Ward 7 School Committee Member
Mary Jo Rossetti began the pre-vote discussion by saying that she
requested the issue brought to a public hearing last week, but has
since changed her mind.

"I had felt that, as one member, based
on tough economic times that we need to take a closer look at line
items," she said. "Up until that evening I was in favor (of fees)."

During
that hearing, several school committee members, the mayor and parents
registered their strong opposition to the proposal.

"The one
comment that struck me the most was that times are tough, but we can't
make cuts on the backs of our children," Rossetti said. "That made me
think."

The proposal was to charge parents an estimated $16
per day for SMILE or the Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECIP),
or $2,880 per year. The city would receive $259,200 in revenue from 90
full-pay students ($2,800 each) or about $129,600 with a sliding scale
option.

Ward 6 Committee member Paul Bockelman said it was
important for the school committee to raise fiscal issues and to have
thoughtful discussions. Ward 3 member Adam Sweeting said he received
e-mails supporting free preschool, as well as people approaching him on
the street.

"What was clear to me last week was when parents
said how hard it would be to have to pick programs when faced with a
financial burden," Ward 2 Committee Member Teresa Cardoso said.

Ward
4 Alderman Walter Pero, an ex officio school committee member, said he
would not like to see the issue come up each year, but to make a final
decision to make preschool free.

"We took it on the chin in
terms of parking fees and resident parking changes," Pero said. "It's
up to adults to choose to get a parking sticker … But I would like to
continue to be a part of a school committee that pays deeply for the
right to send our children to preschool, so I am proud to not vote to
incur fees."