Pleasantville Board of Education accepts $126,005,619 2025–26 budget; approves Decatur Avenue school schematic

The Pleasantville Board of Education on April 29 accepted the district—s $126,005,619 2025–26 budget and voted to submit schematic design documents for a new school on Decatur Avenue.

The proposed 2025–26 budget draws the majority of revenue from state aid, which the presentation said accounts for about 69.6% of district revenues, with grants and entitlements at about 9.8% and a tax levy contribution of roughly 8.2%. The district listed the overall appropriation at $126,005,619 and said tuition and capital outlay together comprise a small share of that total.

The board approved the budget in a roll-call vote after a public presentation of line-item changes and program expansions. Motion to accept the budget presentation was made by Miss Akins and seconded by Mister Gibson; the roll call recorded eight affirmative votes and no dissenting votes and the motion carried. The board then formally closed the budget hearing and adopted the motion to accept the presentation for record.

Why it matters: the adopted spending plan sets staffing and program priorities for the coming school year and funds both operating and capital work. The presentation highlighted new hires and program restorations as well as capital projects, and described the district—s approach to budgeting federal grants conservatively.

Key details from the budget presentation - Major funds and accounts: Fund 11 (operating expenses, central administration, facilities); Fund 12 (capital projects/improvements); Fund 15 (school budgets); Fund 20 (federal and state grants/entitlements). - Major revenue drivers: state aid (about 69.6% of revenues), budgeted fund balance (about 11.8%), grants/entitlements (9.8%), tuition from other districts (0.6%), and tax levy (about 8.2%). - Total appropriation: $126,005,619. Capital outlay was listed as about 4.9% of the appropriation; tuition 4.3%; charter school payments about 5.8%; employee benefits 15.7%; maintenance and operations 9.1%; transportation 3.5%; administration 2.4%; instruction and instructional support about 44.5%. - Federal and grant-funded programs: the district reported receiving $6,800,000 in early childhood grant funding while the program—s total cost was stated as $8,890,000; the district said it carried over about $781,000 and contributed roughly $222,307 this year toward that preschool program line, and that over past years the district contribution to preschool special education has totaled $457,132. - IDEA and special education: the district said it defers some out-of-district tuition to IDEA (federal special education funding), and described typical IDEA funding at about $1.2 million to $1.3 million annually. The district described per-student tuition amounts to specific receiving programs: ACIT tuition listed as $3,200 (regular) and $6,500 (special education); a cited outplacement (MCKEN) cost of $18,000 per student. - Staffing and program changes: the presentation listed planned new positions including a director of grant programs in early childhood education, two reading specialists for pre-K–2, a Parent Partnership Communication Coordinator, additional bus drivers, two new security officers, added lunch aides (eight total), guidance staff, counselors, nurses, librarians, and other school-level positions. The presentation also listed curricular materials and digital subscriptions planned for elementary, middle and high school. - Capital priorities: planned purchases and projects included five new buses; HVAC phase 1 replacements at middle and high school; pool repairs and upgrades at the high school; parking and paving work; security upgrades including gates and door alarms; locker-room and locker upgrades; dehumidifiers and fence repairs; and scoreboard and athletic-field work.

Budget presentation context and discipline The presenter explained the district had used one-time federal ARP/ESSER funds in prior years and said that those funds were exhausted as of Sept. 30, 2024. The district said it budgeted 75% of anticipated grant revenue for 2025–26 (down from 85% in prior practice) following a county recommendation, to avoid overestimating federal support under an uncertain federal funding climate.

Board action and other votes at the meeting Votes at a glance: - Motion: Accept Pleasantville School Board budget presentation for 2025–26. Mover: Miss Akins. Seconder: Mister Gibson. Result: approved (roll-call recorded all present as Yes). (Provenance: budget presentation beginning at meeting remarks and closing at the adoption vote.) - Motion: Approve submission of schematic design for the new Decatur Avenue school (agenda item 2.1). Mover: Mister Gibson. Seconder: Miss Akins. Result: approved (roll-call recorded as Yes). (Provenance: agenda discussion of new school and vote.) - Motion: Rescind agenda item 2.2 (broker-of-record appointment). Mover: Miss Waters. Seconder: Mister Gibson. Result: approved (roll-call Yes). (See separate article for procurement discussion and executive session.) - Motion: Agenda item 3.1 (unspecified in transcript excerpt). Result: approved (roll-call Yes).

What the board did not change The presentation noted the district continues certain programs from last year (after-school and Saturday options, credit recovery and alternative education services) and described program continuity for curriculum adoptions and professional development.

What comes next The board president said the user-friendly version of the budget would be posted to the district website within 48 hours after the board—s approval, and the district will proceed with the capital and staffing steps outlined in the approved plan.

Sources and attribution The article summarizes the budget presentation given during the April 29 board meeting and records motions and roll-call votes taken on that agenda item. Direct vote attributions and motion sponsors are taken from the meeting roll call and motion text recorded on the transcript. Other program and dollar amounts are taken from the district—s budget presentation as read into the record.