Pasquale Carolini

This document presents the Rye Neck Union Free School District's Proposed Budget for the 2026-2027 school year. It outlines key financial details, including a proposed budget of $53,812,226 with a 2.41% spending increase and a 2.38% tax levy increase, maintaining tax cap compliance. The strategic goals for the budget period include ensuring tax cap compliance, maximizing collaboration, enhancing safety and security, offering diverse extracurricular opportunities, maintaining favorable class sizes, and expanding core course/elective offerings. It further details revenue sources, expenditure categories, and various program highlights across elementary, middle, and high school levels.

The Committee reviewed several sections of the Policy Manual, specifically policies 4321, 4325, 4327, 4770, and 4773, and recommended amendments to Policy 4321.2 to align with district practices. Further discussions led to recommendations for amending Policy 0320 regarding the Superintendent's evaluation tool, Policy 2150 concerning procedures for handling tie votes during the filling of Board vacancies, and Policy 5252 regarding Student Activities Funds Management.

The board meeting featured a volunteer program presentation and recognition of a student athlete. Key business included the third budget presentation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, focusing on tax cap compliance, security, and educational programming. The Board approved the adoption of the proposed budget, property tax report card, and several policy updates, including revisions to policies on donations, automated external defibrillators, and school safety. Further actions involved the approval of the BOCES administrative budget, personnel appointments and resignations, ratification of a CSEA stipulation agreement, award of natural gas supply contracts, and acceptance of various grants and donations.

The Board of Education discussed findings from a community survey, noting high satisfaction with the district's preparation of students for post-secondary life and a positive learning environment. Other key topics included a budget and process update on the upcoming bond referendum, a review of the proposed meeting schedule for the next academic year, and ongoing implementation challenges regarding the district's cell phone policy. Additionally, the Board clarified protocols for members holding non-voting positions in charitable groups and received a report from the Policy Committee regarding updates to policies on filling board vacancies, conflict of interest, and new member orientation, as well as future committee workflows.

The committee conducted a review of Section 2000 of the Policy Manual and recommended that the Board amend Policy 2150 regarding the filling of Board vacancies to incorporate specific language from the Education Law. Additionally, the committee performed a review of Section 3000 of the Policy Manual and held a discussion regarding the frequency of future policy committee meetings.