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Delegate urges Timberlane to revisit fully funded kindergarten after ballot outcome
Summary
A delegate asked the board to re‑examine options for fully funded full‑day kindergarten, citing enrollment growth and a state RSA that may provide additional funding.
During public comment, Michael Brashear urged the board and administration to renew a district discussion about implementing fully funded, full‑day kindergarten.
Brashear said he examined August enrollment figures and compared them with the prior year and saw growing demand. He referenced a state statutory provision he cited as “RSA 198‑48‑c” (as read at the meeting) that he said may allow an additional per‑pupil amount to help fund full‑day kindergarten. He told the board that Bedford and other districts implemented full‑day kindergarten at comparatively modest cost and suggested Timberlane consider waiving tuition, revisiting the ballot language used previously or placing a revised article before voters.
He offered illustrative figures drawn from other districts: he said Bedford implemented the program for about $367,000 and he believed implementation in the Timberlane district would cost about $301,000 based on his calculations; he urged the board and administration to present a transparent cost estimate for voters. Board members thanked him and said administrators would prepare a cost estimate and potential budgetary scenarios for future meetings.
No formal action was taken; the board scheduled follow‑up material and said a full costing and presentation could appear on a near‑term agenda.
