In a 3-2 vote, the School Board voted to move forward with full-day kindergarten beginning in 2026-27 as long as the bond vote passes for the portable classrooms and district project.
During the Oct. 8 meeting, Superintendent, Dan Black, explained that based on the lower enrollment numbers projected for next year, they would be able to implement full-day kindergarten at North School and South School, while having Matthew Thornton students attend Moose Hill as early as next year.
“From what we can see now, we think it’s going to work,” Black said.
At the same time, it is expected the School Board would send forward a warrant article for a bond project, which would add space to the elementary schools and allow the District to have full day kindergarten by utilizing Moose Hill for the District Office. Currently its expected the bond would be approximately $8.5 million.
“I just think we should be focusing on the warrant article for the bond,” School Board Chair, Bob Slater said during the meeting.
He explained that while he is in support of full-day kindergarten in Londonderry, he is concerned with having any kind of budget presented to voters in March, which would include full-day kindergarten, saying he thinks they should get a positive vote on the bond first.
“I think we will get the 60% if we focus on the bond,” Slater said.
Black, however, argued, they didn’t need to make any decisions during the meeting, and instead were looking to be able to talk to the parents, to see if they have any questions and to get their feedback.
“I think it’s really important to talk to the families of four-year olds,” Black said.
He also explained that their idea to implement full-day kindergarten is based on passing a successful bond vote in March.
“No one over here said we’re starting full-day kindergarten no matter what,” Black said.
School Board member, Tim Porter, said he thinks they should get the bond passed first, and then move forward with kindergarten for the fall of 2026.
“I think we need to do it methodically so it’s not rushed,” he said.
Black argued they didn’t need to make any decision at this point.
“The ask tonight is to let us go talk to the four year old parents,” Black said.
School Board Vice Chair, Sara Loughlin, added she was also concerned with implementing full-day kindergarten before the bond passes, saying she thinks there will be added costs to the budget with having full day kindergarten.
School Board members, Kevin Gray and Amanda Butcher, both noted they thought they could wait before making any decisions.
Slater, Loughlin, and Porter all voted in support of implementing full-day kindergarten in 2026-27, pending the successful bond vote, with Gray and Butcher voting against it.