With a state-mandated kindergarten deadline looming, the Auburn School Board has drafted a preliminary warrant article for building and operating costs associated with opening public kindergarten facilities in time for the state Legislature’s September 2008 deadline.

Kathleen Porter, vice chairman of the School Board and representative to the Auburn Budget Committee, said a few of the other 10 districts without public kindergarten in the state are waiting on implementing their kindergarten programs, but that it is important to the Auburn School District the deadline is met.

“We don’t think we’ve been offered the option of waiting,” Porter said.

The draft school district warrant article asks for $375,975 to cover capital costs for opening two kindergarten classrooms in the Village School and $111,660 in operating costs for the first year of the program.

School district Business Administrator Karen Lessard pointed out the draft article contained only preliminary numbers that would likely be tweaked a bit before the Budget Committee sees it on Jan. 31.

Capital costs include renovations as well as furnishings and classroom equipment. The state will reimburse $281,981 in kindergarten aid, which would bring the town’s share of to $93,994.

Depending on the state Legislature’s decision upon reconvening in the spring, aid may also be attributed to the $111,660 in start-up costs, which include the salaries for one full-time and one part-time teacher for a total of three classes.

Porter said public kindergarten will make things easier on first-grade Village School teachers who now deal with children from many different private kindergartens or who were homeschooled.

Currently, Auburn has three private kindergartens: Tiny Tots Preschool and Kindergarten, the Village Children Center and the and the Montessori School.

The technology education class was relocated to make room for the kindergarten classes, which required 2,000 square feet.

The Auburn School Board will host a public hearing on this and other articles on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., at Auburn Village School.