All Day Kindergarten? School Board Is Expected to Decide at Thursday's Meeting

When the Southington school board meets on Thursday night to adjust to a smaller budget, parents of incoming kindergartens expect to find out whether their children will have a full day of school to attend this fall.

The town council agreed to reduce the school board's proposed $85.3 million budget by $1.1 million earlier this month. On Thursday, the board will have to decide how to adjust to the smaller figure, including whether or not to go forward with plans to add full-day kindergarten.

Superintendent Dr. Joseph V. Erardi Jr. wrote in his blog that "in the best case scenario, I will be sharing a definitive 'yes' or 'no' with all parents on Friday, May 24th."

A majority of school districts in Connecticut now offer full-day kindergarten. Some Southington parents have lobbied for it, including creating a Facebook page on the topic.

The school board will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Municipal Center at 200 N. Main St.