Pelham board advances tax-cap budget that trims staff, narrows interventionist team

The Pelham Union Free School District presented the second line-by-line review of its proposed 2026–27 budget on March 18, as administrators outlined strategies to close an approximately $2 million gap between revenues and expenses while remaining within the tax cap.

Administrators said they prioritized preserving core academic programs, supporting special education and protecting staffing where possible. "Our goal has always been to limit the impacts on students," the lead presenter said, noting the board’s October guidance to preserve programs, support special education and manage staffing responsibly.

To reach compliance, the district combined updated revenue estimates, operational efficiencies and staffing adjustments. Officials described steps such as reducing consultant contracts, curtailing nonessential furniture and retreat spending, shifting some software and services to cooperative BOCES procurements for state aid, and tightening overtime and substitute usage.

Personnel changes in the preliminary budget include two elementary classroom teacher positions removed by attrition and projected enrollment (the district said sections can be collapsed without increasing class-size beyond board guidelines), a forecasted decline of one elementary interventionist position (from eight budgeted to a projected seven), and one teaching assistant reduction. Separately, the district will not refill a vacant HVAC/maintenance mechanic position this year.

Administrators emphasized they do not expect the interventionist reduction to cause layoffs and said they will reallocate resources and strengthen MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) practices to preserve tier-two and tier-three interventions for students who need them. "We're going to do the best we can with those seven and make sure that we can spread those out to where that student need is," an official said.

At the secondary level the district plans to reduce one full-time equivalent of paid sixth-period 'overage' assignments through schedule adjustments and attrition, and to use alternate-year course pairings where appropriate to maintain curricular offerings efficiently.

Other budget changes: the intern-support line was eliminated because of under-subscription; summer academic programs will be shortened and run primarily on grant funding (the district said ESY special-education programming is unaffected); and several one-time science-curriculum startup purchases (kits and durable materials) create a temporary increase in supply spending.

Administrators repeated that the figures are preliminary and will be monitored through spring enrollments, secondary course requests and grant awards; they said two contingent teacher positions remain available should year-end enrollments require restoring staffing. The board scheduled the next budget meeting for March 25 to review operations, facilities, and transportation lines.

The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn and a voice vote.