District special‑education numbers rise; officials say Pre‑K limits later outplacement costs

New Hartford Public Schools officials told the board on Feb. 24 that special‑education identification has increased in recent years and that maintaining an in‑district Pre‑K program helps the district identify and serve students earlier.

Michael Lynch, director of student services, said there are 44 students in the district Pre‑K across three classrooms; 16 of those students receive special education. Lynch provided a staffing cost breakdown: three certified Pre‑K teachers at roughly $222,000 and three para‑educators at $90,000, for total Pre‑K staffing of about $312,000. He said preschool tuition brings in roughly $70,000 and IDEA grant funding contributes about $20,000, leaving an estimated net program cost of about $222,000.

Lynch told the board the average annual cost to place a student out of district can be about $150,000, and that the in‑district program’s early screening and services can reduce the need for higher‑cost outplacements. Superintendent Jeffrey Sousa noted state statutory reporting obligations for preschool participation and kindergarten readiness under Connecticut General Statutes § 10‑10a.

Board members asked questions about tuition setting, class size and whether students have been turned away; Lynch said slots are limited (28 applied for 22 slots this year) and that the district raises tuition roughly every other year while providing reduced rates for families who qualify. The board discussed the value of retaining local Pre‑K programming versus families moving to other providers that offer extended care.

Next steps: staff will continue to monitor enrollment, special‑education needs and outplacement counts as the budget is finalized.