The topic of a fee for full-day kindergarten was raised at the November 18, 2019 and January 27, 2020 Board meetings, when discussing the March 2020 capital referendum to fund our facility improvements. It also was addressed in information sessions presented to the community by D34 administration and in mailers sent to all community members. In all communications, the District made it clear that the referendum was to fund the construction costs to provide the space for FDK, and that the Board would contemplate a fee for the enhanced programming.
In December 2019, the Board voted to place a capital referendum on the ballot to improve facilities and make space for full-day kindergarten. The Board believed that, if the District did not take the opportunity to pursue FDK at that time, it might have been lost for a generation.
The Board has been working with an operating deficit for some time and did not feel it would be prudent to add to that deficit. This deficit arose after the last referendum in 2000. At that time, the community approved a capital referendum to build Attea Middle School, but did not approve an operating funds referendum. In essence, for more than 20 years, the Board has had the funds to staff seven buildings, but must staff eight.
As part of the research to determine the scope of the referendum, the District conducted community mail and phone surveys. Those surveys, which included all taxpayers, not just those with children in District 34 schools, showed preference for a full-day kindergarten fee, with a reduced fee available for low-income students. The results were shared at the November 18, 2019 Board meeting:
The topic was then discussed by the Board at the January 27, 2020 meeting, with administration sharing a fee structure recommendation aligned with that community input.
Also discussed at this meeting was that parents would have an option to send their child for a half-day kindergarten experience, with only the annual student fee required (this year, that fee was $127 for kindergarten students). The details of what exactly the half-day program will look like continues to be developed; the District will provide detailed information prior to the deadline for parents choosing half-day or full-day kindergarten for their children.
Even with a fee, the District will incur annual operating costs of $90K-$200K annually. We have budgeted for that increase in operating expenses; higher costs might impact other programs and services. Based on available financial data, the proposed fee is in line with the amount that other fee-based public school districts in the Lake/Cook County region charge, and is significantly less than the amount that families currently pay local enrichment and childcare programs to create a full-day experience for their child.
The District reviewed the fees charged by other districts (including Wilmette District 39, Aptakisic Tripp District 102, Lincolnshire District 103, and Barrington District 220), as well as the tuition charged for local private school full-day kindergarten programs. It is challenging to make a meaningful comparison, as their program structures, budgets and funding levels vary greatly; however, the average cost of FDK at the public school districts is $4,165 and local private program tuition averages about $13,500.
The District also looked at the costs that current and recently “graduated” kindergarten families have paid to create a full-day experience for their children; while those costs vary greatly many D34 families have spent $2,000-$4,000 a year or, in some cases significantly more, for a half day of childcare, enrichment and other activities and programs (which are not necessarily aligned to kindergarten learning standards or taught by certified teachers).
We gathered all of that information to gain an understanding of the local environment. However, it’s very important to note that each district is unique in its finances, structures and needs -- and each district must make decisions within that unique framework. District 34 cannot compare ourselves to those districts. While some districts offer FDK at a lower cost or without an additional fee, District 34’s operating budget does not allow for a free FDK program at this time.
On October 18, 2021, Superintendent, Dr. Delli and District administrators presented an update on full-day kindergarten planning, including the schedule and curriculum and considerations for setting a fee. Board members shared their thoughts on setting a fee. Overall, the Board of Education does not want want to go into significant deficit spending, but also don't want to set a fee that puts an undue burden on families.
Board members were unanimous in wishing to have a fee closer to the lower first estimate of $3,300, that families who are able to pay do not bear the cost of fee waivers (the District should cover those costs), and that the District should limit deficit spending. It would be part of the promise of the referendum and the Board, in setting the fee each year, would have flexibility to adjust it in the future.
The D34 administration will bring a proposal forward at the November 15 Board Meeting of $3,600 fee for FDK (with a $300 discount for early registration). The Board will take action on that proposal at that meeting.
