Board approves FY2026 local budget at $28.86 million; staff flags residency hearing risk

The East Windsor Board of Education adopted the district's FY2026 local budget, approving $28,861,943 for local spending after the business office presented the figures intended for import into the district's Munis accounting system.

Ryan, the business-office speaker, told the board the posted numbers are a working starting point needed so the office can post encumbrances and prepare for the new year. "This is what we're going with. This was our best assumption for the year," he said, noting that encumbrances and invoices will be reconciled in the coming weeks.

Before the vote, the superintendent briefed the board on a state residency hearing involving a student alleged not to reside in East Windsor. She said the hearing "did not rule in our favor" and quoted the attorney general as saying he would not rule in the district's favor regardless of the legal grounding—language the superintendent relayed as background while the district determines the financial consequence. The superintendent said the district will "find out in the coming weeks" whether the ruling will have a significant fiscal impact and that staff placed a pause on hiring for one special-education vacancy pending that assessment.

Norine moved to approve the local budget as presented (the Munis report dated 7/18/2025); Heather seconded and the motion carried by voice vote. Individual roll-call tallies were not specified in the transcript.

Board members discussed next steps: the business office will continue to refine encumbrances and update the board at future finance meetings; staff will also analyze the residency ruling and report estimated costs as they become available.

The budget vote establishes the district's local appropriation for FY2026; state and federal funds will be reported separately as they are finalized.