Selectman Richard Nunes criticized the Rochester Memorial School Committee for moving forward with free full-day kindergarten without consulting the board.

“Where do they get that money to make up for the new program? Is it coming out of books? Teachers? Some other program?” he asked.

On June 6, the school committee voted unanimously to pay for the yearly tuition of students attending full-day classes. Parents had paid $2,400 per student. The change will cost $46,592, to be added to the district’s general budget. There will be no change in curriculum.

Nunes said Selectmen were not advised before the vote, which happened one month after Annual Town Meeting when the municipal budget was finalized.

“It’s kind of disturbing, shocking.  Where are they going to transfer the money from?” Nunes asked.

He said a proposed budget with the increased kindergarten expense should have been submitted.

Board of Selectmen Chair Naida Parker said the town has the authority to move money from different departments and different budgets a few times a year. Town Meeting is one of those times, she said.

At the school committee’s previous meeting, Superintendent Doug White said he was confident the district would be able to afford tuition-free kindergarten.

School committee members welcomed the change at the meeting and passed the measure with little debate.