Superintendent outlines warrant route and $271,000 cost estimate to add full-day kindergarten

Administration presented a pathway and cost estimate for adding full-day kindergarten districtwide and asked whether the board wanted staff and the attorney to prepare warrant language. The presenter said the most viable path is a school-board-placed warrant article to change the district's articles of agreement, which would require a three-fifths majority to pass.

The estimated additional recurring annual cost for full-day kindergarten was presented as $271,000. The administration also provided an estimated education tax impact for the current fiscal-year base: Atkinson ~4'7, Danville ~8'7, Plaistow ~4'7, Sandown ~7'7. The board directed staff to work with counsel to draft warrant-language for review at the board's Dec. 4 meeting.

Several board members noted that placing a warrant article is a distinct policy choice and asked staff whether the item needed a formal board action to begin drafting. The board agreed to have administration and the attorney prepare language so members could review the precise text and the cost presentation at the next meeting.