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Londonderry board directs superintendent to budget for full‑day kindergarten for 2026–27
Summary
After presentations and questions about space, class size and services, the board voted 5–0 on Sept. 2 to ask the superintendent to include a full‑day kindergarten plan in the 2026–27 budget. District leaders said DOE lifted a prior square‑foot restriction and that class‑size targets and service continuity drove the recommended approach.
The Londonderry School Board voted unanimously Sept. 2 to ask the superintendent to move forward with budgeting to implement full‑day kindergarten at neighborhood elementary schools for the 2026–27 school year.
"We do believe we can start full‑day kindergarten in 26‑27 without a building project," Superintendent Dan said during a presentation that reviewed recent enrollment declines, space analyses across schools, staffing needs and projected savings. He told the board the district expects to reassign staff and that some modest construction or reconfiguration work may be needed in parts of Matthew Thornton.
A key regulatory change helped the plan: a district official told the board that the state Office of Educational Support recently lifted a restriction that had required 1,000 square feet per kindergarten classroom. That change broadens the district's options for placing kindergarten classrooms in existing elementary spaces. "That was a big lift off the board's shoulders," one board member said after reporting the DOE guidance.
Board members pressed for guardrails and details before implementation: they asked the administration to hold class sizes to roughly 18 students in smaller rooms, to preserve special education and related services now provided at Moose Hill, and to budget for furniture, curriculum, storage and playground adjustments. Transportation implications were discussed: the district expects fewer midday bus runs (a potential cost savings) but acknowledged Matthew Thornton's route and capacity may require an additional bus.
The motion directing the superintendent to include the full‑day kindergarten plan in the budget was moved by Sarah Loefflin, seconded by Amanda Butcher, and passed 5–0. The board asked administration to return with detailed staffing, furniture, busing and playground cost estimates as part of the budget process.
Why it matters: Implementing full‑day kindergarten changes the school day for the district’s youngest students and affects staffing, transportation and facilities. Administrators said the proposal would add about 103 instructional days for five‑year‑olds compared with the current half‑day model and could reduce costs related to mid‑day bus runs and portable classrooms over time.
