Saugus schools seek ADK grant despite state’s sharp ax

SAUGUS – The School Committee voted unanimously to seek a grant for all-day kindergarten, des-pite the fact it is likely to be axed as part of Gov. Deval Patrick’s budget cuts.Superintendent Richard Langlois spent 40 hours filling out the grant application only to receive a phone call the next morning telling him it was on the list of budget cuts. Nevertheless, Langlois told the committee he wanted to move forward with the grant just in case it was funded.”I don’t want to be left behind,” he said.While the supplemental grant won’t pay for the program, the financial impact of receiving the grant could be significant with a potential $60,000 in play.Over the course of several conversations Thursday – the day following Patrick’s announcement – Langlois said he learned applications for the grant were still being accepted.”They will still be reviewed,” he said. “This is a critical part of his readiness program for Ed Reform, so I hope he will reinstate it.”Patrick’s Readiness Project is his plan to bring public education into the 21st century. All- day kindergarten is high on the list under his plan, so Langlois is relatively confident the program will be funded. If it is, he believes the town has a good chance at receiving funding.The School Department currently has all-day kindergarten at the Veterans Memorial School and the Oaklandvale School. Langlois said he would like to expand the program at the Veterans school and the fact it is on the list for failing to make Adequate Yearly Prog-ress on MCAS won’t hurt.He said he would also like to bring all-day programs online at the Lynnhurst and Waybright schools as well.”If (Patrick) does go with the plan and we miss it we could lose $60,000,” he said.The committee voted 5-0 to send a letter of assurance, which is required to demonstrate the committee is committed to implementing all day kindergarten by September 2009.