Commissioner praises budget; board adopts budget items and outlines $16.5M instructional investments and cafeteria upgrades

State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa visited East Ramapo Central School District this week and, according to Superintendent Mr. DeCarlo, told district leaders she "feels that the budget ... is fiscally responsible" as the district prepares for a May 20 budget vote.

Mr. DeCarlo told the board the commissioner spent the day in the district, met with his team and reviewed the budget presentation. "She does agree that the budget is responsible, fiscally responsible," Mr. DeCarlo said, adding that monitors assigned to the district had also reviewed the budget. The monitors provided an analysis and the commissioner sent a letter that the board received, the superintendent said.

At the meeting the board adopted consent agenda items 1–5 and action items 1–14 by voice vote. The board also approved item G, the 2024 property tax report and administrative compensation report, by roll call; members named on the roll call in the transcript voted yes.

The superintendent addressed two operational priorities raised by the public: cafeteria conditions and academic performance. DeCarlo said district cafeteria and food-service funds include monies the board "did not know" were available; the district will use those funds and private consultant work this summer to redesign middle- and high-school cafeterias and to survey students and staff about menu preferences. "We are listening and we are looking to make these changes," DeCarlo said; he said the consultant engagement will run about five months and include taste testing, panels and surveys.

On academics, DeCarlo and district leaders acknowledged major unresolved academic concerns the monitors had raised. Dr. Gonzales and Dr. Shelley Jallow were referenced by DeCarlo as staff leading data reviews and remediation planning. The superintendent and Dr. Gonzales said the adopted budget includes roughly $16,500,000 set aside for instructional programs and staffing in the 2025–26 budget to address curriculum, staffing and professional development, including instructional coordinators and content-specific directors for grades K–12. Dr. Gonzales said the district plans a K–2 phonics program "for the first time, perhaps ever in the district" and additional professional development for building leaders.

Board members and staff also discussed building conditions. The superintendent said the district has invested close to $200,000,000 in building work over recent years and is preparing a report that will break out what was addressed by ARPA funds, the tax increase and other sources and what remains to be done.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda items 1–5: approved by voice vote (moved by Mr. Weismandel; second by Mr. Feder). - Action items 1–14: approved by voice vote (moved by Mr. Gruber; second not specified). - Item G (2024 property tax report and administrative compensation report): approved by roll call (second by Mr. Federer); transcript records yes responses from Mr. Feder, Mr. Gruber, "Moses Cott", Mrs. McGill, Mr. Weismandel and Mr. Rose and the clerk announced "The motion passes." The motion carries.

No policy changes were adopted beyond the budget and the routine consent/action items recorded on the agenda; board members directed staff to provide follow-up reports on curriculum supports, the building-condition breakdown and the consultant-led food-service review at future meetings.