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Board seeks data and schedules workshop after members raise gaps in special‑needs pre‑K capacity
Summary
Board member Edwin Ferguson raised concerns about limited ESE pre‑K classroom availability in parts of Palm Beach County; the superintendent said the district increased pre‑K ESE units from 141 to 168 and will supply a formal report and coordinate a Children's Services Council workshop.
Several school board members said Tuesday they are concerned some neighborhoods lack accessible early‑intervention pre‑K classes for students with disabilities and asked staff for data and a workshop to address capacity.
Board member Edwin Ferguson told colleagues he had heard from families in parts of District 7 that they lacked available ESE pre‑K units and in some cases had to rely on private providers or pay for transportation. He asked the board to examine whether the district has enough classroom slots and whether the distribution of those slots matches local need.
"What about the families who don't have those means?" Ferguson said, noting that early identification and therapy (ABA, speech, physical therapy) strongly affect a child's long‑term independence. "The sooner you identify a child as autistic and get them into therapy, it really increases the chances of them being able to take care of themselves as an adult."
Superintendent Michael Burke responded that the district and regional offices collaborate to identify program sites. He told the board that over the last four years the district increased pre‑K ESE units from 141 to 168 for the upcoming school year and offered to prepare a formal report on site selection and current capacity.
The board indicated support for a follow‑up workshop. Chair Karen Brill and other members said they will invite Child Find and the Early Learning Coalition and that the Children's Services Council (where one board member serves) has agreed to host a session with regional partners to review need and access. Board members asked staff to report on wait lists and geographic distribution of ESE pre‑K seats.
No vote was taken; the superintendent committed to producing the data and to notify board members about the Children's Services Council workshop date. Several board members said they wanted the board to receive and digest the data before any final policy action.
Board members emphasized that socioeconomics can affect access to private therapies, that placement decisions are clustered geographically, and that capacity may vary across neighborhoods. The board will revisit the issue after receiving the report and after the planned workshop.
