking over the school maintenance operation by having “greater purchasing power” and decreased labor costs. She floated the idea to the school board last month, citing the costly maintenance problems in the middle and high schools. (Click here, here and here for background stories on the overheating at the middle school and the water leak in the high school gym.) Her proposal had sent tempers flying.

On March 16, the Board of Finance is scheduled to submit its budget recommendations to the mayor. On March 31, Capone will present the municipal and school budgets to the Town Council and deliver her state of the town address in the high school auditorium. The Council will then hold a series of public meetings and is expected to sign off on the 2012-2013 taxpayers’ tab by May 31.