Board unveils 'Owl's Nest' drop-in pre-K program to serve young students with extensive support needs

District administrators described a new special-education pre-K initiative they say is intended to reduce long wait lists for students requiring extensive support. Director Tresdale said the program—modeled on an Auburn partnership—will be called the Owl's Nest and will serve 3- and 4-year-olds with significant disabilities and support needs.

Tresdale said the Owl's Nest is a drop-in, classroom-based program that will open into other pre-K classrooms to provide inclusion opportunities. The program will use pre-K funds from the Department of Education to buy furniture, equipment and books; Tresdale said staff interest has been strong and a teacher and three educational technicians are lined up. The district hopes to begin after materials arrive and accreditation is completed, noting an initial capacity of about eight students with the ability to expand based on need and staffing.

Administrators also reported heavy IEP work: since Aug. 27 the district has held 64 IEP meetings for 3- and 4-year-olds, with about 30 preschool-aged students currently receiving services and roughly nine still in the referral process. Board members and administrators emphasized staffing challenges and said they will continue to process referrals and consider additional administrative support as the program scales.

The board did not take formal action to authorize the program during the meeting; administrators said funding will come from pre-K allocations and that more detailed staffing and operational plans will be presented to the board as steps are finalized.