Chester board previews 2026–27 budget, pledges to eliminate preK wait list as special-education and technology spending rise

The Chester Union Free School District board on March 18 reviewed a proposed 2026–27 spending plan that district presenters said would expand prekindergarten access, raise special-education spending driven by BOCES placements, and increase technology and safety investments ahead of a May 19 budget vote.

Nicole O'Hara, who presented the budget, said the proposal centers on three pillars — strengthening academic programs and staffing, expanding college- and career-connected pathways, and optimizing infrastructure for safety, security and sustainability — and called the package "focused investments in instructional programs, student support services, and technology." She told the board the budget includes "a significant investment in early learning" to expand preK access and remove the district's preK wait list.

The presentation gave specific line items and drivers. Mr. Susa, who reviewed the finance details, said the proposed 2026–27 instruction budget is about $8.7 million, an increase of roughly $228,000 (2.7%) over the current year. He said the proposed special-education budget would rise to about $9.3 million, an increase of approximately $1.3 million (16.6%), driven largely by higher BOCES tuition, out-of-district placements and related services.

O'Hara and Susa described several other budget elements: an occupational education budget near $1.0 million (about a 28% increase); a school library allocation around $237,000; a co-curricular budget of about $128,000; and a technology budget of roughly $1.2 million, which the district said reflects expanded BOCES technology services and equipment purchases. The technology plan also includes policy and training for responsible AI use in classrooms, aligned with New York State Education Law 2-d, and upgrades to emergency notification and security camera systems.

On preK capacity, a board member asked whether the expansion would require adding an extra class. O'Hara said the district typically maintains preK class sizes capped at 20 students with two instructional aides and that the district currently expects about 38 expressions of interest for incoming preK students. She explained the process for using collaborating agencies through a request-for-proposals (RFP) process and said a determination about how expansion will be implemented will be made before the preK lottery. "The budget is going to support any eligible student that is able to participate in preK will not be on a wait list," O'Hara said.

Susa described the district's use of BOCES to provide programs and the projected demand: "We are projecting about 50 students who may require full-time BOCES special-education placements," he said, and he tied the rise in the special-education budget to growth in BOCES tuition and out-of-district placements.

Board members were told the district will present athletics, facilities and transportation budgets on March 25, undistributed/central services and BOCES administrative services on April 8, and a board actions and final budget overview on April 21. The public budget hearing is scheduled for May 6 and the budget vote for Tuesday, May 19.

Procedural business at the meeting included adoption of the agenda, approval of the March 4 minutes and passage of the consent agenda (items 5.1–5.5). No members of the public were present for in-person public comment. A round-table update included thanks to the technology staff (Nick Patel) for switching the meeting location to the cafeteria to accommodate student rehearsals, and student representatives reported on recent trips, internship postings and upcoming events.

The board will continue budget deliberations at its next meeting on March 25 and will post the full presentation online for public review.