The Sherburne-Earlville Central School District budget vote takes place on May 19 from noon to 8 pm at the Middle/High School Auditorium. The total budget proposal is $41,447,632 with a contingency budget of $41,387,632 and proposed facilities use fees for non-school groups. The district will also be “right-sizing” staff. (ES file photo)

SHERBURNE – The Sherburne-Earlville Central School District has its 2026-2027 budget vote on May 19. The total budget proposal is $41,447,632.

However a contingency budget was also presented at the district's public budget hearing with a total amount of $41,387,632 with contingent budget item removing $60,000 in request equipment costs.

Implementing the contingency budget would also mean that outside groups would be charged a fee for hosting events in the district, such as non-school team sporting events. At the same hearing they provided a list of staff that will be reduced the upcoming school year.

According to Interim Superintendent Antoinette Halliday, concerns over the fees were raised at the budget hearing but she said, “The proposed facility use fee schedule is only a discussion at this point. The fee schedule was a draft and no action was taken.”

She said there will be ongoing discussion with the board of education and that, “The board of education listened to the concerns and will take them into consideration in further discussions.”

However the contingency budget will have no effect on the staffing reductions that are underway.

At the public budget hearing the district announced that they would be “right-sizing staff” with the reduction of: one administrator, ten classroom teachers, one counselor, one social worker, one-half occupational therapist, one-half speech language pathologist, one typist, one attendance monitor, one custodial position that is currently unfilled, at least one aide position that is dependent on special education recommendations, one interventionist, one instructional coach, one bus route that is currently unfilled, and modified teams due to decrease in assistant coaches. They'll also be doing away with non-essential equipment and conferences.

Halliday relayed that the reductions will occur in the 2026-2027 school year and that affected staff members have already been notified. According to Halliday, some reductions are by attrition, but in some areas decisions were made by seniority.

“We will see slight increases in class sizes, but class sizes will not exceed contractual limits. For example, reducing a class at a grade level at the elementary school would increase each of the remaining classes by a few students. However, our numbers, with the reductions, are still projected to be under 20 students per class at this level,” said Halliday. Affirming that the district will be able to maintain its small class sizes even with reduced teaching staff.

Other concerns raised at the budget hearing included a bus driver shortage. Halliday explained that there is a shortage not only in the district but the region. She said, “Condensing a bus route will help alleviate the shortage. We will hire to fill open positions.”

See the budget presentation from the hearing on May 5 at www.secsd.org/BusinessOffice.aspx and find the board meeting minutes at go.boarddocs.com/ny/secsd/Board.nsf/Public Voters in the Sherburne-Earlville Central School District should have already received budget flyers and a postcard with more information on the budget proposal, or you can find it on their website below the presentation.

The vote on May 19 involves the budget proposal as well as a proposal for purchasing non-bus student transportation vehicles. Halliday assured that these vehicle purchases do not impact the 2026-2027 school district budget. Starting the following year they would cost the district around $12,000 annually for five years.

Voting takes place at the Middle School/High School Auditorium Lobby on May 19 from noon to 8 p.m.