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District outlines preschool schedule and staffing plan; administrators plan rolling hires for IEP-driven needs
Summary
Beverly Public Schools told the committee the integrated preschool will open with about 70 students on a 2-/3-/5-day 08:15-13:15 schedule and that the FY26 budget includes funding for initial paraprofessional staffing plus four floating paras to add as students with IEPs are identified.
Administrators described an adjusted preschool model that the district will operate next year and the staffing approach built into the FY26 budget.
Model and hours: The district moved from a half-day model to an integrated 2-day/3-day/5-day model; typical day length will be 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., with students attending 2, 3 or 5 days per week depending on their IEP and peer-enrollment choices.
Enrollment and staffing plan: The district expects 70 students to be enrolled at the start of the year. The superintendent and preschool staff said they plan to start with one paraprofessional per classroom and four floating paraprofessionals to redeploy as student needs are identified. Administrators said some hires will occur on an as-needed basis after screening and evaluation, because many preschool special-education needs are identified only when children enter the program. "We have funding, set aside and resources set aside to be able to add staff should we need to," the superintendent said.
Why it matters: Preschool services are integrated with special education and require staffing tied to individual IEPs. Administrators emphasized that the integrated-model design and the district's contingency funds allow staff additions as enrollment and need are determined.
Next steps: The district will hold screenings and add staff during the year as required by IEPs, and it committed to notify the committee if adjustments beyond the budgeted contingency are needed.
