Wayne School Board Set To Approve Full-Day K Referendum Question

WAYNE, NJ — The Board of Education is slated to approve the referendum question that will be presented to voters this November on whether or not full-day kindergarten should be implemented in the district, the same question they were asked last election.

Voters will decide if nearly $2.1 million should be raised from local taxes to fund the program. All but $110,000 of the money will be used to hire 12 teachers, 31 aides, and implement professional development services for the new employees.

The $110,000 will not increase the tax levy will be used to improve classrooms and purchase the technology necessary to implement the program.

Once approved, the question will be submitted to the Passaic County Clerk Office.

Wayne is the only school district in Passaic County that does not have full-day kindergarten. Finally bringing the program to the district has been a point of contention, both for residents and the Board of Education.

If the question is placed on the ballot, it would be the second consecutive year the decision to bring the program to the district rests with voters.

Last year, residents voted down the question of bringing full-day kindergarten. A dedicated group of residents launched a grassroots campaign in favor of the program, and have continued their efforts this year.

Parents and students fought hard to ensure that implementing the program does not mean extracurricular programs, like student clubs and sports, would not be eliminated.

The Board of Education decided in March against implementing the program for the 2016-17 school year and instead opted to bring the matter to voters again. The district could not implement the program and stay, even with making significant budget cuts, within the state-mandated 2 percent budget increase cap.

Superintendent Mark Toback earlier this year presented a number of possible cost-saving moves the district could make in order to free up money for full-day kindergarten, including: Closing Ryerson Elementary School, cutting staff, making parents pay for Advanced Placement classes, consolidating high school athletic teams, or outsourcing paraprofessionals.

Instead, officials decided to put in a wrap-around kindergarten program, which offers enrichment activities they said are, "consistent with the methodology and philosophy" or regular kindergarten instruction.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Related: Wayne Full-Day Kindergarten Voted Down
Related: Wayne Full-Day Kindergarten Brings With It Budget Cuts
Related: Wayne Board Of Education Decides: No Full-Day Kindergarten In September