AUBURN — On April 4, at 4 p.m., the Auburn School Department will hold its annual lottery drawing for the public school pre-K program for 4-year-olds. Pre-K programs are currently at Walton, Sherwood Heights, Park Avenue, Fairview and East Auburn Community schools. This program is for children who are Auburn residents and will be 4 years old on or before Oct.15.

Due to the overwhelming demand for a place in the pre-K programs, the schools are unable to accommodate all the children whose families have indicated an interest in having their children attend. Therefore, a lottery drawing will be held to fill the available slots on April 4 at 4 p.m. at Auburn Hall in the fourth floor conference room.

The preschool program is a free program and operates two and a half hours a day on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The morning session is from 8:25 to 11 a.m. and the afternoon session is from 12:30 to 3 p.m. The Auburn School Department provides free bus transportation to and from school from the child’s home or school neighborhood daycare.

To add your child’s name to the lottery list, call Roz Walton at 784-6431, ext. 1201 or email her at [email protected]. Provide the child’s name, date of birth, gender, address, phone number, and parent(s)/guardian(s) name(s), any special concerns and a daycare provider name and address, if applicable.

All names must be on the lottery list before noon on April 4. If you have already submitted your child’s name it is not necessary to do it again. Parents will be notified of the lottery results by phone or mail following the drawing.