Boyertown board hears feasibility study, options and cost estimates for all‑day kindergarten

The Boyertown Area School District board heard a feasibility presentation on all‑day kindergarten from external consultant Dr. Kochenauer, who said the study drew "close to 1,500 responses," including 903 parents, 261 staff and 332 community members. She reported that roughly 89.1% of parents were positive or neutral about full‑day kindergarten and that childcare cost savings and curricular alignment were top perceived benefits.

The study identified a district need for 10 additional kindergarten classrooms and presented four implementation options: (1) add modular classrooms to existing schools (Dr. Kochenauer gave a midline cost estimate of $3,925,500 for the modular‑classroom option), (2) keep students in their current schools but cap enrollments or temporarily house some students at other buildings, (3) create two K–2 primary centers and convert remaining schools to 3–5 configurations to reduce transportation time, and (4) move fifth grade to middle school and reconfigure grade clusters districtwide. Each option carries tradeoffs for transportation, staffing and site work.

On the curriculum and instructional side, the presenter said full‑day kindergarten would allow longer literacy blocks ("extend the literacy block to 90 to 100 minutes") and more time for math, play‑based learning and tiered supports (Tier 1–3), and emphasized that instruction would be made developmentally appropriate to avoid "beating education into 5‑year‑olds."

Board members pressed for detailed cost breakdowns and logistics. One member asked whether modular classrooms would be attached to existing buildings; administrators and the presenter said modern modulars can be connected to school infrastructure and integrated with existing camera systems and restrooms, and that site utilities (plumbing, electrical) drive much of the price variability. The presenter noted leasing, buying or capital add‑on choices would change annual vs. up‑front costs and recommended hiring an architect and obtaining more exact bids if the board signals support.

Administration asked the board to consider a March timeline to decide whether to proceed to planning for the 2027–28 school year and suggested authorizing professional services (architectural/engineering) to produce definitive feasibility and cost estimates. The board agreed to continue discussion and to organize site visits to districts using modulars and to arrange demonstrations of modern modular classroom options.

Next steps: administration recommended bringing refined cost estimates and design feasibility (including modular attachment options) back to the board at upcoming meetings; a March motion on whether to authorize planning was proposed as the milestone for advancing the project.