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Parents and trustees press district on UPK shortfalls as board opens budget hearing
Summary
During the May 5 Carmel Central School District meeting residents asked why Universal PreK (UPK) state funding produced an initial ~$60,000 shortfall and roughly $230,000 shortfall across two years; trustees said the audit committee will review and Superintendent Plin said no contracts will be signed until final state aid figures are confirmed.
Residents used the board’s May 5 public comment period to press administrators about state Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) funding and related budget impacts.
Jerry Lee of Stormville told the board he had been reviewing district materials and believes the district faces roughly a $230,000 shortfall over two years related to UPK and that an initial shortfall in the program’s first six months was about $60,000. "That program was basically sold to the public and approved because it wasn't going to cost us anything," Lee said, asking why the information was not shared earlier and whether the state would seek repayment for the first year.
Trustees said the matter was scheduled for audit-committee review (the committee’s meeting had been canceled that night and rescheduled) and affirmed the district is reviewing funding from the state. Trustee Wise and others noted district leaders and the board are investigating how initial estimates differed from final state aid. Assistant Superintendent Silver and the superintendent (transcript: 'Superintendent Plin') told the board the district had encountered state reporting changes and that administrators will not finalize contracts until confirmed aid figures arrive.
The board also opened a budget public hearing that evening. Administration displayed budget figures for public review; no members of the public spoke on the budget figures while they were displayed and the board closed the hearing and resumed its regular session. Separately, the board approved a transfer of $50,000 from a reserve fund into the current budget to cover anticipated judgments or assessment reductions; the resolution stated any unused funds will be returned to the reserve after June 30, 2026.
Superintendent Plin said the $16,000 previously allocated for a canceled middle-school field trip could be repurposed to help students attend Washington, D.C., trips and noted district staff have worked to ensure no student was denied participation for financial reasons.
What happens next: Trustees said the audit committee will review UPK funding and the board will receive further reporting; the budget vote is scheduled for May 19, and the transfer from reserve was approved that night.
