§ 198:15-r — Kindergarten Construction Program Established

I. There is established in the department of education a kindergarten construction program to provide certain construction grants which shall be available to eligible school districts that currently do not operate a public kindergarten program. These grants shall be available until all school districts in the state operate a kindergarten program within an approved public school. Such eligible districts shall receive, at their election, either:
(a) A construction grant to cover 75 percent of the actual cost of construction of kindergarten facilities, exclusive of site acquisition and core facilities; or
(b) A construction grant to cover 100 percent of the actual cost of the design and construction of a basic code compliant kindergarten facility, but shall not include site acquisition and core facilities. In this subparagraph, "basic code compliant kindergarten facility" means a new building or an addition to an existing building that the commissioner of the department of education determines satisfies the minimum standards for school approval for a kindergarten program and all applicable building code standards. The commissioner shall establish specifications pursuant RSA 198:15-s, IV for such a basic code compliant facility.
II. A school district that displaces pupils from an existing classroom space in order to use such space to provide a kindergarten program shall be eligible for a construction grant under subparagraphs I(a) or (b) to cover the costs incurred in constructing or renovating new classroom space for the displaced pupils.
III. Grants under subparagraphs I(a) or (b) shall also cover the cost of initial furniture, fixtures, and equipment needed to operate a kindergarten program.
IV. [Repealed.]
V. A school district may contract with another school district to provide a public kindergarten program that meets or exceeds the minimum standards for school approval as adopted by the department of education.
VI. The provisions of RSA 32:8 and RSA 32:11 shall not apply to costs incurred by a school district under this section.
VII. Nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit the inclusion of the site and related facilities that are not eligible for funding by the state under this subdivision as part of kindergarten construction costs from being included in a regular building aid funding request as provided in RSA 198:15-b. However, no school district which receives any funding under this subdivision shall be eligible to receive school building aid under RSA 198:15-b for the same project.
VIII. Kindergarten facilities constructed under this subdivision shall be the property of the school district or the city maintaining a school department.
IX. A district shall not be deemed ineligible from receiving the full amount of a construction or transition grant for which it is otherwise eligible as a result of the district already expending funds for construction or transition costs related to providing a kindergarten program beginning in the 2008-2009 or 2009-2010 school years.

Legislative History

1997, 348:5. 2001, 287:1, 2. 2003, 319:136. 2005, 164:3. 2006, 198:1, eff. July 1, 2006. 2008, 384:1, eff. July 11, 2008; 384:6, II, eff. July 1, 2013.