Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Instructional Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pleasantville board previews 2026–27 instructional budget, highlights UPK, special education and new courses
Summary
Administrators presented building‑level 2026–27 instructional budgets and program investments: UPK funding, an extra kindergarten section at Bedford Road School, a district special‑education enrollment uptick and new Syracuse dual‑enrollment courses at the high school. Trustees kept the calendar for a May 19 budget vote.
Pleasantville Union Free School District administrators on Tuesday presented the instructional portion of the proposed 2026–27 budget, outlining modest enrollment changes and targeted investments in early childhood, special education, mental‑health programs and new high‑school course offerings.
Rachel Anger, introduced as the Bedford Road School principal, said the district’s UPK partnership with the YMCA continues to grow and that the proposed pre‑K materials line is $10,000. "Our prek program, we are looking forward to welcoming our UPK students for the 2026–27 school year," she said, and noted the district aligned UPK and kindergarten curriculum to ease student transitions.
Anger reported current BRS enrollment of 543 and projected enrollment of 552 for next year, a change that would add one kindergarten section. She said the BRS budget maintains funding for high‑quality ELA materials and classroom revitalization, including library refreshes and furniture replacement.
Dr. Bala, presenting special‑education projections, said the district expects to support about 344 students next year, up from roughly 330 this year, and anticipates an increase in out‑of‑district placements from about 24 to about 26. He described a net projected increase in tuition spending offset in part by reductions in contractual services; among the specific figures he cited were an estimated $681,000 rise in tuition lines and an approximate $139,500 reduction in contractual services.
At the middle school, presenters highlighted evidence‑based mental‑health and peer‑leadership programs. The district is continuing Sources of Strength and work with the JCK Foundation, and middle‑school leaders described finishing a phased roll‑out of the National Geographic social‑studies curriculum and expanding Project Lead The Way to include computer‑science offerings for sixth graders.
At the high school, administrators said projected enrollment is roughly 531 and described a budget decline of about 4 percent from the prior year while maintaining course offerings. New dual‑enrollment courses with Syracuse University — including personal finance and public policy analysis — were described as half‑year options that can satisfy graduation requirements without adding to students’ schedules.
Technology and curriculum leaders said they would continue professional development investments and pursue software consolidation to improve interoperability and data privacy. Technology staff described a device‑refresh plan that will move the high school toward a recurring refresh cycle and continue the Apple device rollout already in place at the middle school.
Why it matters: the instructional budget lays out how classroom programs, special education supports and student mental‑health services will be funded. Administrators said the proposals are designed to maintain core programs while sequencing larger facilities and instructional technology investments elsewhere in the district’s overall budget plan.
Next steps: the board will present a non‑instructional budget and facilities details at a future meeting; the district’s public hearing is scheduled for May 5 and the official budget vote is on May 19.
