Several NH communities offering public kindergarten for first time

(NECN: Lauren Collins) – Emily Sullivan has her supplies ready for the first day of school. As she rifles through her bag she shows off “some Chap Stick in a box, and a pencil and two pens.” She’s among an historic class. The last communities in New Hampshire – and the country – to offer public kindergarten opened their classrooms Tuesday SAU 28 Superintendent Dr. Franklin Bass, whose district includes Pelham and Windahm, says, “We’re very pleased and proud to be able to offer public kindergarten for the first time in both the towns of Pelham and Windham.” In addition to Pelham and Windham, Hudson, Salem, Chester, Litchfield, Milford, Lyndborough, Mason and the Masenic district are now kindergarten communities. Governor John Lynch (D-NH), who visited several first time kindergarten classrooms Tuesday, says, “it’s an important day for New Hampshire and it’s an important statement to our commitment to public education.” The availability of kindergarten had historically been a local decision in New Hampshire towns. Voters in many communities decided on their own over the years to fund the instruction, but in 2007, lawmakers set out to legally define an adequate education. Gov. Lynch says he, “along with legislators believe(s) that kindergarten is part of an adequate education, so it all became part of the bill that was signed into law.” School districts were given until this fall to set up their classrooms, a task that came together in many towns in just the last few weeks, says Debra Armfield, principal of Windham’s Golden Brook Elementary School. In the last 48 hours, she says, “Golden Brook teachers were here unpacking boxes, stacking them, putting furniture together.” This day is not without its share of controversy. Some communities resisted what they called an unfunded mandate from the state. “It depends on who you ask,” says Pelham School Board Chairwoman Elanor Benton. “You know, why should the state mandate something that they’re not going to fund? And so there’s partial funding for it but there’s certain dollars that the community has to pick up.” The town of Hudson waged a suit earlier this year to block the kindergarten law, but that motion was thrown out of court. All in all, parents like Gloria Sullivan are pleased, “especially since I’ve seen what we have to look forward to in there.” And educators say these kids are off to a great start. “It’s a natural progression from kindergarten to first grade,” says Dr. Bass. “Our vertical alignment of the curriculum is clean and seamless.”