Blanchard Memorial Elementary School
Boxborough, MA
Dr. Curtis Bates, Superintendent/Curriculum Director
Ms. Maryellen Driscoll, Principal

DECLINING ENROLLMENT/FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN

SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

MINUTES

PRESENT:                             Leadership Team:               Curtis Bates

                                                                                                Sandy Daigneault

                                                                                                Maryellen Driscoll

                                                School Committee:               Brigid Bieber

                                                                                                Scott Lukas

                                                                                                Maria Neyland

                                                Teacher Representative:            Sheila Kish

1. The Committee approved the minutes of the February 1, 2008 meeting.

2. The Committee reviewed the prepared cost per full-day kindergarten which included:

   • teacher salary  (estimating MA-10 level on the teachers’ salary scale)

   • supplies

   • furniture (for the addition of new classrooms)

   • curriculum materials

   • supplies

              The total estimated cost for establishing four full-day kindergarten classrooms is

               $332,183.00

3. The Committee reviewed the Income Table and Sliding Fee Scale provided by the Massachusetts Department of Education for determining family eligibility for reduced tuition as well as recommended percentages of annual tuition that should be used to calculate a sliding fee scale.

4. The Committee calculated a tuition fee of $3,500 per student to make the full-day kindergarten program self sustaining and not be an added cost to the town.  The Committee expressed the desire to maintain this tuition fee for at least three years.

5. The Committee reviewed and edited the Frequently Asked Questions and responses to be sent to community members in educating them about Full-day Kindergarten, Extended Day and Choice Students.

6. The Committee was informed that there would be a cost savings of approximately $10,000 in eliminating the mid-day kindergarten bus runs.  We currently pay $160 a day per bus.  With the elimination of the mid-day bus runs, our cost for all buses would be $153 per bus, per day.

7. The Committee discussed the possibility of recommending the acceptance of additional choice students to supplement the school budget.  In making the decision to accept additional choice students, it is imperative that the decision must be made to ensure there is no impact to the proposed five-year plan developed by the Committee to address the declining enrollment and the elimination of class sections.

8. Ms. Bieber recommended that a calculation of what it costs to educate a choice student in the Boxborough School District be developed.

9. The Leadership Team will present an opt out proposal for those parents who do not wish to participate in full-day kindergarten to the School Committee prior to their next meeting on March 13, 2008.

10. The Committee agreed to propose to the School Committee, on March 13, 2008,  that the Boxborough School District implement full-day kindergarten beginning in September, 2009 as long as our enrollment projections support the elimination of one grade one section and one grade two section due to declining enrollment.             

Respectfully submitted by:                                             Approved by:

Dr. Curtis A. Bates                                                       Maria Neyland

Superintendent/Curriculum Director                               Clerk

DECLINING ENROLLMENT/FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN

SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING

Friday, February 1, 2008

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

MINUTES

PRESENT:                             Leadership Team:                Curtis Bates

                                                                                                  Sandy Daigneault

                                                                                                  Maryellen Driscoll

                                                School Committee:                   Brigid Bieber

                                                                                                   Scott Lukas

                                                                                                   Maria Neyland

                                                Teacher Representatives:        Carol Boudreau

                                                                                                     Sheila Kish

1. The Committee approved the minutes from the January 10, 2008 meeting.

2. The Committee members shared their reflections on the Parent Information Night held on January 15, 2008:

   • pleased with the number of people who attended

   • good variety of questions asked

   • confusion over full-day kindergarten; extended day; school choice

   • concern for class size

   • agree with full-day kindergarten as long as the program can financial support itself and not be a cost to the town

3. The Committee reviewed the questions that were asked during the Parent Information Night held on January 15, 2008.  The Committee identified questions to be utilized in a Frequently Asked Question packet to address misinformation and to be sent out to town residents.

4. The Committee reviewed Concord Public School’s full-day kindergarten proposal.

5. The Committee discussed tuition rates for full-day kindergarten and asked for a cost analysis for each kindergarten classroom (estimated salaries for teachers and aides, start-up costs for furniture, curriculum materials and supplies).

6. The Committee recommended start-up costs for full-day kindergarten could initially come from Choice Funds.

7. The Committee discussed the need for a tuition sliding scale option for needy families.

8. The Committee recommended the Leadership Team develop an opt out procedure with rules and expectations.

9. The Committee asked if there would be a savings in the operating budget if we discontinued the mid-day buses for half day kindergarten.  Dr. Bates will check with Dee Bus Company.

10. Dr. Bates was directed to investigate how Harvard Public School’s handles Choice Students in their full-day kindergarten program.

Respectfully submitted by:                                             Approved by:

Dr. Curtis A. Bates                                                       Maria Neyland

Superintendent/Curriculum Director                               Clerk

DECLINING ENROLLMENT/FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN

SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING

Thursday, January 10, 2008

6:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

MINUTES

PRESENT:                 Leadership Team:                     Curtis Bates

                                                                                    Sandy Daigneault

                                                                                    Maryellen Driscoll

                                                                                    Charlie Mahoney

                                    School Committee:                   Brigid Bieber

                                                                                    Scott Lukas

                                                                                    Maria Neyland

1. Review of Research/Benefits of Full-Day Kindergarten presentation by Ms. McLean, Ms. Boudreau, Ms. Charpentier

2. Review of format for Parent/Guardian Information Night scheduled for Tuesday, January 15, 2008.

Welcome                                  Ms. Driscoll

Goals and Objectives                Dr. Bates

Declining Enrollment                 Ms. Neyland

Five-Year Plan Proposal           Ms. Bieber

Full-Day Kindergarten

    Proposal                               Dr. Daigneault

Research/Benefits         Ms. McLean, Ms. Boudreau, Ms. Charpentier

Financial Impact                                   Mr. Mahoney/Ms. Driscoll

State Grant                                           Dr. Bates

Extended Day Program             Dr. Lukas

Questions/Answers

Respectfully submitted by:                                             Approved by:

Dr. Curtis A. Bates                                                       Maria Neyland

Superintendent/Curriculum Director                               Clerk

DECLINING ENROLLMENT—FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN

SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

MINUTES

PRESENT:                             Leadership Team:                     Curtis Bates     

                                                                                                Sandy Daigneault

                                                                                                Maryellen Driscoll

                                                                                                Charlie Mahoney

                                                School Committee:                   Brigid Bieber

                                                                                                Scott Lukas

                                                                                                Maria Neyland

                                                Teacher Representative:            Carol Boudreau

1. The sub-committee approved the minutes from the November 7, 2007 meeting, with recommended deletions by Ms. Bieber.

2. Dr. Bates updated the sub-committee with the three options the Extended Day Sub-Committee recommends for consideration.

3. The sub-committee reviewed a letter sent by Ms. Trina Overgaard Toups expressing her thoughts about full-day kindergarten.

4. Ms. Bieber attended an EDCO Roundtable for School Committee members and shared information she gathered from other school districts about instituting a full-day kindergarten program.

5. Mr. Mahoney, Business Manager, reviewed financial aspects of full-day kindergarten and a recommended fee.

6. The sub-committee discussed the specific cost factors for instituting full-day kindergarten:

• the addition of 1.5 teachers

• 3 kindergarten teacher assistants

• classroom furniture for one classroom

• curriculum materials for one classroom

7. The sub-committee discussed the cost factors and the benefits for participating in a NAEYC accreditation.

8. The sub-committee will host an Information Night on January 15, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the school Library.  The focus of the information night will be to present the findings of the sub-committee about declining enrollment and full-day kindergarten and seek input from community.

 The next sub-committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2007   at 8:00 a.m.  At this meeting the, sub-committee will review research on the benefits of full-day kindergarten; budget implications for instituting full-day kindergarten; and the pros and cons of applying for state grant money to institute full-day kindergarten.

Respectfully submitted by:                                                         Approved by:

Dr. Curtis Bates                                                                        Maria Neyland

Superintendent/Curriculum Director                                           Clerk

DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN

SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

MINUTES

PRESENT:                 Leadership Team:                     Curt Bates

                                                                                    Sandy Daigneault

                                                                                    Maryellen Driscoll

                                    School Committee:                   Brigid Bieber

                                                                                    Scott Lukas

                                                                                    Maria Neyland

                                    Teacher Representative:            Sheila Kish

1. The Committee approved the minutes from the October 31, 2007 meeting.

2. The Committee reviewed the enrollment projections for 2008 through 2012

3. The Committee discussed their perceptions of how the community feels about providing a full-day kindergarten program.

4. Ms. Bieber suggested the Committee identify the benefits for students participating in a full-day kindergarten program.

5.  Dr. Lukas suggested the Committee needs to make decisions based on the current enrollment data and what is educationally in the best interest of our students.

6. The Committee made the following recommendations based on enrollment projects for the next five years:

2008 – 2009 school year:

• three sections of half-day kindergarten

              (15, 15, 15 ) = 45 students

• offer an extended day program utilizing a kindergarten classroom, the pre-school classroom, and the cafeteria

• grades 1-6 will retain four classroom sections

• no additional choice students

2009 – 2010 school year:

• three sections of full-day kindergarten  (subsidized program)

                (21, 21, 21) = 63

• eliminate one section of first grade  (three sections)

                 (15, 15, 15) = 45

• eliminate one section of second grade   (three sections)

                  (20, 20, 21) = 61

• investigate whether the Massachusetts Kindergarten Development Grant program is beneficial for the Boxborough School District

• grades 3-6 will retain four classroom sections

2010 – 2011 school year:

• three sections of full-day kindergarten  (subsidized program)

                   (17, 18, 18) = 53

• three sections of grade one

                    (21, 21, 21) = 63

• three sections of grade two  (option of adding choice students)

                     (15, 15, 15) = 45

• eliminate one section of third grade  (three sections)

                      (20, 20, 21) = 61

• possibility of eliminating one section of fourth grade which would make class size (23, 24, 24)

• grades 5 & 6 will retain four classroom sections

2011 – 2012 school year:

• three sections of full-day kindergarten  (subsidized program)

                    (18, 18, 19) = 55

• three sections of grade one   (option of adding choice students)

                     (17, 18, 18) = 53

• three sections of grade two

                      (21, 21, 21) = 63 

• three sections of grade three  (option of adding choice students)

                      (15, 15, 15) = 45

• if one section of grade four was not eliminated in 2010-2011 school year, the section would be eliminated now

                       (20, 20, 21) = 61

• possibility of eliminating one section of grade five which would make class size (23, 24, 24) = 71

• grade six retains four classroom sections

2012 – 2013 school year:

• three sections of full-day kindergarten (subsidized program)

                     (17, 17, 17) = 51

• three sections of grade one

                     (18, 18, 19) = 55

• three sections of grade two

                     (17, 18, 18) = 53

• three sections of grade three

                     (21, 21, 21) = 63

• three sections of grade four  (option of adding choice students)

                      (15, 15, 15) = 45

• if one section of grade five was not eliminated in 2011-2012 school year, the section would be eliminated now

     (20, 20, 21) = 61

• possibility of eliminating one section of grade six which would make class size (23, 24, 24) = 71

7. Next meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 28, 2007

For this meeting the Committee will review:

• suggested eliminated positions and the cost factor for each position

• estimated cost for establishing full-day kindergarten program

• estimated cost for establishing kindergarten extended day program

• suggested cost for subsidizing a full-day kindergarten program

Respectfully submitted by:                                                                     Approved by:

Dr. Curtis Bates                                                                                    Maria Neyland

Superintendent/Curriculum Director                                                       Clerk

Enrollment and Full Day Kindergarten

Sub-Committee Meeting

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

MINUTES

PRESENT:                  Leadership Team:                      Curt Bates

                                                                                    Sandy Daigneault

                                                                                    Maryellen Driscoll

                                                                                    Charlie Mahoney

                                    School Committee:                     Brigid Bieber

                                                                                    Scott Lucas

                                                                                    Maria Neyland

                                    Teacher Representatives:           Carol Boudreau

                                                                                    Sheila Kish

·         The goal of the Committee is to review declining enrollment projections and determine its impact on programming and determine if full-day kindergarten is feasible

·         The Committee reviewed the projected enrollment as determined by Peter Ashton from 1997 – 2017 for grades K-6

·         Ms. Boudreau stated Kindergarten has had class size at 22 and 23 with full-time assistants.

·         The Committee reviewed all grade level enrollments to determine whether or not we could recommend maintaining three sections of grade levels.

·         Ms. Bieber stated we need to forecast beyond the 2008-09 school year.

·         Ms. Driscoll stated our current class size is optimum enrollment.

·         Ms. Neyland suggested we begin with Kindergarten, as the projected enrollment for 2008-09 is 45 students, and determine if and when we can cut sections at successive grade levels as needed based on enrollment.

·         Ms. Neyland stated she did not want to see immediate cuts at the 4-6 grade levels and then have to add back sections due to additional enrollment.

·         Dr. Daigneault suggested options for kindergarten:

1.       accept choice students to bring class size up

2.       three half-day sections of kindergarten

3.       one full day and two half day sections of kindergarten

4.       three full day sections (which means adding a teacher and aides)

·         Ms. Bieber asked if kindergarten is not mandated, then do we charge tuition for a full-day program?  She suggested we need to discuss this issue.

·         Dr. Daigneault suggested if a tuition fee is charged then we risk the possibility of excluding those students and families that need the full-day program the most.

·         Ms. Boudreau shared information she had about Acton’s full-day (extended day).  It was suggested that we gather more information about Acton’s kindergarten program.

·         The Committee asked what would be needed for a full-day kindergarten program---1.  furniture

2.       teacher

3.       aide

4.       materials

5.       space

·         Ms. Bieber commented on how Paul Ashton’s enrollment for kindergarten in Boxborough is hard to predict due to the small numbers.  Predicting out more than two years is difficult.

·         Ms. Neyland commented on how the citizens of Boxborough are seeing declining enrollment and question why they do not see a declining budget.  If the projected enrollment for kindergarten is 45 students, then we could conceivably see cutting one classroom each year as the 2008-09 kindergarten class moves through the grades.

·         Accepting more Choice Students does not appear to be a viable option at this time.

·         Ms. Bieber questioned whether the Town can afford a full-day kindergarten program.  From the Town’s perspective they see 86 students leaving the school and 45 students coming in, therefore there is a need to drop a section.

·         Ms. Neyland suggested if we keep half-day kindergarten sections, then we could conceivably cut a teacher.

·         Dr. Lucas questioned whether there would be options to move a program to other areas in town.  Does the public library have space to house a school program?  Can we consolidate programs?  Are all spaces in the school being utilized?

·         Dr. Daigneault commented on the options that had been reviewed in the past:

1.       Science Lab

2.       OT/PT Room

3.       Old Library for preschool

·         Ms. Neyland asked if OT services could be scheduled in the Pre-school classroom during the afternoons when the classroom is not utilized.

·         Dr. Daigneault suggested that it would be difficult to schedule all of our students who receive OT/PT services in the afternoon.

·         Dr. Lucas suggested that space is the stumbling block and we need to use our space more efficiently.  He asked the Committee to look at all spaces and give a good faith effort in trying to maximize all areas.  He asked if we could satellite any programs out to any areas in town (such as the pre-school).

·         Ms. Neyland asked the Committee to project out three half-day kindergarten sections over five years so we can determine what classroom space would be available.

·         Ms. Bieber asked what the actual cost for a full-day kindergarten class would be.

·         Dr. Lucas asked if we could look at extended day for kindergarten as it would bring in revenue and buy us some time as we study the feasibility of offering full-day kindergarten.

·         Next meeting will be on Wednesday, October, 31, 2007.

·          

Respectfully submitted by:                                                          Approved by:

Dr. Curtis Bates                                                                                    Maria Neyland

Superintendent/Curriculum Director                                                    Clerk