Board discusses staggered start times and says ‘free preschool’ is not free for Dover taxpayers

Dover Board of Education members discussed changes to school start and dismissal times for the 2025–26 year and raised concerns that state-funded preschool expansion does not fully cover local transportation costs.

At the meeting, a district administrator reported that the superintendent had sent correspondence outlining a new staggered schedule for the coming year intended to maximize existing transportation resources and create cost savings by tiering bus routes. The schedule change is intended to let buses run multiple routes and reduce congestion while keeping overall operations within the district’s current fleet.

A board member said the state’s repeated description of the program as “free preschool” understates costs for Dover residents because the district must pay for transportation that the state grant does not cover. The board member asked whether the Board should communicate that local taxpayers provide additional subsidies to make preschool accessible in Dover, and suggested the issue be raised in the finance committee.

Administrators and trustees discussed operational steps to limit the local transportation cost, including consolidating preschool classrooms at a single Route 46 facility to reduce the number of buses required.

No formal action to change the schedule was taken at the meeting; the administrator said staff would support families during the transition and that specific schedules and times will be communicated to families before school starts. Board members directed finance and facilities staff to review costs and consider discussing the matter at the finance committee.

The discussion occurred during administrative reports and informal board discussion; it did not result in a formal vote or instruction to send a letter to state officials.

Looking ahead, the district said it will communicate final arrival and dismissal times and provide support to families adjusting to the changes.