River Dell board approves $44.52 million budget for 2026–27, appoints new business administrator and assistant superintendent

The River Dell Regional Board of Education on Friday approved a $44,522,827 final budget for the 2026–27 school year and moved several personnel actions, including the appointment of Gertrude “Trudy” Engel as business administrator/board secretary and Vito Deloria as assistant superintendent.

The budget, which the board voted to submit to the executive county superintendent, carries a tax levy of $38,627,501 and lists total current expenses of $41,979,186, capital outlay of $568,769, special revenue of $772,972 and debt service of $1,201,900. "Health insurance went up 32%, which is $2,200,000," Gertrude Engel, the district business administrator, said during the budget presentation. Engel’s presentation showed that the increase in health benefits consumed the majority of this year’s budgetary growth: after accounting for that rise, the general fund net increase was portrayed as roughly $300,000.

Why it matters

District leaders said rising health-care costs are the principal pressure on the budget. "This certainly was in my three years here, this is the most challenging budget season," the superintendent said, describing long-term constraints from higher benefits costs and prior reductions in state aid. Board members were told that the district has avoided using one-time COVID funding for recurring expenses — a practice officials said has limited immediate cuts to programs but leaves the district exposed if costs continue to escalate.

Details and local impacts

The business administrator said taxes supply roughly 86–87% of the district's revenue, with state aid composing about 6% of revenues shown on the slide presentation. The budget document presented to the board lists town-by-town shares: River Edge’s share was listed as $20,878,961 and Oradell’s as $18,541,793. Engel also noted planned capital projects funded separately from the general fund, including upgrades to the softball field, fencing, a weight-room update, an electronic sign, concrete work and technology equipment.

Board action and voting

The board approved the final budget on a recorded voice roll call. Members recorded their votes in the meeting: Alicia, Robert, Suzanne, John, Annette, Doug and Allen each voiced "yes" when polled. The board also approved routine financial actions including acceptance of line-item transfers for March 2026 and the schedule of tax-levy payments for the coming year.

Personnel and contracts

The board accepted several resignations effective June 30, 2026: middle-school special-education teacher Sharon Demeray, high-school French teacher Carol Guerrero and high-school Italian teacher Maria Uzi. It approved the appointment of Gertrude Engel as business administrator/board secretary for the term 07/01/2026–06/30/2027 and Vito Deloria as assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and technology education for the same contract year. The board also approved a memorandum of agreement with the district’s administrators’ association covering 07/01/2026–06/30/2029.

Other highlights

The meeting opened with recognition of Jocelyn Danby, the district’s first-ever state wrestling champion, and the student member reported multiple athletic and arts achievements across middle and high school programs. Administrators reminded families about upcoming NJSLA testing windows and posted HIB self-assessment results that reflect last year’s data.

What happens next

With the board’s vote, the district will submit the final 2026–27 budget to the executive county superintendent’s office. Implementation steps named at the meeting include scheduled capital work and contract administration; board members said they will continue to press state-level advocacy on rising health-benefit costs.

Votes at a glance

- Final 2026–27 budget (total expenses $44,522,827): approved (voice roll call: Alicia — yes; Robert — yes; Suzanne — yes; John — yes; Annette — yes; Doug — yes; Allen — yes). - Appointments: Gertrude Engel, business administrator/board secretary (07/01/2026–06/30/2027): approved. - Appointment: Vito Deloria, assistant superintendent (07/01/2026–06/30/2027): approved. - Accepted resignations: Sharon Demeray; Carol Guerrero; Maria Uzi — accepted. - Memorandum of agreement with River Dell administrators’ association (07/01/2026–06/30/2029): approved.

The board adjourned after receiving no public comments on the agenda.