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Parents, trustees press for student‑centered allocations as aides rehired and enrollment drops
Summary
At a May 26 workshop, trustees and public commenters urged routing budget savings toward student programs after administrators described rehiring roughly 15 of 23 classroom aides and noted special‑education needs are rising despite lower overall enrollment.
Parents, trustees and administrators at the Goshen Central School District workshop on May 26 focused part of the meeting on the district’s staffing choices and student‑facing programs as they work to revise the 2026–27 budget.
Administrators said they initially reduced nonmandated classroom aides through attrition (four retirees) and maintained a preferred eligibility list; as needs emerged or IEPs required it, the district rehired about 15 of the original 23 aides. "We rehired the 15 of those days," an administrator said, adding the district reached out to candidates from the eligibility list in order.
Several trustees and public commenters emphasized that lower enrollment (the packet cited a projected drop from 2,712 to 2,627 students) does not reduce student needs; speakers highlighted that special education demands have grown and that some savings should be redirected into student programming and early identification to avoid larger costs later.
Resident Tara (introduced by the chair) urged the board to celebrate academic achievement more visibly, questioned perceived administrative growth with shrinking enrollment, and warned that district policy changes affecting booster clubs could divert funds families expect for senior activities. Resident Carrie, also speaking during privilege of the floor, said the community wants measurable goals for any incoming superintendent and reiterated the rehiring of aides as evidence of ongoing need.
Why it matters: The board must balance one‑time savings and capital project costs against recurring student needs. How funds are reallocated (for example from an adjusted superintendent line or other admin lines) will shape programs and classroom supports going into next year.
What happens next: The board asked administrators to return with revised allocations and clearer explanations so the public sees where cuts were made and where any reallocated dollars would go.
