Livingston board approves 2025–26 budget; student warns against removing GT specialist

The Livingston Board of Education approved the district’s 2025–26 budget on April 28, 2026, after a presentation from district leadership and public comment that included a plea from a GT student to keep the district’s gifted-and-talented specialist in place.

Dr. Fishbein, who led the administration’s budget discussion, told the board that kindergarten aides were restored to the final proposal and that the district did not have an ongoing, systemwide budget shortfall. He said the district faced a one-year gap driven in large part by rising medical insurance costs and other volatile expenses and that the business office follows a centralized purchasing model with purchase-order rationale for requisitions. "We do not have a budget soft shortfall here," he said, adding that the district cut about $180,000 in low-use software subscriptions to help balance the plan.

Why it matters: The approved budget funds classroom supports and reserves and sets staffing and program priorities for the coming year. Restoring kindergarten aides preserves classroom supports families and staff asked the board to protect, while cuts and cost pressures remain likely drivers of future decisions.

During public comment, Vasant, a student who identified themself as representing GT students, urged trustees to reconsider displacing the experienced GT specialist. "Removing the current GT teacher ... creates a real risk that gifted students will no longer receive the level of support that they need to learn and grow," Vasant said, arguing that classroom teachers already have many responsibilities and that specialized instruction benefits students who learn differently. Dr. Fishbein responded to questions about how GT services would be delivered in the future, saying the program would continue but that some services would be restructured and delivered by interventionists in the elementary schools.

Board members praised administration and community engagement during budget development. One trustee said the process demonstrated a "healthy" exchange among staff, board and the public that allowed for the kindergarten aides to be returned to the plan. The board also highlighted that the district’s per-pupil spending ranks toward the lower end among peers historically and that the district manages a roughly $170 million budget.

The motion to adopt the budget was offered, seconded and carried on a roll-call vote. The clerk announced the motion carried and the board will place funds for any year-end surplus into capital and maintenance reserves to help smooth future budgets.

The administration said it will continue to monitor enrollment and health-care costs closely and will bring any recommended adjustments to the board. The district plans to publish more details about implementation and program delivery as staff finalize assignments and schedules.