CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Clarksburg School is opening a limited number of spots in its four-day prekindergarten program for 3-year-olds.

 

The School Committee voted on Monday to accept applications for four non-resident spots for the 2023-2024 school year on a first-come, first-serve basis until Aug. 28.

 

"We shouldn't have any more than 14, that will give us one, like a cushion in case there's a resident that comes in during the school year," said Superintendent of Schools John Franzoni. "We have currently 10 residents enrolled for the 3-year-old program."

 

The committee voted to charge a total of $4,320 for the school year to be paid monthly over 10 months beginning Sept. 1. Children must be age 5 as of Aug. 31 to enroll in the kindergarten program.

 

Franzoni said the recommendation was $120 a week for the four-day program is based on other Northern Berkshire School Union schools charging up to $150 for five days; residents pay $80 a week, or $288 a month. Business Administrator Lisa Blackmer said the decision to bill based on the full 10 months was to avoid figuring out short weeks, vacations and other breaks. 

 

Blackmer said the 3-year-old prekindergarten class was budgeted at $26,379 and at nine children (at the time it was calculated) would generate $25,920. "So pretty much anything over that nine will help offset any other expenses for the program," she said. 

 

Franzoni added that "this is not us looking to create revenue, it's needed to support the program." 

 

School Committee members were concerned about selection and voting on costs, with Chair Laura Wood noting that they had usually approved a program and left it up to the administration to determine the details. "Would you give preference to sibliings?" she asked. 

 

Assistant Superintendent Tara Barnes acknowledged it was not the usual but process but that was because it was not covered by state law, like school choice is. This would be a straightforward tuition and the board could determine how it wanted the administration to proceed. 

 

It would also be only for one year at which time the committee would re-evaluate the program and whether it wanted -- or was possible -- to continue accepting non-residents, said Franzoni.  

 

They discussed if it would be a hardship to give preference to children with siblings using school choice, since there was no guarantee those children could continue into the 4-year-old program or kindergarten. 

 

"I'd almost rather just say as soon as you get it in, if there's a slot, you're guaranteed a slot," said Principal Sandra Cote. "And it's once the slots are closed, they're closed."

 

School Committee member Mary Giron asked if they should do a last robocall to ensure all Clarksburg residents knew about the program. 

 

"I feel like we've done our due diligence [in getting the word out to residents] for six months," said Franzoni. "I think we can comfortabley set a deadline of Aug 28."

 

The school has seen a spike in resident children and did not accept any school choice students for the coming year. The full-day kindergarten is currently at 15, including a child the committee voted to allow to start school based on their parents closing on a Clarksburg home in September. 

 

"We've had an unprecedented enrollment over the summer of new residents in Clarksburg," said Franzoni. He pegged some of the uptick to the school's limiting or eliminating school choice over the last several years. 

 

"I think enrollment in the school has really motivated some increase. I think in the housing for families with school-aged children because they want their children to be enrolled in Clarksburg Elementary and the only way to do it now, really, is to be a resident."

 

In other business: 

 

• The committee signed off on a two-year agree with the Clarksburg Teachers Association. The contract has 2 percent raises in each of the next two years and some longevity adjustments; it begins on the termination of the current contract next month.

 

• Franzoni gave an update on the installation of a lift to the middle school wing that had been hoped to be installed over the summer. Instead, the contractor is planning work during the Christmas break and asked about some preparation work the week before. The superintendent thanks Thomas Bona for volunteering his time to shepherd the process along for the school. 

 

• Franzoni and Blackmer said they had a positive meeting with town officials including the new treasurer in getting financial reporting back to Blackmer for submission to the state. They said, however, there is still a "nonagreement" on the student activity account because of questionable deposits dating back at least six years.