HOLDEN – Pictures of pre-kindergarten pupils with huge smiles and bright eyes as they displayed their artwork were shown during a PowerPoint presentation at the SAD 63 school committee meeting Monday night that kicked off a discussion of the program.

The pre-kindergarten program’s teachers, Eddington Elementary School kindergarten teacher and principal, other teachers and even some parents spoke out in support of the program.

Business Manager Yvonne Mitchell said the state subsidy, which is around $131,000 under the Essential Programs and Services formula, more than exceeds the program’s $50,163 cost to operate.

The total cost to run the program is $47,213 in salaries and benefits with $375 for supplies, $75 for books and approximately $2,500 for utility costs, she said during the taped meeting.

The result is an $80,837 surplus, Mitchell said.

The pre-kindergarten program, which began last year with 15 pupils and expanded to offer two sessions with 30 pupils this year, has been operating in a classroom at Eddington Elementary School, but space restraints have caused the district to look elsewhere, Superintendent Louise Regan said.

Several parents have started a fund-raising effort to provide the needed space.

Grant funds were used to start the pre-kindergarten, but because the pupils are in school for at least 10.5 hours a week, the state will pay $5,389 per pupil for 2005-06. Eddington Elementary School Principal Don Spencer said 26 pupils have registered for the fall program.

The board unanimously endorsed a motion to “proceed with the construction of the so-called portable classroom for the pre-K program.”

During the meeting, the board also:

. Changed the May board meeting date to 6:30 p.m. May 16.

. Set meeting dates for the budget process. The budget hearing is 7 p.m. May 12 at Holbrook School, the annual budget meeting is 7 p.m. June 9 at Holbrook School, the validation referendum vote is June 14; and a special board meeting to accept the results of the referendum is set for 6 p.m. June 15.

. Held the first reading of eight new or revised district policies, including compensation for school board members, budget preparation, technology use, delivery of evaluation reports, grievance procedures for people with disabilities, alternative education programs, and disciplinary removal procedures for students with disabilities. The second reading of the policies and vote will be held at the May meeting.