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Rockport panel approves phased preschool tuition increase; committee to review annually
Summary
After a presentation on preschool finances, the School Committee approved a two-year phased increase (motion: $6.25 this year and $6.25 next year for full-time) to preschool tuition and agreed to review tuition annually; administrators said the move narrows but does not eliminate the program shortfall.
The Rockport School Committee voted Jan. 8 to raise integrated preschool tuition in a two-year phase-in, approving a motion to add $6.25 to full-time monthly tuition this year and another $6.25 next year and to conduct annual reviews thereafter. Ann Marie Lester, the district's director of student services, had proposed a higher $40-per-day rate as one option to reduce the program deficit but noted even that level would only partially close the gap.
"What we're proposing is to raise the daily rate to $40 per day," Lester said during her presentation on program costs and enrollment. She told the committee the preschool's FY25 expenses total about $270,075, including roughly $153,575 for two lead teachers (about $6,500 of that funded by a grant), roughly $120,000 budgeted for four paraprofessionals, and $3,000 for supplies. The program has capacity for 15 students; current tuition revenue this year was presented as about $62,570.
Committee members weighed competing priorities: closing the program deficit versus the financial burden on families. One member observed that a $10-per-day increase for a child attending five days a week would represent about $200 more per month for families and urged caution and advance notice. Administrators clarified that preschool tuition revenue flows into the municipality's special-education reserve and does not directly offset other operating lines.
After discussing alternatives — holding the current $27.50 rate with a notice that the committee is reviewing tuition, moving to the median rate among comparators ($38), or adopting the $40 proposal — the committee approved the phased $6.25-per-year motion and directed administrators to publicize the chosen schedule for enrollment materials. The motion was made by Nicole Altieri and seconded by a committee member; the recorded vote was four "Aye" responses in favor.
The committee asked administration to provide clear communication to families before September payments and to bring updated tuition proposals to future meetings as needed.
