Families in New Providence's elementary redistricting zone who counted on sending younger siblings to Allen W. Roberts School will no longer have that guarantee. The Board of Education voted Thursday, July 23 to eliminate the automatic kindergarten sibling exception from the district's redistricting plan, effective for students entering kindergarten in the 2026-27 school year and beyond.
The change means incoming kindergarteners living in the redistricting zone with an older sibling at AWR can still apply to enroll there, but admission is now subject to class-size limits under Board Policy 2312. The automatic right is gone.
Superintendent Lauren Zirpoli said the decision drew on two years of actual enrollment data, demographic trends, and projected enrollment figures. The board concluded "that modifying the sibling exception provision is in the best interest of the district while continuing to support overall balanced enrollment between AWR School and Salt Brook School," Zirpoli said at the July 23 meeting, as reported by TAPinto New Providence.
The sibling exception was originally added to the redistricting plan in 2025. It became a flashpoint at the Thursday, June 25 board meeting, when New Providence resident Melanie Katz made an emotional plea to keep her three elementary-age children together at AWR. Katz told the board her incoming kindergartener had been assigned to Salt Brook while her two older children remained at AWR, and that navigating two schools' drop-offs, events, and activities would strain her entire family. Two other parents spoke in support of the Katz family that night.
All other provisions of the elementary redistricting plan remain in effect.
New hires and resignations
The board also approved three new staff hires at the July 23 meeting, all effective Tuesday, September 1:
- Lily Collins, Special Education Teacher at New Providence High School
- Megan Laterra, English Language Arts teacher at New Providence High School
- Barrie Schwarz, Special Education Teacher at Allen W. Roberts School
The board accepted the resignation of District Communication Coordinator Kathryn Mangel, effective Wednesday, September 30.
Next meeting
The next public New Providence Board of Education meeting is Monday, August 31 at 7 p.m. at New Providence High School, 35 Pioneer Drive.
