Thursday, October 1, 2026
During a school year filled with controversy and complaints, Freeport school district administrators may get a much-needed win this spring if the proposed 2026-27 district budget, which promises no increase in the tax levy and no additional cost to district residents, is approved.
The district hosted its budget adoption meeting on April 22 at the Caroline G. Atkinson School. Idowu Ogundipe, executive school business administrator, explained that the spending plan has been in development since last October. It will be put to a public vote on May 19.
“Our budget is made up of needs to support our students,” Ogundipe said. “We are preserving all program services and staffing, while looking to enhance what is already in place to meet the needs of our students and families.”
The proposed budget totals roughly $260.82 million, an increase of over $9.8 million, or nearly 4 percent, over the current spending plan. At the same time, enrollment in district schools has declined by 4 percent, from 6,409 students in 2024-25 to 6,151 this year. Ogundipe said that the decrease is similar to others across Long Island school districts.
Salaries, benefits and transportation costs will all increase by at least $1 million each. Funding for special education services will rise by 11 percent, or $2.5 million, to a total of $24.9 million.
The budget line for administrative expenses will more than double in 2026-27, from $120,000 to over $282,000. Ogundipe did not offer salary details, but the district has continued to pay reassigned former Superintendent Fia Davis and two interim superintendents amid a legal battle after the district filed a lawsuit against Davis. Alice Kane was interim superintendent for nearly a year before she returned to retirement on April 1. She was replaced by Shakirah Miller on April 2.
Curriculum development and supervision, and in-service training and development, will see funding dramatically cut by 58.8 percent and 16.7 percent, respectively, more than offsetting the increases in administrative expenses.
The program component of the budget will grow by $7.7 million, earmarked mostly for regular school programs, special education and employee benefits. Special schools teaching will see a large decrease, of almost $300,000, nearly a quarter of its 2025-26 funding.
State aid is expected to decrease by almost $1 million. The district is allowed to levy up to $88.43 million in resident property taxes, under the state tax cap, but Ogundipe explained that the proposed budget includes a tax levy of only $87.1 million, consistent with the past two school years.
“There is no tax levy increase this year,” he said.
The proposed budget also features $7 million in capital projects, to renovate or upgrade school infrastructure. An additional $2.5 million in reserves is available for additional spending.
A final budget public hearing will be held on May 6, at 7:30 p.m., at the Atkinson School, ahead of the annual budget vote and Board of Education trustee election on May 19. Residents can register to vote Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Freeport Public Schools administration building.
