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Board adopts $150 million 2025–26 budget with 3.69% levy increase; approves grouped personnel, contracts and policy motions
Summary
The board adopted the state‑ and county‑approved 2025–26 budget — a $150 million plan with a 3.69% tax levy increase — and voted on grouped consent motions covering personnel, contracts, grants and policy items, with several recorded abstentions.
The Morris School District Board of Education adopted the state‑ and county‑approved 2025–26 budget and approved a slate of grouped motions covering personnel, contracts and policy items at its meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Ann Mucci and district business staff presented the budget as a $150 million spending plan that includes a 3.69% tax levy increase. The presentation noted 73% of the budget is dedicated to salaries and benefits; the district also earmarked approximately $1 million in maintenance reserve for summer facilities work and ongoing capital projects including partial roof replacement, HVAC and boiler improvements and security vestibules at multiple schools.
Mr. Borggo (district business office) and Joan Frederick, assistant business administrator, were thanked for preparing the budget information. The finance report also described expected nearly flat enrollment according to a demographic study presented by Dr. Richard Grip of Statistical Forecasting LLC and detailed recent nonoperating revenue including $139,000 from sale of four buses and multiple grant awards (including an approximately $19,400 Eric West Safety grant for cameras and security equipment).
Board members moved and voted on grouped motions across minutes, educational matters, pupil services, human resources (motions 1–42) and business matters. Roll calls were recorded for each consent group; several abstentions were noted on specific motions and one board member registered a recorded 'no' vote on a human resources motion. The board also approved contracts on the agenda, including a four‑year 0% lease for Apple Labs ($124,000) and vendor agreements referenced in the meeting packet.
The board discussed a sidebar agreement for flexible scheduling at Freeling Heisen Middle School to provide daily mathematics instruction and previewed communications work to support any future bond referendum. The district noted a $1.7 million adjustment in health care costs and a year‑over‑year increase in transportation salaries tied to a cost‑of‑living adjustment.
The board moved into executive session later in the meeting for personnel matters; no action was taken in that closed session during the public meeting.
Next steps: the budget and approved contracts will be recorded in the official minutes and posted in the district’s public budget materials.
