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Board hears PreK capacity concerns as state rule change drives enrollment demand
Summary
Director of Student Services Michael Lynch told the New Hartford Board that a change to kindergarten age-of-entry and growing need for special-education seats has increased preschool demand; the district projects three PreK sections (about 45 students) next year and warned exceeding the 50% special-education cap could create IEP compliance risks.
The New Hartford Public Schools board on June 2 heard a detailed presentation on the district’s PreK program and why demand is rising after the state moved the kindergarten cutoff date.
Director of Student Services Michael Lynch said the state and federal rules require special-education services beginning at age 3 and explained how more children are now eligible for preschool because the kindergarten start date changed. Lynch said the district aims to keep the PreK classroom composition below the statutory 50% special-education share and noted that if the share were to reach 40 percent special-education (about 17 students) the district would need roughly 43 total students to meet the required balance. "Preschool is not daycare; all teachers in the PreK program are certified preschool teachers and Special Education certified," Lynch said.
Board members pressed for specifics. Thomas Buzzi raised legal concerns about exceeding the statutory mix, asking whether noncompliance could lead to funding reductions or litigation; Lynch said IEPs are legally binding and noncompliance would create legal exposure and programmatic risk. Chairman Timothy Klepps asked Lynch to clarify the district’s legal obligations for children who turn five after the September 1 cutoff; Lynch explained those children may remain in PreK under their IEPs and that screening and birthrate data drive how many sections the district opens.
The district currently plans three PreK sections next year and projected enrollment of about 45 students, with two children on the waitlist. Board member Kirby Morante urged the district to “mitigate risk” by keeping the special-education share below the 50% ceiling. Lynch said he uses an April screening day and town birthrate data to estimate needed sections ahead of the school year.
The public comment period included a request from resident Alesia Kennerson for the board to provide historical PreK ratios, annual tuition and cost data for the last five years, staff time allocation in PreK and the PreK presentation materials; Klepps asked her to submit the request by email for staff follow-up.
Next steps: the board will consider available data and enrollment trends when finalizing PreK sections for 2026–27 and respond to the requested data from the public.
