Swampscott undecided on all day K

SWAMPSCOTT – Despite receiving a state grant that would cover approximately 75 percent of the cost of all-day kindergarten, the district has not decided whether to implement the program this fall.Superintendent Matthew Malone pointed out the $105,000 grant the district received is a planning grant for FY 2008.”We can proceed with the planning grant,” he said. “If we decide not to go forward, we just give back the money we didn’t spend without any penalty.”Malone, a staunch advocate of all-day kindergarten, said research proves all-day kindergarten benefits students and sets the stage for future success in school. He said it is impossible to operate a 21st century school system without an all-day kindergarten program and he expects the program would cost $149,693 a year and the grant, which the district already secured, would give the district seed money.Malone said there is a second $105,000 grant available to actually implement the program.”If we do well on the planning, my understanding is we would get this second grant,” he said. This is very good news. I’m very excited about this.”School Committee Chairman David Whelan said the committee is looking at the pros and cons of all-day kindergarten.”We’re weighing (Superintendent Matthew) Malone’s recommendation,” he said. “We want to take a look at all the variables before we make a decision.”Whelan said one of the factors being considered by the School Committee is whether all-day kindergarten would increase state aid.”All-day kindergarten students are counted as students instead of half-students for Chapter 70 purposes,” he said. “It appears all-day kindergarten could have a positive effect on state aid.”Malone said the district averages 150 kindergarten students a year, but for purpose of calculating state aid those 150 half-day kindergarten students count as the equivalent 75 students.”The additional Chapter 70 money is significant,” he said. “I don’t have exact numbers but I expect it would fund half of the cost of the program. This is something we’re looking at and all-day kindergarten is still very much on the table for this fall.”