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Board approves SCOPE UPK contract extension at $5,800 per student after heated discussion; motion to reallocate unused seats fails
Summary
After extended debate over pricing and whether the district would pay for five classrooms regardless of enrollment, the West Hempstead board approved a SCOPE Universal Pre-K contract extension at $5,800 per student and voted down a separate motion to reallocate unused grant-funded seats to other district programs.
The West Hempstead Union Free School District Board of Education approved an extension of the SCOPE Universal Pre-K contract that reflects a $5,800 per-student rate, following an extended public and board discussion about seat allocations and contract terms.
Board member Tim raised concerns that the newest contract version “added and changed to $5,800 per student” and “said that we're going to be paying for 5 classrooms, whether they're full or not,” arguing the change could increase district costs and disadvantage students on the community waiting list. The board spent more than an hour clarifying whether the district was legally bound to pay for five classrooms regardless of fill and whether an earlier contract page dated Aug. 9 could be enforced.
Chair (speaker 1) responded that the item before the board was an extension of last year’s agreement and noted, “Since last year, we've been paying $5,800 a student.” The superintendent and legal counsel explained the district’s role in the arrangement, including that the district provides building space and some services while the provider operates the program.
During public comment residents and community representatives urged the board to consider reallocating unused grant-funded seats to programs with wait lists. Board member Tim moved to reallocate such seats to families on a current waiting list, saying the district had 40 children waiting for placement and questioning why seats in partner programs that were not full could not be offered to those families. The board declined to adopt that motion.
The board then voted to approve the docket that included the SCOPE contract extension (docket 4-52). The meeting record shows the motion was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote. A subsequent motion to reallocate unused grant-funded seats did not pass.
Budget implications were central to the debate. Board members cited prior-year rates of $5,400 and $5,600 per student and the current $5,800 figure, and raised an estimated annual budget gap tied to additional classrooms. Board discussion referenced an approximate budget difference figure the district had included in planning documents; exact dollar impacts were discussed in broad terms but some figures (for example, a referenced $36,000 figure) were presented as district estimates rather than final costs.
The superintendent said the district would review the allocation process and work with partner providers in future procurement cycles. “We'll look at the process again next year for more seats allocated,” the superintendent said, indicating the board may revisit seat allocation criteria and contracting details in future budget and procurement discussions.
What happens next: The contract extension is in place under the docket approved by the board. The board did not adopt the reallocation motion; members signaled interest in revisiting allocation and procurement practices during next year’s planning cycle.
