POTENTIAL BOE cuts

Lots of things are potentially being trimmed in the budget but a few programs brought out a few pleading citizens.

The G&T program....firstly, many thought that there would be a full cut, not just the 4th grade so that the program would start in 5th grade. That seems reasonable.

The full day preschool program. Well, I have a definite opinion on this one. I've heard a mother at a BOE meeting saying her child had done multiple years in preschool. Under those circumstances, If that's not public paid babysitting, what is? While I understand the value of a preschool program, no child should be allowed to spend more than one year in it if its subsidized by local public funds.

Private preschool/daycare is out there. As a single mother, going back to work when my child was 3 (and I was pretty poor), I paid for a daycare/preschool program until my child was kindergarten age. And because my child was an age "cusp" kid, I paid for 2 years of preschool which also served as daycare.

I rechecked the constitution.........children in NJ will be T&E educated between 5 & 18.

Unless the parents FUND the preschool program. Pare it down so that it doesn't cut into the 5 to 18 education or the local taxpayer's pocketbook.

Laura,

You are 100% correct. They aren't cutting the Pre-K as a whole. They are simply getting rid of the full day pre-k that exists in one school. My son was in pre-k at Vroom for the final year of half day pre-k there (2001-2002). There was a whole mess that ended up with Vroom School's district being closed, no pre-k, and several families who had to move their children to new schools. Next thing you know, there is a full day pre-k being offered there for the 2003-2004 school year. It was some kind of first come, first serve thing when you signed your child up for pre-k. Where you lived didn't matter as long as you were willing to transfer any other child to Vroom who was 3rd grade or below. It was nuts! They need to go back to half day just like every other school in town.

Is this a pilot program?