Kindergarten Registration Continues This Week
Melrose Public Schools offers full day kindergarten at in all of its elementary schools.
Kindergarten
Monday, February 11, 2013
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Melrose Public Schools to Host Kindergarten Tours
Prospective kindergarten students in Melrose can tour the five elementary schools in the city in November.
Melrose Public Schools is inviting parents of incoming kindergarten students to visit the city's five elementary schools in November, according to a school press statement. "Our full day kindergarten program, which is free of charge, is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the world’s largest accreditation organization and developmental services for children from birth to 8 years," reads the statement. "Each full-day kindergarten classroom is staffed by a highly qualified teacher and at least one full-time paraprofessional. "Additionally, Melrose Public Schools offers Education Stations, a flexible after-school program until 6 p.m. that allows children to stay in a safe and teacher-supervised …
In this Article:
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Full-Day K Funding Approved by Aldermen
Melrose Public Schools will eliminate the full-day kindergarten fee next year and in future years as the $497K in funding bridges the one-year gap before additional state aid kicks in.
One-time funding that will allow Melrose Public Schools to eliminate the $2,500 full-day kindergarten fee received final and unanimous approval from the Board of Aldermen last night. Several aldermen spoke in favor before the final vote approving the $497,425 transfer from a variety of accounts to the school department, including Ward 7 Alderman William Forbes, who said that "we always hear about full-day kids coming out ahead of half-day kids. "That argument ends here tonight," Forbes said. "Every kid is going to have an equal opportunity and that’s the way it should be." The one-time expenditure will bridge the one-year financial gap before additional state education funding would kick in, via the state's Chapter 70 formula, to cover the…
In this Article:
Friday, April 27, 2012
Full-Day K Funding Gets Initial OK From Aldermen
The one-time expenditure of $497K next year would bridge the one-year financial gap created by the elimination of the $2,500 full-day kindergarten fee, before additional state education funding would kick in and cover the cost of the program.
One-time funding that would allow Melrose Public Schools to eliminate the $2,500 full-day kindergarten fee received initial approval from the Board of Aldermen on Thursday night. The aldermen's Appropriations Committee, comprised of the full board, unanimously approved the $497,425 transfer from a variety of accounts to the school department, and the full board should take a final vote to approve the move at its next meeting on Monday, May 7. The one-time expenditure would bridge the one-year financial gap before additional state education funding would kick in, via the state's Chapter 70 formula, to cover the cost of providing full-day kindergarten to all students. In addressing the aldermen last night, Mayor Rob Dolan reiterated that a …
In this Article:
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Poll Results: Melrose Should Eliminate the Fee for Full-Day Kindergarten
That's what the majority of people who voted in last week's poll said.
Last Wednesday, Melrose Patch asked you whether or not you thought that the city should nix the $2,500 fee parents must pay to keep their children in kindergarten the whole school day. Between then and Tuesday morning, 70 people voted in the poll. The results? Several people explained their choices in the comments section. Kay amalia, Kim Wiklund and Melinda Antos Curran all supported sustaining the half-day program to have more time with their children. Meanwhile, Betsey Benagh argued that the low enrollment in the half-day program justified cutting it. And Jen Ainsley said she was excited about the possibility of a free full-day program. What do you think of the results? If you didn't have a chance to weigh in before, you're welcome …
In this Article:
Friday, April 6, 2012
Five Things You Need to Know Today
5 Things You Need To Know Today—Friday, April 6
Business owners, have your voice heard; boot camp to benefit Housing Families.
Get Melrose Patch each morning in your inbox with our daily newsletter! 1) Out in the sunshine: Sunny, with a high near 53. North wind between 11 and 15 mph. Tonight, partly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind between 5 and 8 mph. (Forecast by the National Weather Service.) 2) He was giving him the business: Attention Melrose business owners: Did you miss participating in the first Patch Local Business Forum survey? Well, it’s not too late to join the forum for this month’s survey. Let your voice be heard (anonymously) on a variety of important topics by signing up here. We're hoping your opinions will help promote conversation and make our community stronger. 3) Give 'em the boot: Melrose Boot Camp is holding a workout tomorrow …
In this Article:
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Should Melrose Nix the Fee for Full-Day Kindergarten?
Vote in our poll and tell us about your pick in the comments section.
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. "We're very excited that the city has given …
In this Article:
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Letters to the Editor
Letter: MEC Endorses Eliminating Full-Day K Fee
The Melrose Education Coalition writes in support of Mayor Rob Dolan's proposal to eliminate the $2,500 full-day kindergarten fee.
To the Editor: As parents and supporters of the Melrose Public School system, we strongly endorse the recent proposal by Mayor Rob Dolan to offer free full-day Kindergarten for all Melrose students. Mayor Dolan’s proposal, announced on March 27, would eliminate fees for full-day Kindergarten. While the current fee structure is modest in comparison to other districts, it is still a hardship for some families. As the Mayor has indicated, a unique set of fiscal circumstances provides the City an opportunity to afford this investment for the next school year. This one-year funding will continue to have a major impact in subsequent years, as Chapter 70 state funding will kick in to cover the costs of full-day Kindergarten and total state …
In this Article:
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Mayor Proposes Free Full-Day Kindergarten
Mayor Rob Dolan wants to eliminate the $2,500 fee for full-day kindergarten in Melrose, saying a confluence of events will help the city financially cover a one-year gap before a boost in state education funding.
Two years after Melrose Public Schools made even more families eligible for free and reduced full-day kindergarten fees, Mayor Rob Dolan is proposing to eliminate the $2,500 fee entirely. "If we can eliminate the one fee that is an actual educational grade ... that is the greatest blow to a two-tier system of haves and have-nots as it pertains to public schools," Dolan said at a press conference in his office on Monday morning. Eliminating the fee would be part of Dolan's proposed fiscal 2013 budget that he'll present to the Board of Aldermen in April. The mayor said that based on individual conversations he's had with aldermen and the School Committee, he expects to have support from both boards. The move would cost approximately $500,…
In this Article:
Daniel DeMaina
3:01 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
Thank you for the definitive number, Melinda, and for expressing your stance. I appreciate it. more ›
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Five Things You Need to Know Today
5 Things You Need To Know Today—Tuesday, Nov. 1
Lincoln and Roosevelt tours for incoming kindergarten parents; vote to help the Roosevelt win a $50,000 grant; School Committee meets.
Rabbit rabbit. Today is Tuesday, Nov. 1—499 years ago today, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, one of Italian artist Michelangelo's finest works, is exhibited to the public for the first time—and here are Melrose's five fast facts for the day: 1) On a clear day you can see forever: Partly sunny today, with a high near 50. East wind between 5 and 9 mph. Tonight, mostly clear, with a low around 38. North wind around 7 mph. (Forecast by the National Weather Service.) 2) So we'll meet at the end of the tour: The Melrose elementary principals will be hosting tours of their buildings for all incoming kindergarten parents, starting tonight at the Lincoln and Roosevelt Schools. 3) It only costs a dime, just a nickel a shoe, does a million…
In this Article:
Melinda Antos Curran
12:19 am on Saturday, April 7, 2012
Kim Wicklund, thank you very much for your support. It means so much to me to know that someone other than myself shares in my feelings of the importance of having a half day option available to parents. And Kay amalia, you took the words right out of my mouth, head, and heart. I agree with so many of the things you said in your posts. My husband and I registered our child for half day … more ›