Wayne Board Of Education Approves Full-Day Kindergarten Referendum Question And Statement

WAYNE, N.J. — The Board of Education approved the public question and interpretive statement for the November referendum on whether or not full-day kindergarten should be brought to the district, with the option of adding the average tax impact for homeowners at its next meeting.

It will be the second consecutive year Wayne voters will be asked about bringing full-day kindergarten to the only district in Passaic County still without it. Residents voted it down last year.

The three-paragraph statement asks residents if an additional $2 million should be raised to expand the district’s current half-day program to a full-day one.

The interpretive statement, which is also long, tells that nearly $2 million of the money will pay for more than 12 teachers, 22 classroom aides, and nine cafeteria aides.

The statement and question presented to voters last year contained similar numbers and were also long.

Although they were approved, several trustees took issue with their length.

“I would rip the whole thing apart. We don’t need to regurgitate the same numbers all over here,” said board Vice President Don Pavlak Jr. “Nobody cares how many people you’re going to hire. The more words you put in here, the more interpretation that leaves to everyone else.”

Trustee Robert Ceberio agreed.

“The most important thing is to make it simple,” Ceberio said. “A ‘yes’ vote is you get kindergarten. ‘No’ and you don’t get kindergarten.”

Trustee Cathy Kazan suggested inserting the amount the additional money would have on the average homeowner’s taxes.

“My goal is to be transparent,” Kazan said. “I think we should tell the public what the amount is.”

New Business Administrator Emidio D’Andrea said he did not have an exact amount yet. He said he will meet with township officials to discuss the tax impact and will present the board with an amount at its next meeting on Sept. 8. The amount could be added to the statement despite the board approving it Thursday.

The question and statement must be sent to the Passaic County Clerk’s Office by Sept. 9.

Trustee Christian Smith suggested mentioning the idea that if the referendum does fail, adding to the statement that full-day kindergarten could not be implemented until the 2017-18 school year.

Trustee Mitch Badiner said that adding that could have a negative impact.

“I think people who are going to want a full-day kindergarten, if you put something in about the future, I’m not sure that would be in the interest of those who want it be approved,” Badiner said.

Trustee Michael Bubba cast the lone dissenting vote.

“We’re not going to come to an agreement tonight,” Bubba said. “Pull it, come up with something in the next two weeks, put it on the agenda for the meeting on Sept. 8 and go from there.”

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Related: Wayne Full-Day Kindergarten Voted Down

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