BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD – An exploratory committee gave a presentation examining the feasibility of full-day kindergarten at the Feb. 22 Board of Education (BOE) meeting.
While a previous report by demographer Ross Haber indicated that the district offering full-day kindergarten was feasible, BOE trustees have said in the past that the district simply does not have the funds to make this option available.
As a result, the committee looked into other options for implementing the change, like offering tuition-based kindergarten or raising taxes to generate funding.
According to Cheryl Best, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment, a number of residents filled out a survey asking their preferences regarding full-day kindergarten.
As shown in the presentation, an overwhelming majority (73 percent) were in favor of implementing full-day kindergarten. Additionally, 71.3 percent of those surveyed said that they used a supplemental enrichment program to complement their children’s current half-day kindergarten. Furthermore, 57 percent would support a tax increase.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/committee-explores-full-day-kindergarten-1.1518470
Let those that require a glorified baby sitting program pay for it not the over burdened taxpayer.
I believe around 70% had children currently in the school system so I believe they were more likely to favor taxpayer funded full day. If it would go to the referendum vote in November 2016 (would go over 2% cap so have to be voted on), a larger cross section would come out and possibly turn it down. Should implement next year as optional tuition (still cheaper than enrichment elsewhere which over 70% of people pay) and try to work it into future budgets.
That was an imperfect survey. It required that att residents locate the survey. A better survey would have contacted a representative sample.
Did the survey results resemble the overall population? I doubt it.
No new taxes
The numbers as they were given at that meeting were SO skewed.
It was a percentage of a certain population or demographic that voted in favor of this.
I hope it fails. Leave the kids alone.
Put it on the ballot. A good cross section of residents will show up.
No one has placed a price tag on this perk. How much will it cost in buildings, salaries and benefits?
IT was in the presentation. around 1 million first year, think about 750k ongoing…
If you don’t like half day K, don’t move here.
12:37 you can count on a tax hike. They also had that stat. And it was like 80% of some other percentage (yeah. Great study) would support s tax hike for full day
State will mandate it soon and we’re one of the very few towns left without it….might as well bite the bullet now.
A reminder, Cheryl Beat can say 73% wanted this. It was 73% of a different percentage of people. I belive the breakdown was people who do or will have kids in the system within a certain amount of years. There were other demographic groups who were not factored in to that 73%
Good for the Yoga and cycling volumes while we pay thru the nose again. Private options pls keep your hands out of my empty wallet. Money sent to VOR HIGH TAXES ALREADY
5.16 apt phrase. Bite this tax increase bullet like never this town is just nuts this is real money folks retirees on fixed incomes. They built the town
4.14 has it right cost wise ..we are buying into an endless liability with gold plated town payed teacher benefits forever and the pension exposure for more teachers.Half day K was fine for millions up to this point and if Moms and Dads want to inject more opportunities for their kids to beat the kid down the street at that age ..You can Pay yourself,Get a Grip Ridgewood..This is real money here..
Count on seeing a lot more houses being sold by those of us who don’t use the schools.
We have been subsidizing these newbies for way too long.
When our empty bedrooms get replaced by new families with children, the schools will be overwhelmed and your précious offspring will have to go to split sessions.
This is the tipping point for many of us. On my block 8 out of 14 homes do not have school age children,. Imagine 30+ ,
More bedrooms full of school age children . Again that is only one block.
If the estate tax doesn’t drive us out, this will.
Be careful what you wish for.
Agree, empty nesters!
7:39 is right. That’s talking about real money for Capex expanded school infrastructure construction teachers etc