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Ocean Township to expand preschool seats, reduce special-education slots per classroom
Summary
A district official told the Township of Ocean School District board during the Oct. work session that the district will not add new preschool classrooms next year but will change the mix of seats to create more general-education openings.
A district official told the Township of Ocean School District board during the Oct. work session that the district will not add new preschool classrooms next year but will change the mix of seats to create more general-education openings.
Under the proposed plan, "we are going to propose 2 special education seats in each classroom," the official said, a change from three special-education seats per classroom this year. The district said that change will create 24 additional preschool spaces compared with the current school year and that, as four-year-olds move into kindergarten, the district will have 184 preschool seats available for 2026–27.
The official said all general-education preschool seats are filled this school year and that there are open slots reserved for children who qualify for special-education services when they turn 3. The district encouraged families of 3- and 4-year-olds to register online and said staff will hold a parent information session later in the school year and then open applications for the 2026–27 preschool program.
The director of preschool, Tristan Bona, was named in the presentation as the staff member overseeing the preschool plan. The board was not asked to vote on this plan during the work session; the presentation was described as an informational update and planning step ahead of formal agenda items to come.
Also noted in the same report were upcoming school events and student recognitions, including a Spartan Alumni career panel for seniors and several fall athletics accomplishments that the district said it will recognize at a future meeting.
Background and next steps: the district said staff will support families through the application process and will post registration information on the district website. No budget figures or additional classroom staffing plans were presented in this session; those details were described as to be determined as the plan moves toward formal board action.
