Superintendent announces redistricting timeline, stay‑put option and full‑day kindergarten plan

The superintendent of the Hillsborough Township Public School District said the district will finalize new attendance boundaries for its six elementary schools within two to three weeks and will notify families affected by the changes directly after spring break on Friday, April 10.

Handler, the district’s point person for redistricting, said the goal is to limit student disruption by shifting boundaries incrementally and preserving space for anticipated growth. “Our core promise to parents is long term stability,” Handler said, adding that “if your child is moved now due to the current phase of needing to redistrict, you will not be moved again when future boundaries are adjusted.”

Handler outlined transition supports for students and families, saying principals will offer opportunities this spring for those who are redistricted to visit and become acquainted with their new schools. He said the district plans to offer a stay‑put option for rising fourth graders in the 2026–27 school year where capacity allows; “the option is strictly dependent on available capacity,” he said, and families would need to provide their own transportation because district transportation will not be provided for that option.

The district also asked that families of incoming kindergarteners or first graders who have not yet registered do so as soon as possible. Handler announced the district is launching full‑day kindergarten for the 2026–27 school year and said staff have been preparing classroom curricula and attending professional development focused on play‑based learning to support younger learners.

The superintendent said the district will send an initial email to the entire community after the break to alert households that boundary work is concluding and that affected families will receive direct emails from their new principals on Friday. She said student records will be updated in Genesis for students who are moved and thanked the leadership team and staff who have worked on the redistricting and kindergarten planning.

No formal vote or board action was recorded in the meeting on the redistricting plan during this portion of the superintendent’s report. The district said it will continue to monitor local development and intends to reevaluate boundaries in two to three years as new construction comes online.