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Board clarifies Pre-K rollout, says third section was part of original 2025 budget
Summary
Board Chair Timothy Klepps told the public the third Pre-K section was included in New Hartford’s original May 2025 budget and not added “after the fact,” and trustees agreed to compile administrative FAQs about program fundamentals for the community and the School Facility Utilization Task Force.
The New Hartford Board of Education on May 5 moved to address community confusion over its Pre-K program, with Chair Timothy Klepps saying the third Pre-K section was included in the district’s original 2025 budget and not added retroactively.
Klepps opened the discussion to correct what he called misinformation in the community, saying the third Pre-K section was publicly announced in May 2025 and was part of both the original and revised budgets presented at referendums. "Information spread through the community that Pre-K was added by the Board of Education ‘after the fact’ is incorrect, and absolutely not the case," Klepps said.
Why it matters: the Pre-K section has drawn sustained public attention because of questions about program need, space and staffing. Board members said clearer communication about program details could reduce misunderstanding and help the School Facility Utilization Task Force (SFU-TF) plan for space and capacity.
Board member Jon Puz asked for a focused administrative review of program fundamentals — what services the Pre-K program provides, staffing levels, costs and tuition, and why particular spaces are needed — and requested time to meet with Director of Student Services Michael Lynch and Superintendent Jeffrey Sousa to gather answers for the SFU-TF. Puz said that compiling that information would help the task force and the community better understand the program’s design and space needs.
Kirby Morante suggested publishing a Frequently Asked Questions section on the district website to explain the program’s rationale. Klepps and others said transparency about enrollment drivers — including a waitlist and early special-education needs — underpinned the district’s rationale for the extra section.
The board had added the Pre-K discussion to the May 5 agenda by motion earlier in the meeting; trustees did not take a policy vote on Pre-K that night but directed administrators to provide the requested program details to the SFU-TF and the public.
