Rockville Centre school district proposes cutting 21 teaching positions

Rockville Centre school district officials have proposed cutting about 60 staff positions, including 21 teaching positions, to close a multimillion-dollar budget gap.

The district has put forth a $147.3 million budget for the 2026-27 school year. Administrators said in a presentation on Thursday that the district faces a shortfall of at least $3.2 million, caused in part by higher operating costs.

“The district is facing a challenging budget this year,” Superintendent Matthew Gaven said in an emailed statement to Newsday. “We face rising costs and limited revenue growth. Our challenges are consistent with the same factors others face. These include insurance costs, transportation cost increases, declining enrollment and contractual obligations.”

Administrators have said that enrollment has declined by 288 students, or 8%, in the past decade.

Under Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed state budget, the district is set to receive a 1% increase in foundation aid, which equals about $126,000, officials said. 

The district has said it plans to raise the local tax levy by 2.06%, which would not pierce its state cap on levy increases.

"Exceeding the tax cap would shift additional cost to taxpayers without addressing the underlying issues," Jacqueline Rehak, the district's assistant superintendent of finance, said at the meeting. "The administration believes that the most responsible path is to right-size staffing and operations, while remaining within the tax levy cap."

The district budget has not yet been finalized and is subject to change. Residents will vote on the budget May 19.

The leader of the district’s teacher’s union called the proposals “nothing short of draconian,” and said they would have lasting consequences for students, educators and the community.

“The district’s budget proposal includes the elimination of as many as 60 positions, which will result in significantly larger class sizes across the board, from elementary through high school,” Lesli Deninno, president of the Rockville Centre Teachers' Association, said in a statement. “It means fewer opportunities, fewer resources, and the very real threat of cuts to the vital programs, services and student supports our children rely on every single day.”

Teacher cuts, club reductions

In plans presented to the public Thursday, district officials proposed cutting 21.2 teaching positions. That is down from the 24 that officials previously said would be eliminated.

Officials also said 12 teachers are expected to retire at the end of this school year.

The teaching assistants’ staff would be reduced by 40, according to the presentation. One administrator position would also be eliminated along with cuts to bus matrons and facilitator stipends.

The district is also recommending a 10% reduction in clubs and a decrease in assistant coaches. It would terminate its lease with a local synagogue, which the district rents for extra classroom space.

Gaven said no programs would be eliminated.

“These reductions will alter how we deliver some programs, but no programs are being cut and all mandated services will continue to be provided,” he said. “We believe these reductions will bring our staffing levels more in line with other Nassau County districts.”

Gaven said the district must engage in conversations with the community in the near future to review the district's current structure and determine if there are changes that could generate cost savings and sustainability.

Deninno, of the teachers' union, said the measures are being pushed forward “without the transparency and accuracy this community deserves.”

“RVCTA stands ready to work with the district in good faith to find solutions that protect students and preserve the high quality of our public schools,” she wrote.