Hot topic: The school board is proposing the district expand its half-day kindergarten program to a full-day program for an additional $48,235. The estimated tax impact of the proposal is 18 cents per $1,000 assessed property value.
“You cannot find any academic study that speaks against full-day kindergarten,” Chichester school board Chairwoman Sally Kelly said in January. In SAU 53, Allenstown, Pembroke and Deerfield all already offer full-day programs.
Budget: The proposed operating budget is $6,224,776, up $41,145 from this year’s budget.
If approved, the tax rate will go up an estimated 56 cents for $1,000 assessed property value, which is about $112 on a $200,000 home.
Noteworthy articles: The school board is also recommending a five-year contract for teachers, which includes $59,952 in additional money for salaries in the 2017-18 year. The estimated tax impact of the contract next year is 23 cents per $1,000 assessed property value next year.
Contested races: None.
When and where: The school district’s annual meeting will be on Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Chichester Central School. Ballot voting will be Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Grange Hall.
Lola Duffort