ELLSWORTH – It’s been on their wish list for the past few years, but school officials couldn’t make it work financially – until now.

The school committee recently gave its approval to the city’s first all-day kindergarten program. The vote to begin the program this fall was unanimous, Superintendent John R. Turcotte said.

Declining enrollment in another grade level will free up classroom space for next year. School administrators dropped plans for an all-day program last year because there was no classroom space available at the time. Renting portable classrooms would have cost $150,000.

Busing students twice a day instead of four times a day also will save money. The projected savings of $30,000 will be used to cover the salary of an additional kindergarten teacher. Turcotte said he expects the only additional costs to be about $20,000 for extra supplies and furniture.

Half-day classes will still be offered as an option to parents.