A proposed 4-year-old kindergarten program for the School District of Maple could be put on hold. The interest is there, but the funding may not be, according to Superintendent Gregg Lundberg.
"We were recently made aware the 4K start-up grants for new programs would most likely not be available for two years, if at all," he said in an e-mail interview following Monday's Maple School Board meeting. "At this time the proposed 4K program is under advisement as the development of the 2009-10 budget process continues."
Approximately 65 students have shown an interest in enrolling in 4K. The district will consider ways to provide the program more economically, Lundberg said, but it has to fit into the budget.
Based on the most recent information from the Joint Finance Committee, the district's revenue limits will be reduced by an estimated $280,000 for the coming school year. Lundberg said the drop in income would require creative budget strategies, including reductions in capital expenditures and other variable costs.
The major goal of the school district is maintaining solid educational programs, which includes maintaining staff," Lundberg said.
