Full-Day Kindergarten: District Candidate's Take

First District:

David Schrumm (R): "We have a couple of hurdles to climb before we can start making decisions in March. I can't commit to spending that kind of money on anything and I won't commit  because we don't know what revenue sources will be or if the state will cut ECS grants. We have enough trouble funding what we've got. I'm an agnostic on this — I'm not sure what the effect will be in long term. If i'm going to spend $700,000 or $800,000 in the Cheshire Public Schools I'd strengthen the math curriculum."

Kristen Selleck (D) was unable to attend the forum.


Second District:

Thomas Ruocco (R): "This really is a Board of Education decision. i would ask if they spend that kind of money, where else we could spend it better, maybe at the middle school or the high school. i don't know because it is not my place to say. As long as we agree to the salary contracts that are in place, there is very little room for academic expansion."

Matthew Bowman (D): "This all-day kindergarten has been discussed for a long time. I had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Florio and he's been trying get it implemented last few years and he feels this is the time because the student population is low enough now that the students can go into the buildings that are already there. There will have to be some renovations but Cheshire is doing nothing now but being a follower not a leader, and it is all over a few dollars."


Third District:

Liz Linehan (D): "I absolutely support full-day kindergarten. I have three children under age 5, so this directly affects me. But I will say this — it has to work, it has to be done right and we have to make sure we take the time to do it correctly and we're not spending an exorbitant amount of money in the wrong places so once again we will have something that requires bandaids and fixes. it creates the lifelong ability to learn and a lot of kids will find they have a lifelong love of learning because it comes easier to them. While test scores may level out, the love of learning probably does not."
 
Joseph Falvey (R): "I am not against the concept of full-day kindergarten but it has to be done correctly, and this includes looking at what needs to be done first to have it done correctly. We have to look at other costs of doing it such as code compliance and infrastructure needs and we have to understand where we are going to be with things coming up like pension fund obligations and reevaluation and what kind of aid we will be receiving from the state before we can make commitments as to what we are going to be doing in March."


Fourth District

Michael O'Donnell (R): "I'm not against the idea but the finances have to work out. We have unknown issues with the budget. I've got to look at all the numbers first before I can make a decision like that. My wife is an educator and she has shown me studies that show that by the third grade the student achievement is the same, so if they want it see what we can do that is fine but I'm not guaranteeing it." 

Peter Talbot (D): "I have supported this and I will support the implementation of full day kindergarten. This is frankly an investment in our children that we cannot not afford to make."