School committee approves pre‑K tuition increase, adds half‑day class with lunch

The Groton‑Dunstable Regional School District school committee approved a change to preschool tuition and a new “half‑day plus” option — a half‑day session that includes lunchtime and an extra hour for social‑emotional support — at its Feb. 26 meeting.

Why it matters: district staff said the preschool program has grown since tuition was last adjusted about seven years ago and that materials‑heavy, hands‑on curriculum and added paraeducator positions mean costs have increased. Staff estimated the new rate structure would yield a little over $15,000 in additional revenue annually to cover supplies and consumables.

What the committee approved Sherry (staff) introduced Maggie Ross Richardson, who described the proposed change. Richardson said the district has not raised preschool tuition in about seven years while enrollment and program offerings have expanded (added two teachers, numerous paraeducators, and a full‑day pre‑K option). She said curriculum alignment with K‑12 and heavier materials needs make an update appropriate.

Richardson described the new half‑day‑plus class as aimed at children who are not ready for full‑day pre‑K but who need more social‑emotional support than the current morning (AM) class provides. "This is a class offered for children who are not quite ready for that full day pre‑K, but yet need a little bit more support than in the AM class as well," Richardson said.

On staffing, Richardson said the half‑day‑plus would not require additional staff and that the district would work with transportation staff to accommodate individualized schedules for students who receive transportation through IEPs. She said most families bring packed lunches and the building is peanut/tree‑nut free; offering a school lunch does not change the cost if a family chooses to bring their own lunch.

The committee discussed schedule details: currently the half‑day runs until 11:30 a.m.; the half‑day‑plus would dismiss at 12:30 p.m.; full day runs approximately 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Richardson said families could work with staff on phased transitions but would be expected to pay for the slot they select.

Financials and vote Sherry told the committee the proposed rate change would generate a little over $15,000 annually and help address consumable and materials shortages in expanding classrooms. The committee voted to approve the tuition change as presented. The motion was made and seconded; the roll call produced unanimous approval from voting members recorded in the meeting transcript.

Implementation notes - No additional staff hires were forecast for the half‑day‑plus class according to Richardson. - Transportation adjustments for students with IEPs will be coordinated on individualized schedules with district transportation staff. - Families may bring their own lunch without affecting program cost; the district maintains a peanut and tree‑nut free building.

Provenance This article is based on the Feb. 26 meeting presentation and the transcript of Maggie Ross Richardson and Sherry during the preschool tuition agenda item. Direct quotations are taken from the meeting record.

Reporting note: where the transcript identifies speakers only by first name or role, the article uses those identifiers to avoid misattribution.