Letter: MEC Endorses Eliminating Full-Day K Fee

To the Editor:

As parents and supporters of the Melrose Public School system, we strongly endorse the recent . 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 funding for our district will actually increase.  

As more and more Melrose families choose pre-K programs at the Early Childhood Center and elsewhere, full-day Kindergarten is a natural next step, and often an essential one. But most importantly, this proposal represents a firm commitment to education, the Melrose Public Schools, and the type of education our students need and deserve to thrive in elementary school and beyond.

We hope this proposal will garner full support from our elected representatives at all levels, and we strongly encourage the Board of Aldermen and the School Committee to approve it as part of the FY2013 budget process.  Investing in our public schools is a choice Melrose can and should make.

Sincerely,
Melrose Education Coalition