Katonah‑Lewisboro superintendent recommends state‑funded prekindergarten pilot with 16 seats

Superintendent Andrew Selesnick announced the district will recommend board approval of a New York State–funded prekindergarten program that will begin next school year and initially accommodate 16 students from the Katonah‑Lewisboro Union Free School District.

"In its first year next year, this pre kindergarten program will be able to accommodate 16 students from our district," Selesnick said, adding the district is grateful for the opportunity and that the program could grow in future years.

Selesnick said the program will be run in partnership with the County Children’s Center and that the district will post detailed information on its website and e‑mail families beginning tomorrow. Because state funding limits seats in the program's initial year, New York State requires that admission be determined by a randomized lottery, he said.

The prekindergarten recommendation is listed on the board agenda for consideration later in the meeting. No formal board action on the program had been recorded at the time of the announcement; Selesnick described the item as one the board was being asked to approve that evening.

Key clarifying details from district remarks and the announcement: - Initial capacity: 16 district students; possible future expansion if funding and demand allow. - Partnership: County Children’s Center will house the program for the first year, per the superintendent’s remarks. - Selection process: Because the program is limited, New York State requires admission by a randomized lottery; the district will provide lottery details on its website. - Communications: The district will publish a webpage and send an e‑mail to families with enrollment details the day after the meeting.

Next steps noted in the meeting: the item was on the evening agenda for board approval and further implementation details (website, application, lottery rules) will be posted and e‑mailed to families.