Schools

Preschools Fill Before School Board Sets Fees

New Rates Are $1,750 for Households with $50K to $74,999 in Annual Income; $3,500 for Households with $75K to $99,999 in Annual Income

The 32 slots for free preschool at Burr Elementary in 2011-12 already are filled - in fact had been filled before the Board of Education voted this week to charge for public preschool for the first time.

Anna Cutaia-Leonard, the school district's director of elementary education, reported Thursday that Burr's preschool slots, available for children whose families have less than $50,000 a year in annual household income, are filled and that 33 slots in the other preschool, which is moving from McKinley School to the Early Childhood Center at Fairfield Warde High School, also are filled, though some children will be from families charged a reduced- or full-price rate.

On Tuesday night, the Board of Education voted unanimously to charge parents for preschool for the first time. The board's vote came about 10 days after the school district's deadline to submit an application for preschool.

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The school board voted to set the fee at $1,750 a year for residents with annual household income from $50,000 a year to $74,999 a year; and $3,500 a year for residents with annual household income from $75,000 to $99,999. Preschool continues to be free for residents whose annual household income is less than $50,000.

Cutaia-Leonard said Thursday that parents who wanted to apply for preschool were told that a free, reduced-price and full-price rate would be charged, but weren't told the amounts since the school board hadn't voted to approve them yet.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Until Tuesday night, the Board of Education had never charged for public preschool, but it was offered three years ago only to families with less than $80,000 in annual household income. That limit dropped to $70,000 two years ago and was $60,000 last year.

Cutaia-Leonard told the school board that the $49,999 cutoff for free preschool in the 2011-12 school year would cover 21.4 percent of families, according to 2009 data.

Board of Education Chairman John Mitola said Wednesday that the district would be able to offer preschool to more families by moving it from McKinley School to the ECC. School officials said in the past that moving the preschool out of McKinley also would help to reduce the racial imbalance at McKinley.

The preschool program held at Burr Elementary is two hours and 45 minutes, five days a week, and transportation is provided to the school. The preschool held at the ECC is two hours and 45 minutes a day for four days, and transportation is not provided. Each preschool accepts 3- and 4-year-olds, Cutaia-Leonard said.

Pam Iacono, vice chairman of the Board of Education, said the length of the public preschool was in line with the length in other preschools in town.

Supt. of Schools David G. Title estimated several months ago that charging for preschool and moving the McKinley preschool to the ECC could save the school district about $100,000.

Cutaia-Leonard said the preschool program offered by the district is becoming more popular and that priority is given to students whose families have lower annual household incomes. "Our application pool grows year to year. It is a growing number. There is a great need in the town of Fairfield," she said to the school board.


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