Residents will vote on a proposed $119.8 million school budget for 2026–27 on May 19. The plan maintains all student programs, supports early learning, and keeps class sizes small while staying within the state tax cap with a 2.61% tax levy increase. The budget reflects a 2.69% overall increase and uses $1.12 million from fund balance to close a gap caused largely by rising costs.
To manage these pressures, the district will reduce staffing through attrition and unfilled positions, eliminating 15 roles without layoffs or impact on students.
“These are reductions of positions, not people,” said Superintendent Jody Monroe. “These staffing reductions will not impact students. Positions are reduced to match student enrollment, which has been in decline, and are adjusted to meet student needs. Student programs are preserved at all levels, and new opportunities for students are included in the budget.”
New investments include additional reading teachers, instructional support, an ENL teacher, a part-time physical therapist, and expanded afterschool programming. Voters will also elect three Board of Education members and consider a separate proposal to purchase nine replacement school buses.
Inflation, health care costs are the largest budget drivers
Rising contractual costs and inflation are driving budget increases, even as the district reduces spending in some areas. Approximately 78% of the budget is allocated to employee salaries and benefits.
The most significant cost pressure is health insurance, which has risen much faster than inflation—up 26.2% over the past two years, with a projected 15.8% increase next year (about $2.87 million). This accounts for nearly 90% of the total $3.13 million budget increase. Additional, smaller cost increases are also expected in areas like transportation, energy, and classroom supplies. For 2026–27, salary expenses alone are expected to rise by 3.2%.
What’s new in the budget – Additions, reductions and more
The proposed 2026–27 budget includes a mix of targeted additions and staffing reductions to better align with student needs while maintaining programs.
Instructional
- Adds 2.0 FTE reading teachers to improve reading and writing skills at the elementary level.
- Adds an elementary instructional coach to provide additional support to K-5 teachers.
- Adds a 0.5 FTE physical therapist.
- Reduces 6.0 FTE instructional positions to match enrollment needs. Reductions are being made through attrition (retirements), not layoffs.
- Adds an elementary instructional coach to provide additional support to K-5 teachers.
- Adds funding for Kindergarten Kickstart, a summer program for incoming K students who may need additional foundational skills.
Student Support & Opportunities
- Adds six afterschool clubs to meet student needs. requested by students including: Lego Club, MS Math Counts Club, HS English Honor Society, HS Pickleball Club, HS Cinematography Club, & HS Garden Club.
- Adds funds for music instrument repairs, a P/T music accompanist and maintenance improvements to the kiln in the high school art room.
- Adds modified flag football at the middle school.
- Replaces worn gymnastics springboard and safety mats to ensure athlete safety.
- Replaces worn soccer goals to ensure athlete safety.
- Reduces 9.0 FTE support staff positions to meet enrollment and student needs. Reductions are being made through attrition (retirements) and elimination of vacant positions. No layoffs are included in the budget.
Transportation & Facilities
- Includes a $100,000 capital outlay to continue with installation of the Avigilon Door Status Monitoring System throughout the district. The alarm system immediately alerts staff if an exterior door is propped open or is ajar during the school day. A capital outlay project is included every year as part of the proposed budget.
- Adds tablet docking stations to all buses (year 1 of 2) to improve drivers’ access to mapping and student attendance software.
- Adds emergency evacuation chairs to help move students in wheelchairs down flights of stairs more efficiently in the event of an emergency.
The Budget Vote and Board of Education Election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Bethlehem Central High School, in Gym A. Absentee and early voting ballots will be available.