SAUGUS — This fall, parents were able to send their children to kindergarten for free ― and that doesn’t appear to be changing.
At the most recent School Committee finance subcommittee meeting, School Committee member Ryan Fisher asked Saugus Public Schools Executive Director of Finance and Administration Pola Andrews about the program and its ability to be self-sustaining.
“I know we are a third of the way there (in terms of funding) on the All-Day K (kindergarten), how do you foresee that going into FY23?” Fisher asked.
Andrews stated that Saugus is on a good track to keep the program funded with the help of Department of Elementary and Secondary School (DESE) Emergency Relief Fund grants.
“Right now, I think we are on a good track for the next third to be alleviated next year,” she said. “I took the highest-paid teachers and those were returned to the budget so I think we are on track.”
After the meeting, Fisher told the Daily Item that maintaining free, all-day kindergarten is a top priority for the School Committee.
“Universal, free, all-day kindergarten gives students all the building blocks they need right from the start, right when they need them, and keeps Saugus competitive with over 90 percent of Massachusetts districts,” said Fisher. “It’s a win-win-win for kids, teachers, and families. We made it clear last year that funding the program was going to require hard work over the next two to three years. We’re already a third of the way there and are about to make another big investment in keeping that promise.”
Approximately 92 percent of schools in Massachusetts offer free, all-day kindergarten, but up until this fall, Saugus parents were forced to pay $2,700 for their children to attend their district’s program.
