2025-2026 BUDGET GUIDELINES

Developed by the District Planning Team and approved by the Board of Education

Develop a student-based budget focused on:

• Implementation of rigorous, engaging, equitable, and authentic curriculum, instruction, assessments, and resources.
• Maintain excellence while supporting responsive and relevant offerings.
• Providing experiences, both curricular and extracurricular, that support the varied interests and abilities of the whole child.
• Social emotional learning and mental health supports.
• Supporting diverse academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs.

Provide high quality professional development centered on:

• Tiered supports addressing the range of learners in classroom.
• Curriculum, assessment, grading and instructional practices.
• Equity and Inclusion practices aligned with District goals.
• Social emotional, wellness, and mental health topics.
• Continuous improvement for instructional and non-instructional staff members.

Balance the investment in education with sensitivity to limited community resources by:

• Balancing community expectations for services and programs, with the need to be cognizant of changes in property values, income levels, new state/federal tax laws, and other economic uncertainties.
• Engaging in thoughtful short- and long-range financial planning.
• Collaborating with local partners/Districts to share services.
• Sustaining transportation reserve for transition to electric buses/vehicles.
• Planning for the cessation of Federal funds and impact of minimum wage increases.
• Engaging legislators to increase NYS foundation aid.
• Recruiting, hiring, and retaining diverse employees of the highest caliber.
• Seeking cost efficiencies to further mitigate the burdensome and fiscal impact of underfunded and unfunded mandates.

Maintain fiscal stability now and into the future through:

• Financially prudent and sustainable reserve accounts.
• Review and adjust staffing to align with revenue sources.
• Partnerships, shared services, audits.
• Protecting and maintaining our Aa1 bond rating.
• Protecting the community’s investment in facilities and infrastructure.
• Advocacy with legislators relative to appropriate levels of funding.
• Implementing research-based sustainability practices.

Meet legal mandates and contractual obligations.