District administrators presented a detailed fiscal analysis and program case for converting Timberlane’s current split tuition/tuition‑free kindergarten model to a tuition‑free full‑day kindergarten model starting in fiscal 2027.

Justin (district presenter) outlined the fiscal components: he said the district would lose tuition revenue if full‑day K were made tuition‑free and used the district’s projected capacity and current tuition rate of $4,500 to estimate a tuition loss of about $765,000 in the first year. He also reported the district would gain state adequacy payments (one‑time startup and then full adequacy in subsequent years) totaling roughly $369,835 in FY27. Staffing changes could include the elimination of one half‑time kindergarten FTE (estimated all‑in savings about $50,000), and the district would save the cost of midday buses (four buses at the current midday contract rate, about $74,152.80), producing a net estimated district cost of approximately $271,012 for the first year under the presented assumptions.

Miss Konotis emphasized instructional and equity reasons for the change, noting the time differential: “full day kindergarten students receive 1215 contact hours in a year. Our half day kids have 495 contact hours, so not even half, much less than half,” and she described access to unified arts, library, and additional instructional time as benefits of full‑day programming.

Board members asked about classroom space, the impact of Sandown subdivisions on enrollment, tax impacts per town, and how families who now pay would be affected; members asked staff to provide tax‑impact scenarios by town and to return with an implementation timeline, methodology details and options for FY27 transition. One board member moved that the superintendent and staff “initiate the planning for the 2027 school year to be full day kindergarten tuition free for everybody”; the board instructed staff to return with detailed implementation steps and town tax‑impact estimates at a future meeting.

No final vote to adopt the change was taken that night; staff will prepare the fiscal details, space/logistics plan and projected town‑level tax impacts for the board.