Waldwick February 1, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 3 Architect Joseph Di Cara of Di Cara/ Rubino recently presented the Waldwick Board of Education with various plans that would provide the two classrooms needed to accommodate an all-day kindergarten program. Options presented at last week’s school board meeting ranged in estimated price from $1 million to over $2 million. “We looked at the options we could afford,” Superintendent Dr. Patricia Raupers said. The option that has gained the board’s support would involve the addition of one new classroom at an existing pod at the Traphagen School’s California-style campus, which contains multiple building Board mulls ‘affordable’ option for all-day kindergarten units. The pod being eyed for the addition currently houses two kindergarten classes. Additional space would be opened up at Crescent School, where a storage area and a classroom that is not currently up to code for kindergarteners would be converted for all-day kindergarten. One of the modifications required at the Crescent School location would involve the addition of a bathroom. Dr. Raupers said the estimated cost of this option would be approximately $1,185,000. “We will seek additional bids and, if the costs are reasonable, we would renovate the two kindergarten classrooms (located within the pod) at Traphagen, which are slated for renovation in the next few years,” the superintendent added. “If the bids come in high, only the new classroom would be added.” School Board President Patty Levine noted that alternate bidding options could include other renovations for small group instruction at both schools. “Full-day kindergarten is very exciting,” Levine told Villadom TIMES. “Residents have been asking for it for many years but, without backing from the state to fund it, as well as huge cuts in state funding in general, our original plan two years ago was lost. Now we have figured out how to implement the program through our commitment to putting capital funds into our budget each year. While we still have some things to figure out with attorneys to make sure it’s all possible, the funding looks to be as follows.” Levine noted that potential funding for the all-day kindergarten project could come from 2012-13 and 2013-14 funds, including $600,000 from capital reserve, $254,000 in returned state aid from 2011-12 that had been part of the $1.4 million cut, $550,000 from the 2012-13 budget, and $550,000 from the 2013-14 budget, for a $1,954,000 total. According to Levine, the Buildings and Grounds Committee recently held a walk-through at both schools to review all options that the architect provided so they could make an informed decision. “Dr. Raupers, Mr. (Robert) Sileo, and Dr. (Diane) Mardy have certainly done their due diligence in researching the educational side and importance of this project,” Levine added. Sileo and Mardy are the principals of the two elementary schools. In her report to the public, Dr. Raupers noted, “Since the classic research conducted by Cryan, Sheehan, Wiechel, and Bandy-Hedden in the 1990s, ongoing studies have revealed consistent, positive academic outcomes for children enrolled in full-day kindergarten programs as compared to students enrolled in half-day programs. Investigations contrasting half-day and full-day programs reveal that students gain an advantage when they participate in developmentally appropriate, full-day kindergarten; the most notable gains are in early academic achievement, which has been found to be a major foundation for success in future grade levels and in life (Fusaro, 1997). Full-day kindergarten can (continued on page 10)