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Honeoye Central board deadlocks on UPK prekindergarten plan after dispute over 'universal' label
Summary
The Honeoye Central Board of Education failed to approve its UPK/prekindergarten plan after members split 3–3 over whether the plan’s use of the term “UPK” (universal prekindergarten) conflicts with a proposed lottery if applications exceed seats; the item was tabled for more information on grant implications.
The Honeoye Central School District Board of Education voted to defeat a proposed UPK (universal prekindergarten) plan during its meeting this evening after a heated exchange over terminology and grant requirements. The motion failed on a 3–3 split, and the board agreed to revisit the item at its August 27 meeting to clarify how changes could affect grant funding.
Board members centered debate on whether calling the program “UPK” is consistent with a selection lottery that would be used only if applications exceed available seats. "I don't want it in this document at all if we're going to have a lottery at any time in the future," said board member Jerry. "A lottery is not universal." Jerry said he would not vote for the plan while those sections remained in place.
Superintendent Fluke said the grant the district intends to use is labeled UPK and that the paperwork must reflect that designation. Fluke said the plan includes a lottery only as a process the district would use if enrollment exceeded capacity, and that the district had not yet needed a lottery. "We have to show that if we were to have a lottery, this would be our process," Fluke said, and added that staff would research whether removing the UPK label would jeopardize grant money.
Board members asked staff to confirm grant filing deadlines and whether changes to the document would affect eligibility. The board directed the superintendent to gather details on the grant and return the item to the August 27 meeting; if the supplemental paperwork is not uploaded in time, Fluke said he would investigate the implications for grant funding.
By the end of the discussion the board recorded the motion as defeated and scheduled follow-up. The board did not adopt the UPK plan at this meeting.
