Posted: Dec. 22, 2009

Muskego — Wanting to better nail down funding for a pilot kindergarten for 4-year-olds, the Muskego-Norway School Board on Monday deferred a decision on the pilot until Jan. 11.

The district would get back the estimated $250,000 start-up cost and much more over three years in the form of more state school aid, even if the pilot program is dropped after the first year, Scot Ecker, director of business services, said.

But with the state being in dire financial straits, doubts were raised about whether the state would have the money two or three years down the road to keep school aid funding up. To help the board assess that risk better, Ecker said after the meeting that he needed to determine whether increased state school aid from K4 in the first year would cover the start-up costs or if it would take longer.

Can stimulus funds be used?

But where the start-up money would come from in the first place was another concern. Suggestions were to take it from fund balance, borrow it or find even more cuts in what officials say is an already extremely lean budget.

However, the board seemed most interested in exploring whether part of the $1 million federal stimulus money the district received could be used for K4.

The board already is using about half of the $1 million the district will receive in federal economic stimulus money for property tax relief. The other half of the funding was used to create two new positions - a second literacy and staff development coach and an intervention coordinator. The plan was to keep them on for this year and next year which is when the stimulus money runs out.

But board member Eric Schroeder suggested that the $250,000 that was to pay for the two new positions next year could be used for K4 instead. Protecting taxpayers is his main concern.

"I don't want to pass it on to the taxpayers," Schroeder said.

The district will check with the state Department of Public Instruction on whether the stimulus money can be used, and the School Board will have to address the staffing angle, Ecker said after the meeting.

Competing with private sector

Some board members also worried about competing with private businesses that currently offer preschool care.

"I'm not sure this is something government should be doing," School Board President James Schaefer said.

But board members voiced strong support for the educational and social advantages kindergarten for 4-year-olds offers. It also offers financial advantages to the School District, if the state continues funding the school aid formula, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Schroeder said. A 4K program would bring thousands of new aid dollars that would help the district avoid part or all of the $600,000 budget shortfall officials expect in the 2010-11 school year, Schroeder said.

NEXT STEP

WHAT: Muskego-Norway School Board vote on a one-year pilot program for kindergarten for 4-year-olds

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11

WHERE: Bay Lane Middle School, W16399 Hilltop Drive