A potential increase in state subsidy prompted board members to unanimously approve funding up to $10,000 for a pre-Kindergarten program in Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12. 

Concerns about the number of students, fiscal fairness and accountability for the program in the education budget came up before board members cast a vote on the issue during their March 14 meeting in Chelsea.

The program, a collaboration between the school district and early childhood education program Head Start, is already implemented for children in Windsor and Chelsea. The school district pays $10,000 per town for their share of costs associated with the partnership, the discussion among board members revealed. 

In return for the combined $30,000 investment in a mostly federally-funded program, the RSU could get as much as $200,000 in state subsidy for the increase in student population, according to Board Chairman Hillary Holm. 

“It's very clear in terms of economics and knowing how important early childhood education is, there is no way I would not support providing this amount of money,” Somerville board member Chris Johnson said.

Palermo board member Donald Barrett questioned the fairness of funding an additional $10,000 for Lincoln County towns within the RSU, when some towns have more students benefiting from the program than others. 

The school district covers Lincoln, Kennebec and Waldo counties. Palermo is the only Waldo County town in the school district, but children from that town would still be able to participate in the Head Start program in Windsor, according to meeting members.

Chelsea board member Barbara Skehan said she would like to see the funds reflected in the budget. The cost for the pre-Kindergarten programs in Chelsea and Windsor were not specifically mentioned in this year's budget, Skehan said, and she would like to see these costs accounted for. 

Finance Committee members agreed that the money to pay for these programs this year was taken out of a contingency account. 

The topic came up at an earlier meeting, on February 21. Board members discussed the issue at length with Wiscasset Primary School principal Sheryl Howe, who speak in favor of the Head Start collaboration. Hunger, social issues and transportation costs were discussed at length during that meeting. 

Howe highlighted the benefits of the pre-Kindergarten program, such as social and emotional development and early engagement in academics. 

The details of a new contract with Head Start for Lincoln County towns in the RSU still need to be ironed out.