Story And Poll: The Looming Kindergarten Controversey

UPDATE: There is disagreement between the California Teachers Union, FFUSD and the California Kindergarten Association on the legality of suspending kindergarten. A passage in the article saying kindergarten is required by law has been removed.

Among the many things the school district is eyeing to reach $6.5 million in cuts after years of millions more in budget cuts is suspending kindergarten for one year.

According to budget documents given to the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District Board of Trustees, suspending kindergarten could just about wipe out half of that $6.5 million in savings they need ($3.28 million), while suspending the athletic stipends for one year, that help create school sports, would be perhaps close to $444,000.

Meanwhile, closing schools nets an estimated $400,000 in savings for each elementary school closed, $800,000 for each middle school closed and a cool million dollars for each high school closed.

On Tuesday, the district is going to post the list of proposed cuts the board of trustees may vote on Thursday. Patch will post that list, and be at the meeting live blogging whatever decision the board makes.

In the meantime, how would you vote if you were on the board? Each of the following choices assumes cuts to custodial services, closing pools, cutting maintenance and clerical staff, and leaves open the possibility of closing some kind of school or schools.

Keep in mind that if you choose option three, it will likely mean the closure of a high school. The options also assumes the district gets no union concessions.