In a series of budget meetings with parents and teachers in recent weeks, New Rochelle’s education leaders have struggled to explain the origins of  a predicted $20,216,317 budget gap for the 2025-2026 school year, and the painful measures that will be needed to close it. The District’s proposed budget, which includes a 3.95% increase in school taxes and elimination of up to 200 staff positions, was approved by the Board of Education (BOE) in a vote on March 20 and will go before the voters on May 20.  

Last year, the State’s calculated cap on New Rochelle’s school tax increase was 3.95%, and the voters approved the budget with this increase. This year, the calculated cap on tax increases is only 0.33%, but the district is requesting another 3.95% increase to minimize the harmful impact of the budget shortfall.  Because the proposed increase exceeds the calculated cap, a 60% majority of the voters is required to approve the budget.  

The reasons for the budget shortfall are complicated, and the proposed solutions even more so.

How did we get here? 

At the March 20 meeting, Carlos Leal, the district’s Assistant Superintendent for Business, reviewed the budget situation with a highly detailed slide presentation.  He highlighted key factors contributing to the gap, including only a minimal increase in  state aid, with the annual increase dropping from more than $16M in 2024-25 to $377,167 for the coming year due to changes in the State’s formula, and the expiration of roughly $25 million in COVID-era grants. He mentioned that the decrease in school enrollment by about 1,000 students over the past 10 years has contributed to the reduction in State funding, and also noted the need to set aside roughly $1.9 million for students living within the district boundaries who might enroll in the newly formed charter school. He also pointed out that although last year’s school tax increase was for the full amount allowed under state tax cap guidelines, the school tax increases from 2021 through 2024 were less than  the tax cap guidelines allowed.

Carlos Leal, NRSD Assistant Superintendent for Business, addresses the Board of Education meeting on March 20

In addition, Leal enumerated some of the district’s anticipated cost increases, including 20% for  transportation (estimated at $4.5 million)  and 10% for  health insurance (an estimated $9 million).  Annual contractual salary increases for teachers and staff would cost approximately 2.75% or $8.7 million, according to Leal, while the proposed workforce reductions would save  $4.6 million. Salaries and benefits, Leal noted, represent roughly 75% of the total budget.

The Proposal:

Superintendent Dr. Corey Reynolds grounded his remarks in the district’s vision and mission: providing high quality education and ensuring equitable opportunities for all students. He thanked local state legislators who are trying to increase state aid, but explained that the district cannot count on  an increase. 

Then, he outlined the plan his team has developed to reduce costs and increase revenue to achieve a balanced budget of $359,468,597. Key features of the proposal include:

• Implementing the staggered transportation plan designed but not implemented last year, changing the starting and ending times of the different schools by 45 minutes;
• Increasing class sizes by 2-10 students, depending on the grade level and subject;
• Reducing staffing by about 200 positions, starting with retirement and attrition and laying off staff if necessary, noting that Special education staff could not be reduced due to State mandates; and
• Increasing taxes by 3.95% (about $500/year for most households)

NRSD Superitendent Dr. Corey Reynolds at the Board of Education Meeting on March 20

The Response

Needless to say, there were no happy campers at the March 20 meeting, although it was civil throughout. Each speaker was limited to three minutes, but the Board assured that everyone who wanted to speak had the opportunity. Though the Board did not respond directly to questions or comments, they suggested that people contact them directly for further information. 

Members of the New Rochelle Federation of United School Employees (FUSE) were there in force, wearing maroon tops and carrying signs with numbers one through 200, demonstrating what losing 200 staff would look like. The teachers raised a number of important questions, focusing on the impact that losing programs, teachers, and support staff would have on the quality of students’ education.

The next wave of speakers focused on the increase in administrative personnel despite the reduction in students, citing, for example, the increased number of assistant principals in several buildings, the increased number of administrators for special education, and the increase in the size of the central administration. 

Others suggested that the BOE ask the mayor if the city was demanding appropriate tax dollars from the new buildings downtown.  And several mentioned that the district was paying its current law firm twice what they paid the previous firm, and asked why that contract  had not been put out to bid in several years. More than one individual suggested that some of this could have been avoided with better planning, such as not using short term grant funds to increase staffing, and implementing the staggered schedule last year as planned.

When reached for comment by New RoAR News, FUSE President Mary Claire Breslin, commented, “The proposed reductions would disproportionately cut teachers, staff, and school-related professionals who are directly impacting our students’ daily experiences, with relatively limited impact on administrative positions.  If these cuts go through, students will lose support, access to vital programs and services, and class size will increase. New Rochelle FUSE understands that the magnitude of this budget gap requires tough choices to be made. But the District must make better choices that prioritize our students and the educational opportunities they deserve.” 

Aisha Cook, FUSE Vice President for Pedagogic Staff and President of New Rochelle’s NAACP, added, “It is truly unfortunate to be in this situation. We have hired some of the most  dynamic teachers and staff over the past few years. Laying them off will create a void in our schools that will be impossible to fill.”

FUSE Officers Mary Claire Breslin (l) and Aisha Cook

Next steps

Dr. Reynolds announced that the PTSAs would be hosting conversations about the proposed budget beginning April 1. On May 6, a budget hearing will be held at the NRHS Library. 

If the budget does not pass with a 60% majority on May 20, the district will have the opportunity to put a revised budget to a vote on June 17, presumably with a smaller tax increase. If the revised budget fails to pass, the district will be required to adopt a contingency budget which would limit the district’s spending to the amount spent in the previous year and force even more extensive budget cuts.  

May 20 is also the date for Board of Education elections. Two current Board members — Katie Castellano Minaya and Adina Berrios Brooks — have announced that they will not seek re-election. Petitions are now being circulated for potential candidates. 

The school district budget is a critical issue for the future of New Rochelle’s schools and community.  The budget crunch forces everyone to consider how to resolve the anticipated shortfall in the least painful manner possible.