Newark moves on all-day kindergarten
By John Zornow

In a special meeting on March 24, the Newark School Board moved ahead with its intention to implement all-day kindergarten. Reports were received by the Full Day Kindergarten Committee, made up of parents, school staff, and other community members. Sub-committees were formed to deal with issues such as space, budget, scheduling, and curriculum.

The committee looked at leasing newly constructed classroom space in the community; leasing a renovated existing space; or a combination of both.

Among the sites considered to lease were: Roosevelt Children's Center, Stuart Park, the former Comstock Building, BOCES, Newark Hospital, NYNEX Building on Grace Ave. The space sub-committee listed pros and cons of all sites for the board's consideration, with the old Comstock Building on S. Main St. appearing to be the most favorable. The former Roosevelt Elementary school (E. Union and Vienna St.) was ruled out as an option.

Among the items addressed by the budget sub-committee were personnel, fixed costs, classroom supplies. The scheduling sub-committee looked at the number of classrooms that would be needed to handle a projected 185 full-day kindergarten students.

The largest sub-committee - curriculum - dealt with the research, collection, and review of examples of full day curricula from other districts.

The board will now study the recommendations of the committees to design the all-day kindergarten to be ready for this fall.

In other business:

The board awarded the remaining bids as part of the Capital Improvement Project. These included electrical, site work, asbestos, HVAC, plumbing, roofing and general construction.

The board also voted to upgrade all lavatories at the high school.

The Energy Performance Contract with Johnson Controls, Inc. was approved with the total work priced at $3,281,875. As per the contract with Johnson Controls, energy payback is guaranteed.

A vote was carried that will increase the number of night athletic games to be played. The vote however, does not include night play for modified sports. Night games will make better use of the athletic fields and enable more families to attend games.

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