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 discounts, about a $500/month difference for families at current enrollment) to break even; or (2) contract with an outside provider. The district received three competitive proposals and recommended Right at School, which the administration rated highest and said would expand offerings, operate on many half days and some school holidays, and assume responsibility for staffing, background checks and collections; the vendor would remit a small guaranteed amount back to the district.

On finance details, the business administrator described revenue and expenditure drivers: a planned $2,000,000 withdrawal from capital reserve to fund capital projects, a $2,200,000 increase to the portion of the debt‑service levy the district must raise (after state aid), and a year‑over‑year operating budget increase of about $4.6 million (of which roughly $2.25 million comes from the capital reserve withdrawal and emergency reserve adjustments). Payroll and benefits constitute roughly 80% of the budget, with about $52 million in salaries and about $18 million in other payroll expenses including health benefits and employer taxes.

The board also received an update on referendum projects scheduled for summer 2025. The administration said gym floors, painting, bleachers and wall mats at the middle and high schools are planned to start around Memorial Day and continue into the summer, bids for high‑school unit ventilators are being accepted with a special meeting planned to approve the award, and an elevator and hallway floor abatement and replacement at Stillman are scheduled. Security vestibule designs are being finalized and will go to bid, and window/unit ventilator work for elementary buildings is staged for summer 2026.

During the meeting parents and staff asked for details about the vendor relationship and for assurances about special‑needs supports and fingerprinting/background checks for vendor staff. The business administrator said Right at School would be required to complete the district’s standard background screening plus an additional child‑abuse and neglect check through the state Division of Children and Families; the vendor would assign a district liaison and liaise with principals, nurses and HSAs, and the administration said accommodating special‑needs students was a key factor in the vendor selection.

Votes and next steps: trustees approved the consent agenda (roll‑call and itemized exceptions were recorded during the meeting); the administration will finalize a contract with Right at School if the motion in the finance section is carried out as placed on the consent agenda, schedule family information sessions for the vendor model, and submit the tentative budget to Bergen County for review. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for April 28, when the board will consider final adoption. The district also scheduled a special meeting on March 26 to act on a bid related to referendum work so construction can begin on schedule.

Why this matters: The change affects working families who rely on before‑ and‑after‑school care and raises questions about access to special‑needs supports, program costs and district oversight. The tentative budget also increases local tax obligations and puts referendum projects into active procurement and construction planning.

The board listed the finance motions (budget motions 17.1–17.7) as required county submissions; the district will publish supporting documentation during the county review and prior to the April public hearing.