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District outlines UPK expansion plans and constraints as state funding proposal rises
Summary
Administrators said state proposals could raise UPK per-pupil funding to $10,000 and the district plans to add seats (including space at Pine Grove) but noted space, staffing and transportation constraints; lottery demand left roughly 50 children on wait lists.
District administrators told the board on May 7 that proposed state increases to UPK funding could significantly increase per-pupil revenue but would not solve the district’s primary constraint: available classroom space.
Assistant Superintendent Chrissy Ma summarized a state proposal to provide $10,000 per pupil for Universal Pre-K (UPK) enrollment and said districts would not face a statewide cap on funded enrollment, but local capacity — number of classrooms and available staff — would determine how many children could attend. Director of Data, Assessment and Intervention Kelly Santo reviewed the district’s UPK history and capacity: the district expects roughly 90 seats next year (two in-district classrooms, two at the community-based organization Sunshine, and other CBO slots), with 142 applicants in the lottery this year and roughly 50 still on the wait list.
Santo said that if the $10,000 per-pupil funding fully materializes it would increase UPK revenue by roughly $104,000 compared with current rates and enable the district to consider hiring additional staff (for example, a special education teacher and an additional float teacher aide to meet mandated coverage requirements when classes hit 18–20 children). Pine Grove construction (an addition that will add three classrooms) would add about 54 seats when completed and is a key part of the district’s longer-range capacity plan.
Board members asked about wraparound care and whether community partners (CBOs like Sunshine) can provide before/after care; administrators said several CBO partners already provide wraparound services and that transportation rules for four-year-olds (car seats, regulations) complicate district-run transport options. Administration said it is exploring YMCA-style partnerships and other community arrangements to expand care and to reduce barriers for families.
Administrators also noted district screening procedures for incoming kindergarten and UPK students and confirmed the district will use screening results to coordinate transitions and special-education supports for students who did not secure UPK slots.
