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Politics & Government

Should Melrose Nix the Fee for Full-Day Kindergarten?

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Mayor Rob Dolan has proposed eliminating the $2,500 fee for families who want to send their children to kindergarten for the full day. He said savings on snow removal, lower health insurance costs for government employees and level funding that Melrose will receive from the state in fiscal year 2013 will cover the $500,000 cost of making all-day kindergarten free next school year.

Then the city's Chapter 70 state education funding would cover the cost of the full-day students in subsequent years.

Melrose School Committee Chairwoman Kristin Thorp said that since the committee first instituted the fee in January 2003, reducing and possibly eliminating the fee has been a priority of the committee.

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"We're very excited that the city has given us the opportunity to do this," Thorp said. "In terms of the greater picture of the work going on at the high school, the fields and technology across all of our schools, this is one piece of that puzzle."

We thought now was an opportune time to take the city's pulse on this education and budget issue. Please take a moment to vote in our poll and explain your vote below in the comments section. 

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