Schools’ Recommendation on Full-Day Kindergarten Expected Next Week

The findings of an investigation into the financial, operational, and educational impacts of adding full day Kindergarten to the Mahwah school system will be discussed at a meeting next week.

According to an update from Superintendent Lauren Schoen at a Board of Education meeting last week, she and a team of administrators and teachers from the district have been looking into what transitioning from the current half-day model to a full-day one would mean. She said she is expecting to make a presentation with the findings to the Board at its meeting next Wednesday, Dec. 18,

Schoen said the presentation will detail how much the transition would cost and what staffing changes would need to be made to shift to a full-day model, a look into how much more classroom space the program would need and if the district can accommodate it, and the potential educational impact of switching.

She also said she is urging the Board to make a decision on full-day Kindergarten soon after her recommendation.

“It is important the decision is made quicker rather than later as the budget season is almost upon us and we need to plan accordingly,” she said.

At past meetings, both Schoen and board members have expressed support for switching to a full-day model. Her report next week, Schoen said, is to discuss whether or not it is feasible for the district to do.