The Roselle Public School District Board of Education voted at a special meeting to approve the 2025–26 preschool program budget and submit it to the New Jersey Department of Education, a move board members said is intended to secure preschool expansion grant funding and add seats for local children.

The budget submission matters because district officials said the state-managed preschool expansion funds would allow the district to serve additional children beyond current capacity. Miss Gray, a staff member, said the district "would be able to provide an additional 150 kids with preschool through the preschool expansion grant money" as discussed in earlier budget presentations. Dr. Fisher, a staff member, clarified the estimate, saying, "Yes. Approximately up yeah. Upwards to a 100 students. So, it might it might just be a little less than that, but, rounding upward, is what we're planning for." He added the timeline was compressed after the state notified the district on the 24th and required finalization by July 3.

Board members pressed for details before the vote. Miss Angela Alvey Winbush, a board member, asked for elaboration on the expansion. Officials said the district expects to use a mix of renovated local space and partnerships with community providers. Staff identified the recently closed Presbyterian Church preschool building as a potential classroom location; the district's special-services coordinator has been engaging with at least two community providers and a third local partner. Officials also noted prior local providers that are closed or noncompliant: Roselle Daycare has closed, and a Chestnut provider on Third Avenue raised state-compliance concerns.

District staff described steps still required to bring new sites online: state inspections of proposed spaces, square-footage recommendations from state reviewers, and renovation work to meet state requirements. "We couldn't make a commitment until we knew that there would be funding for our expanded preschool," Dr. Fisher said, adding that because of the late notification the district did not expect to have children "queued up for September 1." He told the board the district's waiting list currently contains "about 70, 80 kids" though the final number would depend on the grant award and readiness of sites and staffing.

During discussion board members raised operational questions about teacher and staff facilities. Officials said the former preschool site includes offices and a lunchroom and that state reviewers had already provided preliminary guidance on usable rooms. The county business administrator inspected the Presbyterian building and supplied requirements the district must address as part of renovations.

The motion to approve and accept the 2025–26 preschool program budget and submission to the New Jersey Department of Education passed on a roll-call vote. Voters in favor included Miss Angela Alvey Winbush; Dr. Atkins; Giselle Bond; Jessica Chavez; France Cortez; Antigua Santos; Ayesha Turnage; Dr. Courtney Washington; and Chazelle Bohn. Leslie Anne Woody was not recorded as present for that vote. The board had earlier approved an agenda change by voice vote to move the superintendent recommendations and the preschool item before the executive-session motion.

Board members and staff said next steps are administrative: finalize facility approvals with the state, complete renovations to meet state guidance, and confirm formal grant award amounts once the Department of Education issues final numbers. Officials noted the state budget activity over the same period but did not link any specific dollar amounts to the district's submission, saying the final budget total from the state had not been provided.

The board entered executive session after the vote; the preschool budget minutes will be made available upon request when confidentiality or administrative conditions are resolved.