Full-Day Kindergarten Will Be Part of the East Meadow School Budget Vote

Full day kindergarten will be put to a vote alongside the school budget on May 19th. There will be two propositions. Proposition One maintains the half-day kindergarten program the district has now, and necessitates a 2.13 percent increase. Proposition Two includes full-day kindergarten and requires a 3.02 percent increase that pierces the state cap. There are financial incentives from New York State that will help offset the cost of full-day kindergarten for taxpayers during the first (and typically, the most expensive) year of the program. Yet since the gross cost of full-day kindergarten program pushes the budget over the state cap, a supermajority of 60% is needed.

If voters want full-day kindergarten, they must vote “yes” on both propositions.

Other districts are able to implement full-day kindergarten while remaining under the tax cap, but upon further investigation, it was discovered that other districts are cutting services and personnel to fund the initiative. East Meadow schools are committed maintaining an intact staff and existing programs. Residents that vote in favor of full day kindergarten can do so without the worry of losing services elsewhere.

On Long Island, homeowners have seen their taxes steadily rise, so concerns about tax increases are certainly valid. However, it’s important to note that the school budget isn’t the sole determinant of how much a taxpayer ultimately pays. Individual and town tax rates are determined by the county, and those numbers won’t be available until sometime in early fall. It is probably safe to assume that taxes will rise; they will regardless of whether the school budget propositions pass. Yet the tax rate increases in Levittown and Wantagh, two districts that recently added full-day kindergarten, did not differ significantly on or after the years the program was implemented. At a recent school board meeting, it was revealed that the FDK program will add approximately $80 to an annual tax bill for a home assessed at $400,000. (Families may also forgo the second and final year of refunds checks from the state. When local families were surveyed, amounts ranged from 0-$200).

Proponents present some compelling reasons to extend the kindergarten day. East Meadow is currently one of two districts left in all of Nassau with part-time kindergarten. East Meadow has a sizeable population of retirees, many of whom raised their families in the town. When they decide to sell, East Meadow’s part-time kindergarten program has can turn off potential buyers. The town has a median home price that is roughly $400,000, and full-day kindergarten at a private school can add an additional $10,000 in tuition alone. Young families may forgo buying here because they’re not willing – or able – to pay for something other districts are offering for free.

“As a commercial property owner in East Meadow, Broker/Owner of the #1 residential real estate firm in East Meadow, and a graduate of the East Meadow school district, I would like to also support full day Kindergarten in East Meadow. We are one of six districts in Long Island and one of 18 in the state without full day kindergarten. It hurts our property values, as well as having our students at a disadvantage. Many buyers look elsewhere because of this important issue.” Tom Gallagher, Broker/Owner Century 21 American Homes

Maintaining property value is critical for sustaining our community.

Families with children in our school system quickly learn that Common Core has changed the way children are taught. The East Meadow kindergarten program is currently 2.5 hours, and there are no “specials” like library, art, or music. A preparatory curriculum cannot be appropriately implemented in an abbreviated day. Lessons are speedily taught as teachers race to complete all required topics in the time allowed. As a result, 45% of kindergarten students need remediation. The part-time kindergarten model may have served the community well in the past, but schools cannot expect to meet modern standards while clinging to an antiquated system.

This is the first year that full-day kindergarten was offered as an option for this community, and local families need to make their voices heard. Voters can visit the Leon Campo Center in Westbury for absentee ballots.

Remember to vote on May 19th!