Farmington district reports smooth opening; preliminary enrollment 4,020 and elementary balance improved after ad‑hoc plan

Superintendent Kathy reported at the Sept. 15 Farmington Board of Education meeting that the 2025–26 school year opened smoothly, with preliminary enrollment at 4,020 students and 35 new faculty members joining the district.
Kathy credited principals and an Ad Hoc Elementary Enrollment Committee with implementing a plan first reviewed in 2023 to balance enrollment across elementary facilities. Dan (last name not specified) said the district’s implementation produced a more even distribution across four schools and that the pre‑K transition to Westwoods went smoothly; staff completed a playscape and retrofitted the Noah Wallace pre‑K classrooms into elementary grade‑level rooms.
District leaders said bus‑route adjustments and coordination with town public‑works staff helped reduce morning traffic congestion at East Farms, and principals and operations staff were thanked for logistical work over the summer. The superintendent said a more detailed October 1 enrollment report and year projections will be provided to the board.
Discussion vs. decision: The report was informational; no enrollment boundary vote or policy change occurred during the Sept. 15 meeting. Board members praised the operational work and asked that October’s official enrollment be used for staffing and budget decisions.
Clarifying operational notes from the meeting: the district welcomed 35 new faculty members; the elementary Ad Hoc committee’s recommendations were implemented for the start of the school year; bus routes and an East Farms parking loop were adjusted with town assistance to ease congestion; and pre‑K playground and classroom work was completed in summer projects.
Background: District staff said the October 1 enrollment and updated projections will provide the formal counts commonly used for state reporting and staffing adjustments.