FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT FRED C. UNDERHILL SCHOOL

Hooksett, New Hampshire – January 10, 2018 – The Hooksett School Board is committed to bringing full-day kindergarten to the Hooksett School District. They are proposing to remove the portable classrooms, renovate the existing space, and construct a new addition to make room for the full-day kindergarten program.

The cost for the construction project is $4,057,650. On March 13, 2018, Hooksett residents will have the opportunity to vote on a warrant article to secure a 10-year bond to pay for the addition and renovations.

Over the past several years, the Hooksett School Board has monitored the implementation of full-day kindergarten across New Hampshire along with considering the growing interest from parents in the community.

In 2015, the Hooksett School Board created a committee to explore the implementation of full-day kindergarten. The committee recommended the implementation of full-day kindergarten due to the multiple benefits it would provide such as a balanced school day with more time for early intervention and enrichment, more individualized and small group learning, and increased opportunities for social skills development.

The H.L. Turner Group, an architecture and engineering firm, was hired by the school board in 2017 to conduct a comprehensive facilities assessment and to examine the space needed for the implementation of full-day kindergarten. Their recommendations for repairs and enhancements include: safety and handicap accessibility, erosion issues, redesign the playground, and increase parking. They also recommended reconfiguring existing space and adding on to the building for full-day kindergarten.

The Hooksett School District will be hosting two informational presentations on January 23, 2018 and February 21, 2018 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Fred C. Underhill School. The presentation provides information regarding full-day kindergarten and the proposed renovation and addition project. The presentation will also review the proposed drainage repair work at the Cawley Middle School Athletic Fields, which will be a separate warrant article.

Hooksett’s Voting Day is on March 13, 2018 from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm at Cawley Middle School. For more information, please visit ​http://hooksett.sau15.net/​ or ​http://underhill.sau15.net/​.