Tenafly board approves consent agenda including recommendation to contract Right at School for SAC; adopts tentative 2025–26 budget

The Tenafly Board of Education voted on March 17 to approve a consent agenda that includes a recommended contract to outsource the district’s SAC (before‑and‑after care) program to Right at School and to submit a tentative 2025–26 operating budget to the county for review.

The board adopted a tentative operating budget for 2025–26 with total operating spending a little over $89,000,000, a tax‑levy increase of 2% (about $1.5 million) plus an allowable health‑benefit adjustment of about $1.3 million. The district said the combined effect yields a tax rate increase of about 3.96%, putting the average assessed household’s share at roughly $750; the presentation used an illustration of a $747 change and a $62.25 monthly figure for taxpayers.

District business administrator Steven (first name given in the meeting) told trustees the SAC program serves roughly 120 students across four elementary schools and is operated as an enterprise fund intended to be self‑sustaining. The administration presented two options after a program review: (1) retain the district‑run model but raise parent fees substantially (an estimated ~90% rate increase and no sibling…