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Haddonfield Kindergarten: Extended-Day Proposals Due in November, Board Decision in December

Mustard Seed is closing, full-day K waits until 2028, and the board meets Nov. 12.

By Live Haddonfield ยท

If you have a little one heading to kindergarten in Haddonfield, the next few months matter. Administrators are expected to bring updated extended day kindergarten proposals to the Board of Education in November, with a decision planned for December. The pressure comes from a childcare closure and a full day program that is still years away.

Why this is happening now

Mustard Seed Community Childcare said it will close after the 2026-27 school year. That program covered extended day kindergarten for a lot of families. Meanwhile, Haddonfield's own universal full day kindergarten is not expected until 2028-29. It is tied to the $13.67 million contract for the J.F. Tatem Elementary addition and Hopkins gymnasium.

The story got big enough that NJ.com picked it up, calling Haddonfield one of the last towns in New Jersey without full day kindergarten.

What the board has looked at so far

At its Oct. 15 work session, the board reviewed options to expand extended day kindergarten for 2027-28, The Retrospect reported. It chose none yet. The district estimates full day kindergarten will add about $1.18 million a year in staffing.

Here is the honest part. Parents planning for fall 2027 do not have an answer yet. December is the month to watch.

What was on the Oct. 29 agenda

The board met Oct. 29, but minutes were not posted as of Nov. 2. So these were items up for a vote, not confirmed outcomes:

  • Final adoption of the 2027-28 school calendars.
  • A resolution supporting the borough's Safe Routes to School grant.
  • A $4,225 gift from the HMS Class of 2026 for new signage at the Chestnut Street entrance, per a revised agenda.
  • Honors for three National Merit Semifinalists: James Gordon, Luke Patterson and Owen Snyder.
  • Winter coaches, including Paul Wiedeman for HMHS boys basketball, Jackie Mulligan for girls basketball and Luke Wister for swimming.

Dates to know

  • Thursday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m.: Board of Education meeting.
  • Thursday, Jan. 7, 2027, 7 p.m.: Board of Education reorganization meeting.

The three board candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot are running unopposed. See what is on the ballot.

FAQ

When does full day kindergarten start in Haddonfield? The district expects universal full day kindergarten in 2028-29.

When will the board decide on extended day options? Updated proposals are expected in November, with a decision planned for December.

Sources

The Friday newsletter rounds all of this up in one short read, so you never miss what matters in town. Get it here.