The Jaffrey-Rindge School Board has reinstated Jaffrey Grade School’s preschool program three months after eliminating it.

The board unanimously approved to bring the program back at its meeting Monday, after Director of Student Services David Beauchamp told the board that a number of parents have signed up students for the program since its elimination, making it unsustainable to send all students to Rindge Memorial School.

“We have slowly but steadily had new referrals come in,” said Beauchamp. ” Maintaining the program at Jaffrey Grade School might be in the district’s best financial interest.”

Beauchamp said the district has 48 students slotted for preschool at this time. Rindge Memorial School’s preschool has capacity for about 30-40 kids, according to Beauchamp.

The board asked superintendent Reuben Duncan to find a way to pay for the program through line items that have been historically underspent. The cost of reinstating the program is $33,372.

The proposal to reinstate the program was brought up by newly elected vice chair Charlie Eicher at the March 7 board meeting. Eicher said he wanted to keep the program running for another year so the long term needs of the district can be studied.

“It doesn’t make financial or common sense to get rid of the program, just to bring it back in a year or two,” said Eicher Monday. The School Board also approved to create a study committee to analyze the needs of preschool in the community. The board also approved its district calendar for the 2016/17 school year. The calendar was aligned for the most part with ConVal’s so that Conant’s ATC students could attend classes at ConVal.

There was hesitation to approve the schedule at the previous board meeting, as April vacation is scheduled for the week before AP testing. Since ConVal already approved its calendar, the district didn’t want to make any changes.

Laurel McKenzie was elected as the next board chair, with Charlie Eicher becoming the next vice chair. Both decisions were contentious, with 4-3 votes.

Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235.