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Board discusses full-day kindergarten, preschool expansion grants and budget implications
Summary
Board members discussed pursuing full-day kindergarten for 2025–26, potential preschool expansion grants, a grant writer assignment, and the projected local cost implications (transcript cites roughly $900,000 in lost current revenue plus about $300,000 for busing — ~ $1.2 million). No final vote was taken; the board asked administration and the grant writer to investigate options.
Board members spent substantial time weighing the merits and costs of moving to full-day kindergarten and pursuing state preschool expansion grants.
A report read during the meeting referenced Upper Freehold Regional School District’s recent action to increase its local tax levy by about 1.96% to fund full-day kindergarten; speakers said full-day kindergarten can unlock eligibility for preschool expansion grant programs. The transcript cited local tuition figures and state reimbursement estimates used in Upper Freehold’s planning — a reported $9,250 per student in local tuition and a quoted state reimbursement of approximately $14,669 per student if taught in-district (figures given in the meeting). Board members said those numbers informed Upper Freehold’s decision and stressed Millstone must analyze local fiscal impacts before moving forward.
Finance committee discussion detailed rough district cost estimates: one speaker said full-day kindergarten would eliminate about $900,000 in current revenue and that busing could add roughly $300,000, producing a combined estimate “about $1.2 million.” Members discussed the state grant cycle and a prior short planning grant with an August 14 mandatory meeting deadline and a small funding pot (~$20,000–$30,000) to develop expansion plans. They recommended starting with the district grant writer to assemble applications and modeling, and suggested the board could plan for full-day kindergarten in the 2025–26 budget cycle if warranted.
Board members emphasized caution: grants are competitive and incremental (an applicant might secure funding for fewer classroom seats than requested). One member said the preschool expansion grant funds can only be spent on preschool program expenses and cannot be used for transportation. The board did not vote to adopt full-day kindergarten; instead it directed staff and the grant writer to investigate feasibility, costs and timing and to return with recommendations for the 2025–26 budget cycle.
