WEST MILFORD — Parents whose children attend the township's preschool at Hillcrest do not have to pay the newly increased tuition rate until September, the township council decided Wednesday night.
Earlier this month, the council raised tuition nearly 70 percent, from the current $170 per seven week session to $290 per session. The program is run by the township's Community Services and Recreation Department and has been losing money. Last year, the program lost over $30,000. The council created a subcommittee to look at whether the program should continue at all. An outpouring of parents came out to support the program, which has been in existence for over 30 years. Former students even came to profess their affection for the program and the longtime teacher and aides who they said make it special.
The council agreed to keep the program running, although there were some who felt the township should not be in the preschool business. And the cost of the township preschool is far below the average for private preschools in the township.
Several parents encouraged the council to raise the tuition so that the program could continue. However, they understood that the increase would take effect in September, not immediately. The ordinance passed by the council took effect immediately and therefore so did the increase.
Jessica Pierre of Hewitt, a parent of a child at the preschool, said making the increase immediate is "underhanded" and "unethical."
"I understand the fee increase. But a 70 percent increase two weeks before it's due? It's really unfair to ask parents to do that mid year," said Pierre. "It seems underhanded, unethical. Reconsider the increase for September. When I signed up, I signed up for one price."
Colleen Czeczuga agreed.
"It's unjustifiable to have parents come up with a 70 percent increase in two weeks," said Czeczuga.
She said there are some families with two children in the program. They would have to come up with $240 more with two week's notice.
"Everyone is more than willing to pay the increase come September," said Czeczuga.
The program is broken into five seven-week sessions from September through June. The final session of the year is set to begin in mid April.
Councilman Lou Signorino, whose son attends the program, spoke as a private citizen. He encouraged his council colleagues to wait and put the tuition increase into effect in the fall. Implementation of the fee increase was not part of the discussion, he said.
"There was an understanding it would go into effect in September," said Signorino, who has recused himself from the preschool discussion.
Jayme Mulhern, director of Community Services and Recreation, said many parents have been upset about the increase taking effect immediately. Many thought they had signed a contract when they signed up, which is not the case, she said. She said she always thought the new fee would be implemented for this last session of the preschool.
Councilwoman Ada Erik agreed. She was a member of the subcommittee that looked into the preschool's future. She said it was always her belief that the increase would take effect immediately.
In the end, all four council members agreed to put the increase off until September, welcome news to the parents of the program.