BOE Votes to Increase Tuition at Cambridge Park Preschool

The Matawan Aberdeen Board of Education voted 8-0 to increase Cambridge Park Preschool tuition by $500 at their meeting Monday night.

There were previously three tuition rates available to the preschool's regular needs students, including reduced and free tuition. Full tuition was set at $3,000 and reduced tuition was set at $600.

Full tuition for the 2012-13 year will now be $3,500 and reduced tuition will now be $1,100. The free option was eliminated entirely.

"It's still very reasonable for a preschool," said Superintendent David Healy.

At the March 12 committee meeting, the board the program has placed on the district since funding was cut in 2007.

The preschool costs $482,000 a year to run and there was a shortfall of $378,233 in funding for the program in 2011-12, according to Board of Education President Charles Kenny. There are 87 regular needs students enrolled in preschool at Cambridge Park for the current academic year. Thirty-three pay full tuition, nine pay reduced tuition and 45 attend for free.

Board member Ken Aitken also proposed a four-part amendment to the tuition increase item on the agenda. The amendment, which was approved by the board, includes:

1. Discontinuing busing to students who live within two miles of the school, which is in line with state statutes and busing at the rest of the district, Aitken said
2. Having the full and reduced tuition rate determined by a completed financial disclosure application that is subjected to verification and uses the Federal Income Chart to measure eligibility.
3. Placing a cap at 90 regular education students
4. Using a lottery system for student selection that consists of a public drawing of applicants at a Board of Education meeting and a waitlist for late registrants and those who were not selected at the drawing, which operates on a first-come-first-served basis

The lottery system, Aitken said, would ensure that students are selected fairly for Cambridge Park Preschool and with no regard to their family's income.

Registration for Matawan and Aberdeen residents for Cambridge Park Preschool will take place between April 16 and April 27. A lottery drawing of applications will take place at the April 30 Board of Education meeting.

According to Healy, only applicants who provide the required proofs of residency by the specified deadline will be considered for placement.