Middlesex district opens preschool registration and plans four new classrooms; pre‑K principal post funded by expansion aid

Superintendent Dr. Roberta Freeman announced that preschool registration for three‑ and four‑year‑olds is open through March 4 and publicized two evening preregistration sessions. She said the district is expanding by four classrooms next year (to a total of nine) under the state preschool expansion program and that the program is free for families because of state funding.

During public comment, residents asked whether the $2,000,000 figure mentioned was an annual operating amount and how many seats the district expects; Dr. Freeman and other administrators clarified the funding is per‑pupil operating funding and said the district’s ‘‘universe’’ for Middlesex is about 250 pre‑K students, with class sizes set at 15. Speakers also questioned the creation of a pre‑K principal role and whether the board had formally created a new position; administrators said the principal’s salary would be paid from preschool aid and that principal oversight is required for preschool operations.

Several residents raised procedural concerns about transfers and whether the pre‑K principal position had been posted or formally created on the district roster; the board said transfers and position staffing details would be checked and answered in follow‑up. A public commenter who tracks transfers noted multiple moves from a security contracted account into substitutes and other accounts and asked for documentation.

The board recorded that the preschool expansion brought new state funding into the district and noted that next year the program should increase capacity as the district builds toward the state‑defined universe of students.