Superintendent presents her proposed 2026-27 budget

Superintendent of Schools Susan Yom presented her proposed 2026-27 budget at the March 11 Board of Education meeting. Ms. Yom is proposing a $48,098,741, an increase of 1.73 percent from to the previous year, or $818,299.

The proposed tax levy increase would be 1.98 percent, an increase that does not exceed the New York State tax levy cap.

“We are trying to provide every child what they need every day,” Ms. Yom said.

The superintendent noted the district has developed four priority areas including: 

• Excel in Academic Achievement, Engage in Every Learner in Safe and Supportive Learning Environments

• Equip, Recruit and Retain Effective Educators and Staff 

• Elevate Effective, High-Quality, Cost-Efficient Operations

The proposed budget supports district priorities such as maintaining a fiscally responsible budget, ensuring continuing support for all academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular programs, and addressing safety and security issues for all buildings and grounds, among others.

Ms. Yom excitedly shared the many successes that have been achieved in the district thanks to the board’s support of the previous year’s budget. 

“Our graduation rate went to 95 percent, that is an astounding accomplishment for our students,” Ms. Yom said. “And we offer 20 AP college course, 41 electives and we have 43 sports and extracurricular opportunities. And our students get into the most prestigious colleges and universities. Our valedictorian last year is right now at Harvard University, and we celebrate the wonderful accomplishments of our high school that we want to continue.”

She reminded the community that the high school has a new art teacher, a new kiln was added to the art resources, the Girls Varsity Basketball team went to the Section 1, Class B Finals, the district hosted a summer educational camp, and new facility upgrades this past summer including new roofs at Grady and Dixson and improvements to the sidewalks and stairs at the high school.

Additionally, the district added an additional SRO to assist with campus safety at each of its buildings, students participated in NYSMA and purchased more books as well as offered more learning opportunities through field trips.

“We are going into 2026-27 and we just want to continue the wonderful things we have been working on,” Ms. Yom said. 

As for academics, Ms. Yom celebrated the ELA results from 23-24 to 24-25, which saw a 15 percent point increase. 

“Those are spectacular numbers,” she said. “Our focus last year on literacy, have come to life in our results.”

The goal for Dixson students is to leave the school knowing how to read

“Our goals are all students learn how to read and leave Dixson on grade level and reading before they come into grade two,” Ms. Yom said.

The focus now will be on improving math, which has also increased in the past school year. 

The celebration extends to the staff too, which includes the many who support their students, 

“We are going to comply with the tax levy, we will be at 1.9 percent and still maintain class sizes and staffing for all of our programs as well as have two SROs and meet all contractable obligations for our staff,” Ms. Yom said of the proposed budget.

In addition to adding a special education class at Dixson, the superintendent explained other incentives, including refreshing technology, continuing to provide professional development opportunities and as well as continuing the work on facilities projects, including the installation of air conditioning at Grady, which will take place this summer. 

Although the district anticipates a decline in enrollment, Ms. Yom intends to continue the levels of sections and support throughout the district. This, Ms. Yom said, the proposed budget would continue to support favorable class sizes K-4, with under 18 students. As students mature, the class size will increase, however this will continue to “provide the academic achievement we’d like to see in all of our academic programs.”

Deputy Superintendent James Yap said a deeper dive looking at curriculum, especially literacy and math, along with professional development would continue as well. Beyond the curriculum, the district is looking to increase the number of enrichment activities in the last several months of the school year. Already, Grady has developed Lunch Recess Clubs which create a special activity for students to engage in, field trips, assemblies and more. 

Mr. Yap mentioned the 22 courses at AHHS that were added, and four more classes will be added in the next year, including Graphic Design 2, Photography 2, Ceramics 2 and pilot a Senior Internship Program.

In the next year as the state moves away from Regents courses and tests, the district will be looking to develop a Portrait of a Graduate.

Leah Zilich, Director of Special Education and Personnel Services, shared details on the special education population, noting 19 percent of the K-12 populations are students with disabilities. 

She is proposing an 8:1:2 program at Dixson, which would serve students in their home district, and offer new models for speech, social skills and parent training.

For AHHS, they offer a full continuum of services, and she is hopeful to continue that model for Grady students. 

Director of Facilities, James Frees, noted that several capital projects were complete, the aforementioned roofs at Grady and Dixson and sidewalk repairs at AHHS among them, and assured the project would be finished this summer with the addition of air conditioning at Grady. There will also be a continuation or routine maintenance projects such as upgrading electrical panels, adding moisture sensors, resurfacing the loop in front of the high school and more.

Ms. Yom thanked the Board for their time and encouraged them to “look favorably at this throughout the month of March and provide us with the feedback that really reflects the needs of our district and what ways we can continue to be dedicated to excellence in education.”

“We are so excited for what we’ve accomplished,” she said. “And what we wanted to do and to be fiscally responsible.” 

“It’s super impressive, double digit increases in performance from our students, that doesn’t happen without an amazing team and tremendous effort,” said Board of Education President David Hecht. “I want to commend our staff because we really do have an amazing group of people her from administrators all the way down. I challenge any school district to see double digit increases year after year. We still have lofty goals, and I think we will hit them.”

For more information on the 2026-27 budget visit our website.