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Boxborough School District
Blanchard News…
So that YOU may better know YOUR school district.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…on Thursday, March 13, 2008, the Boxborough School Committee voted to establish a fee based full-day kindergarten program for the 2009-2010 school year. The established tuition will be $3500 for the school year. The Boxborough School District understands some parents/guardians might feel a full-day kindergarten program may not be appropriate for their child and would like to have a choice, therefore parents/guardians who have children eligible to enter kindergarten for the 2009-2010 school year will have the option of enrolling their children for a full-day session of kindergarten or for a half-day session of kindergarten. For full details of the Option for Full-day Kindergarten, please go to the school website and click on the link for Declining Enrollment/Full-Day Kindergarten. If you have any questions regarding full-day kindergarten, tuition, or the opting out program, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Bates.
DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN SUBCOMMITTEE…the sub-committee presented an informational forum on January 15, 2008. Based on the questions raised during the forum, the sub-committee developed a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to assist parents/guardians in understanding the five-year plan developed to address declining enrollment, full-day kindergarten, and the Blanchard Extended Day Program for grades K-6 that will be established for the 2008-09 school year. Please go to the school website and click on the link for Declining Enrollment/Full-day Kindergarten to access the FAQ document and the 5-year projected enrollment chart.
EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM…parents/guardians who currently have children enrolled in the extended day program at Blanchard will receive 2008-09 registration information in the mail during the week of March 24.
Parents/guardians who do not have children currently enrolled in the extended day program, but would like to utilize the Blanchard Extended Day Program for the 2008-09 school year, will be invited to register starting on April 14, 2008 on a space available basis.
All parents/guardians who have children enrolling for kindergarten for the 2008-09 school year will receive information regarding the fee structure for the kindergarten extended day program in the mail the first week in April. Registration forms for the 2008-09 kindergarten extended day program will be sent out once the students have been assigned to the AM or PM session of kindergarten. This process does not usually occur until the first week in June.
If you have any questions regarding the new extended day program, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Bates. Maribeth Higgins, Director of the Blanchard Extended Day Program will be presenting her goals and objectives for the new program during the April 10 School Committee meeting.
GRADE SIX TO GRADE SEVEN TRANSITION ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS…Parents/guardians of students currently in grade six who will be transitioning to the R.J. Grey Jr. High School are cordially invited to participate in the following activities and programs:
· Wednesday, March 26, 2008 – Half Team Forum 7:00 p.m. R.J. Grey Auditorium
This forum will provide an explanation of the Junior High Teaming and the need to add a half-team for the next school year.
· Week of April 14
Registration packets will be distributed to all sixth grade students at a building based meeting.
· Wednesday, April 30, 2008 – 6th Grade Parent’s Night 7:00 p.m. High School Auditorium
All sixth grade parents/guardians meet with Junior High Administrators, Junior High Department Leaders to learn all about the Junior High School
· May 1 and May 2, 2008 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Junior High Library
All sixth grade parents/guardians meet informally with Junior High Administrators and with Mary Emmons, Special Education Coordinator
Visit regular education classrooms Visit special education programs Discuss Junior High Teaming Discuss Transition Issues Discuss Pupil Services Supports
· May 7, 2008 – R.J. Grey Registration Forms are due to the grade six teachers
· June 9, 2008 – Grade Six Social
All grade six students are cordially invited to attend a social at the R.J. Grey Junior High School in the Blanchard Gym from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Parents will attend an informational meeting in the R.J. Grey Auditorium
FY ’09 BUDGET REDUCTIONS…Dr. Bates will host two informal question and answer meetings for any parents/guardians who are interested in learning more about the school budget reductions that are proposed to meet the required FY ‘09 budget specifications. A morning meeting will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. in the cafeteria and an evening meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Library. The proposed reductions can be found on the school’s website. This is an opportunity to ask any questions related to the budget prior to the School Committee’s public meeting on the budget scheduled for April 10, 2008.
PASSING BUSES…this is a reminder that it is illegal to pass a school bus when the bus has its stop sign out and the red lights are flashing. This includes when buses are parked in our parking area while students are arriving at school and departing at the close of school. The safety of every child is a main priority. Thank you for your cooperation.
PARKING…parking is very limited at Blanchard School. We have found that staff members cannot find a parking space in the morning because parents/guardians are parking their cars in the main parking lot and walking their children into school. Please utilize the parking area across the street at the Fire Station if you are walking your child into the school in the morning or if you are picking up your child at the close of school. Thank you for your cooperation.
Monday, March 24 Grade 6 English Language Arts Tuesday, March 25 Grades 4 & 6 English Language Arts Wednesday, March 26 Grade 6 English Language Arts Thursday, March 27 Grades 3 & 4 English Language Arts Friday, March 28 Grades 3 & 4 English Language Arts Monday, March 31 Grades 3 & 5 English Language Arts Tuesday, April 1 Grades 4 & 5 English Language Arts Wednesday, April 2 Grade 5 English Language Arts
Thursday, April 3 and Friday April 4 Make-up Tests for grades 3-6
Gr. 3, 4, 5, 6 Mathematics May 12 – 29 Gr. 5 Science and Technology/Engineering May 14 – 15 Gr. 5 History May 27 – 29
EARLY RELEASE DAYS/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR 2007- 08 SCHOOL YEAR…
Wednesday, March 19 dismissal at 12:00 p.m. Parent/Teacher Conferences Thursday, March 20 dismissal at 12:00 p.m. Parent/Teacher Conferences Thursday, April 3 dismissal at 12:00 p.m. Reading Pilot Program Workshop Thursday, May 1 dismissal at 12:00 p.m. Grade level team meetings Thursday, June 5 dismissal at 12:00 p.m. Grade level team meetings
MASSACHUSETTS CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS…in preparation for the upcoming revision of the 2000 Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework and the 2004 Grades 3, 5, and 7 Grade Level Standards Supplement (http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/current.html), the Department of Education is seeking comments from educators, parents, community members, and students who use the framework. Please go to (http://zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB227JDKNELWA) to participate in the survey by Friday, May 2, 2008. Your responses will be summarized to inform the work of the Revision Panel. Thank you for your participation.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…On January 7, 2008 the Boxborough School District will have an update to our technology program. Version 9 or 9.1 of First Class will be installed. Our email will down between 2 and 6 hours during the installation time. After the upgrade is completed, ALL EMAIL COMING INTO THE SCHOOL AND GOING OUT OF THE SCHOOL WILL BE ARCHIVED, per federal and state law. This means we must be mindful of the number of emails that are received and the contents of the email. All emails must be archived for seven years. All emails are legal documents and are public record subject to review. Therefore, we are asking that NO STUDENT’S NAME BE IN ANY EMAIL MESSAGE. You may use a first name or initials, but NO STUDENT’S FULL NAME SHOULD BE USED IN ANY EMAIL MESSAGE. Also, to assure that parent/guardian emails are received by teachers, you must use one of the following in your subject line:
* From the Parents of a Blanchard Student * From a Parent of a Blanchard Student * From the Guardian of a Blanchard Student
If you have difficulty with email communication with any staff member, please do not hesitate to contact us immediately. Thank you for your cooperation.
SCHOOL CALENDAR… at the December 20, 2007 School Committee meeting, the Boxborough School Committee voted to approve the 2008-2009 school calendar which included the change to have school on Good Friday, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashannah. The school district’s Leadership Team will develop procedures to assure no students or staff will be penalized for participating in their religious holidays while school is in session.
DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN SUBCOMMITTEE…the goal of the sub-committee is to review declining enrollment projections and determine its impact on programming and determine if full-day kindergarten is feasible. Members of the subcommittee are:
Leadership Team: Curtis Bates, Superintendent/Curriculum Director Maryellen Driscoll, Principal Sandy Daigneault, Director of Pupil Services Charlie Mahoney, Business Manager
School Committee: Brigid Bieber Scott Lukas Maria Neyland
Teacher Representatives: Carol Boudreau Sheila Kish
The sub-committee presented their proposed five-year plan to the School Committee on Thursday, December 20, 2007.
2008 – 2009 School Year:
· Move to three sections of half-day kindergarten (class size 15, 15, 15) · Offer extended day for kindergarten students · Grades 1-6 will remain at four sections · No additional Choice Students ( siblings of currently enrolled students will be accepted)
2009 – 2010 School Year:
· Three sections of kindergarten (class size 21, 21, 21) The sub-committee is investigating whether to recommend the start of full-day kindergarten. · Eliminate one section of first grade (class size 15, 15, 15) · Eliminate one section of second grade (class size 20, 20, 21) · Grades 3-6 will remain at four sections
2010 – 2011 School Year:
· Three sections of kindergarten (class size 17, 18, 18) · Three sections of first grade (class size 21, 21, 21) · Three sections of second grade ( class size 15, 15, 15) · Eliminate one section of third grade (class size 20, 20, 21) · Possible elimination of one section of fourth grade (class size 23, 24, 24) · Grades 5 & 6 remain at four sections
2011 – 2012 School Year:
· Three sections of kindergarten (class size (18, 18, 19) · Three sections of first grade (class size 17, 18, 18) · Three sections of second grade (class size 21, 21, 21) · Three sections of third grade (class size 15, 15, 15) · If one section of fourth grade was not eliminated in 2010-2011, eliminate one section of fourth grade now (class size 20, 20, 21) · Possible elimination of one section of fifth grade (class size 23, 24, 24) · Grade Six remains at four sections
2012 – 2013 School Year:
· Three sections of kindergarten (class size 17, 17, 17) · Three sections of first grade (class size 18, 18, 19) · Three sections of second grade ( class size 17, 18, 18) · Three sections of third grade (class size 21, 21, 21) · Three sections of fourth grade (class size 15, 15, 15 with the option of adding Choice Students) · If one section of fifth grade was not eliminated in 2011 – 2012, eliminate one section of fifth grade now (class size 20, 20, 21) · Possibility of eliminating one section of sixth grade (class size 23, 24, 24)
THE SUB-COMMITTEE CORDIALLY INVITES ALL PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF BLANCHARD MEMORIAL STUDENTS AND FUTURE PARENTS/GUARDIANS TO A PARENT INFORMATIONAL NIGHT ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2008 AT 7:30 P.M. The sub-committee will review its findings on declining enrollment and full-day kindergarten for parents/guardians. This meeting will provide an opportunity for parents/guardians to share their ideas related to the five-year plan, declining enrollment and full-day kindergarten. We hope you will join us.
EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM…the Boxborough School Committee voted to have Boxborough School develop their own extended day program for the 2008-2009 school year. Currently, the extended day program is run by the Acton-Boxborough Community Education Program. The Extended Day sub-committee presented three options for the School Committee to consider:
1. Boxborough run their own extended day program 2. Remain with Acton-Boxborough Community Education Program and have a 50/50 split of surplus funds 3. Advertise for a private vendor to run the extended day program and have the vendor pay the Boxborough School District a monthly fee for maintaining the program (approximately $3,000 - $4,000 per month)
We are currently advertising for a Director of Extended Day and plan to have someone hired by mid-January. Supervision of the Extended Day program will be added to the Superintendent/Curriculum Director’s job description.
We wish to thank Ms. Deborah Campbell, Ms. Deborah Diamond, Ms. Jennifer Stephan and Ms. Becky Neville for serving on the sub-committee.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION…students eligible to attend kindergarten at Blanchard Memorial School for the 2008 – 2009 school year are asked to register during the week of January 7 – 11. Students must be 5 years of age by September 1, 2008 to be enrolled. Parents/Guardians must bring the child’s birth certificate, immunization record and proof of residency to register. Registration will take place in the Blanchard School office Monday, January 11 through Friday, January 11 between the hours of 9 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and Thursday, January 10 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
INTEGRATED PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION…for three and four year old children will take place during the weeks of January 14 – 17 and January 22 – 25. Students must be 3 years of age by September 1, 2008 to be enrolled. Parents/Guardians must bring the child’s birth certificate, immunization record and a deposit of one month’s tuition ($275 cash or check made out to Blanchard Memorial School) to enroll. Space is limited. If registrations exceed space available, a lottery will be held on January 29, 2008. Registration will take place in the Blanchard School office Monday through Friday (January 14 – 17 and January 22 – 25) between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. An Open House will be held in the integrated Preschool on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. for parents/guardians who would like the opportunity to see the preschool classroom and meet with the staff.
A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH…In Massachusetts and elsewhere throughout the country, MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections are becoming more common in community settings, including schools and more specifically among sports teams. MRSA infections in these settings can cause anxiety for parents and school staff. The following information about MRSA (and other types of Staphylococcus aureus infections) is important for you to know:
· Although severe, life-threatening infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (staph), can be dramatic and frightening, they are rare. · More commonly seen in children are minor staph infections like ordinary boils furuncles, impetigo and cellulitis. · Severe staph infections are uncommon in healthy children. · The most severe staph infections usually occur in health care settings, not in school or community settings.
Guidelines to help prevent MRSA and other staph infections:
· Regular hand washing is the best way to prevent getting and spreading staph/MRSA. Encourage and practice good hand hygiene. · Practice and encourage good skin care. Keeping skin healthy and intact is an important preventative measure. · Ensure access to sinks, soaps, and clean towels. · Ensure the availability of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, if soap and water are not accessible. · Encourage daily showers with soap and water. · Discourage sharing of personal items such as towels, razors, and toothbrushes. · Regularly clean sinks, showers and toilets by saturating with disinfectant. · Launder sheets, towels, sports uniforms, and underclothing with hot water and detergent, and dry on the hottest setting. · Wear gloves when handling dirty laundry. · Wear gloves when caring for another person’s wounds, and protect clothing from touching wounds or bandages. · Those infected should always keep draining lesions covered with dressings. · Dispose of dressings containing pus and blood carefully. · Disinfect contaminated portable equipment such as cell phones, pagers, equipment handles.
PASSING BUSES…this is a reminder that it is illegal to pass a school bus when the bus has its stop sign out and the red lights are flashing. This includes when buses are parked in our parking area while students are arriving at school and departing at the close of school. The safety of every child is a main priority. Thank you for your cooperation.
PARKING…parking is very limited at Blanchard School. We have found that staff members cannot find a parking space in the morning because parents/guardians are parking their cars in the main parking lot and walking their children into school. Please utilize the parking area across the street at the Fire Station if you are walking your child into the school in the morning or if you are picking up your child at the close of school. Thank you for your cooperation.
READING PILOT PROGRAM…teachers piloting the Scott Foresman and Houghton Mifflin reading programs will be meeting with their respective educational consultants on January 18, 2008. Houghton Mifflin pilot teachers will have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Jack Pikulski, professor at the University of Delaware. Dr. Pikulski has published numerous articles in professional journals and has authored several textbooks related to the teaching of reading. Dr. Pikulski will present a workshop focusing on Teaching and Developing Word Identification Skills: Phonics and other word identification skills in perspective. Betty Krill, Houghton Mifflin Representative, will present a workshop on the technology aspects of the program. She will focus on test generator and on-line assessment systems.
Scott Foresman pilot teachers will be working with Ms. Debra Hartman, Educational Consultant. She will provide a workshop on Small Group Management and will also present the technology aspects of the program.
MCAS SCHEDULE FOR 2008…
Gr. 4 Long Composition March 25 Gr. 3, 4, 5, 6 Reading Comprehension March 24 – April 4 Gr. 3, 4, 5, 6 Mathematics May 12 – 29 Gr. 5 Science and Technology/Engineering May 14 – 15 Gr. 5 History May 27 – 29
EARLY RELEASE DAYS/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR 2007- 08 SCHOOL YEAR…
Thursday, January 17 dismissal at 12 p.m. Technology Workshop Friday, January 18 No School for Students. Full day workshop for staff members on Reading Pilot Program and Technology Thursday, February 7 dismissal at 12 p.m. Grade level team meetings Thursday, March 7 No School for Students. Full day workshop for staff members on Technology. Wednesday, March 19 dismissal at 12 p.m. Parent/Teacher Conferences Thursday, March 20 dismissal at 12 p.m. Parent/Teacher Conferences Thursday, April 3 dismissal at 12 p.m. Reading Pilot Program Wkshp. Thursday, May 1 dismissal at 12 p.m. Grade level team meetings Thursday, June 5 dismissal at 12 p.m. Grade level team meetings
BOXBOROUGH MUSEUM…will be open on the following days from 2- 4 p.m. Sunday, January 13, 2008 Sunday, February 10, 2008 Sunday, March 9, 2008
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING – DECEMBER 20, 2007…
· Mr. Daniel Shanahan, Physical Education teacher, presented an informational report related to the PTF Grant that was awarded to purchase a Climbing Wall for the Blanchard School. The School Committee voted to accept the gift, with appreciation. · Dr. Bates provided a report about the MCAS results related to those students who participated in Blanchard’s MCAS support program. · The Leadership Team presented the School Committee with a budget reduction priority list to reinstate items of the FY ’09 budget allows. · The Declining Enrollment/Full-Day Kindergarten sub-committee presented its preliminary proposal to the School Committee. The sub-committee will hold a Parent/Guardian informational meeting on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. · The Extended Day sub-committee presented three options for the School Committee to consider. The School Committee voted to have Boxborough School District develop its own extended day program for the 2008 – 2009 school year. Supervisory duties of the extended day program will be added to the Superintendent/Curriculum Director’s job description. · The School Committee voted to accept the 2008-2009 school calendar with the changes of having school in session on Good Friday, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashanah. · The School Committee designated Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. as a FY ’09 Budget Workshop meeting. · Dr. Bates provided the School Committee with input from legal counsel regarding the existing faculty and staff Technology Acceptable Use Policy. The School Committee voted to change the wording on the signature page to read: I acknowledge I have received a copy of the Blanchard Memorial School/Computer/Network/Internet Acceptable Use Policy. The main reason for signing the AUP is to make sure all employees are aware that there is an acceptable use policy. This is a condition of employment that they must be made aware of. · Dr. Bates informed the School Committee that a technology upgrade to First Class would be installed on January 7, 2008. Beginning on January 7, 2008 all email will be archived and kept for 7 years. All email will be considered a legal document and available as public record. Parents/Guardians will be notified of the change and advised not to use student names in any email communication. · The School Committee voted to accept the new Reading Terrace for the Library with gratitude. The gift is from a PTF Grant awarded to Ms. Connie Long, Librarian. · The School Committee voted to accept 60 copies of MS Office Professional 2003 with gratitude. The retail amount of the gift is $18,000 for use with the donated laptops. These funds are provided as an unrestricted gift to Blanchard Memorial School obtained by Paul Oka, from Microsoft.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…the Boxborough School Committee will be reviewing the 2008-2009 school calendar at its December 13, 2007 meeting. The School Committee was presented a draft of the 2008-2009 school calendar at its November meeting and moved to postpone action on the calendar until their December meeting. Due to the growing diversity within our school community, the Committee wanted time to review the current practice of not having school on Good Friday, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashannah. The proposed 2008-2009 school calendar has school beginning on September 3, 2008 with the last day of school (using 5 snow days) on June 29, 2009. Not using any snow days, school would end on June 22, 2009. The School Committee invites interested parents/guardians and citizens to share their thoughts with them.
SCHOOL HEALTH GRANT…we congratulate our School Nurse, Kathy Daniels, R.N., for being awarded a $1,000.00 grant from the Essential School Health Services with Consultation Program. The program provides technical assistance and consultation to a minimum of 8 to 10 public school districts to: · ensure that there is school nursing leadership at the local level for the school health service program in these recipient public school districts; · assist the nursing leaders in the recipient school districts in developing comprehensive school health services, consistent with the areas defined in the Essential School Health Service Program; · create opportunities for school nursing leaders to network and share best practices as they develop their programs; and · provide a minimum set of certain basic health services to the non-public and charter schools in the applicant’s community where services are not currently available. Through this program, Ms. Daniels, R.N., applied for a grant for support in the Blanchard School Health Office in the form of a substitute R.N. to cover the Health Office while she performs the required annual screenings---Vision/Hearing/Height and Weight. This grant will allow our school nurse to complete the entire school’s screenings utilizing a substitute for 8 full days or 16 half days.
2007 AYP…to receive a positive 2007 AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) determination, school and districts must meet a student participation requirement, and additional attendance or graduation requirement, and either the State’s 2007 performance target for that subject or the district, school or subgroup’s own 2007 improvement target. AYP determinations are made separately for English Language Arts and for mathematics. For each subject, there are multiple AYP determinations---for students in the aggregate and for student subgroups. Student groups for whom AYP determinations are made include students with disabilities, students with limited English proficiency, economically disadvantaged students (eligible for free/reduced price school lunch), and African American/Black, Hispanic, Asian, White, and Native American students. Students are counted in each student group to which they belong. AYP determinations are calculated for student subgroups if the group consists of (1) forty students or more assessed in each year for which performance data is being analyzed and (2) the number in the subgroup members is at least 5% of the number of students whose assessment results are included in the school’s or district’s aggregate AYP calculation, or (3) the number of subgroup members is 200 or more.
Blanchard School’s AYP is determined by:
Aggregate ELA 100% Math 100% Special Education ELA 100% Math 100% Asian or Pacific ELA 100% Math 100% White ELA 100% Math 100%
State performance target for ELA – 85.4
Blanchard performance: Aggregate 95.1 exceeded state target Special Education 78.3 did not meet state target Asian or Pacific 98.2 exceeded state target White 94.0 exceeded state target
State performance target for Math – 76.5
Blanchard performance: Aggregate 95.2 exceeded state target Special Education 79.4 exceeded state target Asian or Pacific 97.5 exceeded state target White 94.4 exceeded state target
Improvement (Did student group meet or exceed its own improvement target?) Improvement change from 2006 MCAS Blanchard performance:
ELA Math Aggregate 1.6 4.2 YES Special Education 3.3 16.3 YES Asian or Pacific 1.0 1.6 YES White 1.4 4.4 YES
Aggregate 97.0 YES
Special
Education 96.7 YES
A + B + C = AYP
Blanchard Memorial School – 2007 AYP Performance Rating
English Language Arts: Performance Rating Very High Improvement Rating On Target
Mathematics: Performance Rating Very High Improvement Rating Above Target
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS and PARENTS/GUARDIANS FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND CONSCIENTIOUSNESS!
ENROLLMENT AND FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN SUBCOMMITTEE…the goal of the sub-committee is to review declining enrollment projections and determine its impact on programming and determine if full-day kindergarten is feasible. Members of the subcommittee are:
Leadership Team: Curtis Bates, Superintendent/Curriculum Director Maryellen Driscoll, Principal Sandy Daigneault, Director of Pupil Services Charlie Mahoney, Business Manager
School Committee: Brigid Bieber Scott Lukas Maria Neyland
Teacher Representatives: Carol Boudreau Sheila Kish
· The subcommittee has reviewed the projected enrollment as determined by Peter Ashton from 1997-2017 in grades K-6. · The subcommittee has reviewed all classroom usage and made suggestions on how to maximize all areas within the school building. · The subcommittee has developed a 5-year plan utilizing projected enrollment figures and developed recommendations for the number of required classroom sections per grade level. · The subcommittee will focus on three questions: 1. How to determine the need for full-day kindergarten? 2. When to implement full-day kindergarten? 3. How to fund full-day kindergarten? · The subcommittee is reviewing the requirements for applying to the Massachusetts Department of Education Kindergarten Grant. · Due to the FY ’09 and future financial needs for all town departments, the sub-committee suggested the need to charge a fee for full-day kindergarten. · The subcommittee identified five questions to be researched: 1. Can we operate a full-day kindergarten program with an opt out option for parents/guardians who do not want their child to participate in a full-day program? 2. What would the tuition with a sliding scale look like? 3. How can we offer scholarships? 4. Can the bus company provide |