Sewanhaka board hears first draft of $262 million 2025–26 budget; May vote to include capital reserve proposition

The Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education reviewed the first draft of the 2025–26 school budget at its Feb. 25 meeting, with business office staff presenting a proposed general fund of $262,062,036, an increase of about $6.3 million (2.49%) from the current year.

The first presentation outlined the district's three-part budget structure required by state rules: administrative, program and capital. The administrative budget rose modestly (about $56,000, or 0.1%), the program budget was presented at roughly $198 million (about a $5 million increase), and the capital budget was proposed at $32,814,374 (a roughly $1.2 million, or 4.09%, increase). Kevin O'Brien of the district business office opened the presentation, saying, "We're excited about getting our first draft out to everybody." The board was told the draft will be presented again in March and returned for adoption in April; the public vote on the budget is scheduled for May 20.

Why it matters: the draft lays out planned classroom programs, staffing and facilities work and establishes the tax levy and capital plans that will be on the May ballot. The presentation included both programmatic additions and a package of capital work the district says align with its five-year capital plan.

Key figures and proposals presented - Total general fund (expenditures and revenues): $262,062,036. - Proposed program budget: about $198 million, described as supporting general and special education, library media, instructional technology, student support services, athletics and transportation. - Administrative portion: small increase of roughly $56,000 (0.10%). - Capital portion: $32,814,374, a 4.09% increase; the district said the capital budget includes contingencies and architect fees. - Transfer to capital: presented as about $2.6 million to fund next year's capital projects. - State aid (projected): about $75.5 million; local revenue projected at $186,533,398. - Proposed tax levy target: the district said it expects to come in at $171,087,934, representing about a 2.91% levy increase from the prior year under the district's calculations.

Planned capital and facilities work called out in the presentation included masonry restoration, sidewalk and parking-lot concrete work, roof replacements, restroom renovations, window replacements and HVAC improvements. Specific projects noted: a public-address upgrade, repaving and parking expansion at Elmont Memorial High School; roof and interior work at Floral Park; HVAC and gym door work at H. Frank Carey High School; insulation abatement and boiler-room equipment replacements at New Hyde Park Memorial High School; an auditorium roof at Sewanhaka High School; and a districtwide roof replacement at the CTE Flaherty Building.

Program and curriculum highlights tied to the budget The presentation said the district will implement new biology and earth-and-space science curricula aligned with state standards, expand dual-enrollment offerings including world language Level 4 and 5, continue Project Lead The Way electives and roll out digital-literacy instruction for seventh graders. The district also plans diagnostic exams for incoming seventh-graders and expanded professional development, including sessions on using artificial intelligence in instruction.

Capital reserve proposition Superintendent and finance staff said the district will place a separate proposition on the May ballot to create a capital reserve with a maximum principal of $15 million and a 10-year term. Funding for the reserve would come from legally available surplus or unassigned fund balance at fiscal-year ends and other legally available reserves.

What the board heard and next steps O'Brien and business office staff presented line-item and revenue assumptions, including aid categories and projected local revenues; board members did not take a final vote on the budget at the Feb. 25 meeting. The administration noted the draft will appear again at the March meeting and be available on the district website. The district's stated timeline calls for public information this spring and a May 20 budget vote.