Preschool, All-Day Kindergarten Discussed at School Board Meeting

The Granby Board of Education at its regular meeting on Wednesday discussed the Early Childhood Feasibility study brought before the board last June and further addressed at the school administration retreat earlier this month.

The report, which was recommended to the school board by the early childhood feasibility subcommittee, would create a full preschool program and would extend kindergarten from half- to full-day.

The report was referred to the school board's cirriculum subcommittee for further review.

"I'm an advocate for early childhood learning and the benefits of early childhood learning for all students," Superintendent of Schools Alan Addley said after the meeting. "I think one of the good characteristics of a school district in the 21st century is having an early childhood program."

The preschool, if approved, would be an integrated program, according to Addley, with 50 percent of the children with special needs and 50 percent of children without special needs.

The cost of the preschool program would be offset by the expenditures that the school district already picks up for pre-school children with special needs, according to Addley.

The classroom size would be capped at 15 children.

The shift to all-day kindergarten would cost more, Addley said, with the district having to add seven full-time teachers and seven full-time teaching assistants.

The estimated cost of the full-day kindergarten would run over $700,000.

Class sizes in the program would be capped at 16 children.

School board Chairman Cal Heminway told the members of the subcommittee to "chew on it" and report back to the full board.