At a Nov. 21 community session, the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District presented a redistricting planning process after a 2024 enrollment projection showed continuing elementary growth. Fred Hijazi, a consultant with CityGate GIS, told attendees the work will produce multiple map-based scenarios that the public can view and annotate online before the district recommends a plan to the superintendent and Board of Education.

The district said the project’s stated objectives are to balance attendance areas with school capacities, account for projected growth, optimize building utilization and transportation, preserve instructional-program space and minimize disruption to students and families. "We want to create the least impact," Hijazi said, describing parcel-level neighborhood units and scenario modeling that projects enrollment effects over a 10-year horizon.

Why it matters: Board officials said the district faces immediate pressure from enrollment increases and new housing, and that an updated, community-informed boundary plan is intended to prevent short-term scrambling (such as late August classroom openings and unplanned staff moves) while preserving program access. "We care about your kids," Superintendent Perez said, stressing the district will seek input at every step.

What the district will do: Officials said scenario development will begin in December and continue through January, with maps and model outputs posted online for public comment. Staff explained that comments will be tied to specific map locations so planners can aggregate community sentiment and iterate scenarios; the board could approve an implementation plan potentially phased in by July 1 for the following school year, though officials said phasing is an option if the community or logistics require it.

Preschool expansion and capacity trade-offs: Much of the public discussion centered on the district’s recent preschool expansion funded through a Preschool Expansion Aid (PEA) grant. District leaders said the district applied for and accepted PEA funds beginning in 2021, and that state rules (facility square footage, staffing and annual site reviews) limit where pre-K classrooms can be located. "Declining PEA would not resolve our overcrowding concerns," a district official said, adding the grant has helped purchase buses, play equipment and staffing supports that also benefit K–12 programming. District staff said pre-K enrollment is planned to avoid displacing K–5 programs where possible but acknowledged site and regulatory constraints.

Special education and program placement: Multiple parents asked whether special-education services would be consolidated or remain distributed. The district stated it currently houses special-education programs in every elementary building and does not plan to move all programs into a single site. "We will not be doing that; housing in one building causes segregation," the administration said, and promised transition supports (summer orientation, principal and counselor outreach) for students reassigned under any plan.

Transportation and route optimization: Transportation staff described efforts to reduce travel time and congestion through cluster-based stops, matching bus size to route demand and working with municipalities on crossing guards. Officials warned that some rezoning could place students farther from their current schools if balancing capacity and route efficiency requires it, but said minimizing travel time will be prioritized.

Equity and Title I: Residents asked whether boundary changes could affect which schools receive Title I funding. The district explained Title I is federal funding allocated on student need and follows students; shifting enrollments can change allocations, but the funds are meant to supplement local budgets rather than replace them.

Next steps and community involvement: Officials said the first scenarios are expected in December; community members will be able to annotate maps and the district will produce aggregated reports of comments for the board and administration to consider. Families will be notified of final assignments ahead of the school year; district leaders said they expect to finalize and communicate assignments in spring to give families time to prepare.

Ending: The district emphasized the process is iterative and that no final decisions had been made at the session. Officials encouraged attendees to review posted materials, submit map-linked comments and attend forthcoming public hearings where scenarios will be discussed before any formal board action.