Rockville Centre UFSD holds UPK lottery, assigns 72 seats and 31 alternates

Marie Dalton, the assistant superintendent for special education and pupil personnel services for the Rockville Centre Union Free School District, said the district held a universal prekindergarten (UPK) lottery and assigned 72 seats at the Rockville Centre Recreation Center from 103 applicants.

Dalton, who opened the lottery, reviewed the procedure and introduced staff members present to run and witness the drawing. "I am joined by the secretary to the superintendent, Suzanne Flanagan and Dana Zawal, who will be drawing our numbers. I'm also joined by Patty Bridal, our district registrar, who will be serving as our auditor and witness," she said.

Dalton said all numbers were drawn and assigned during the broadcast and that alternates would be assigned in rank order if a family declined a seat. "In the event that a family has a change of plans, alternates will be assigned in their rank order," she said. The district announced that families with twins or triplets were assigned a single number; if that number was called, the district would notify viewers and continue the draw.

Officials did not read individual family names on the broadcast; instead they announced numeric ticket assignments and said an email would be sent to every family with the outcome. Dalton closed the session by telling attendees, "Thank you everyone. You'll receive an email."

District staff announced that 72 seats for the Recreation Center location were filled and that the lottery also produced 31 alternates. Staff noted a small number of numeric readouts were unintelligible on the recording; the district will provide the complete list of assigned seats and alternates in the follow-up email to families. No board vote or policy change was taken at the drawing; the event implemented the district's existing enrollment procedure.