Thursday, June 12, 2025
The Rockville Centre 2025-2026 school budget passed with 1,955 votes. The $139.89 million spending plan is 1.63 percent larger than the current budget, and includes a 2.6 percent tax levy increase, which is just under the district’s allowable tax cap of 2.62 percent.
It includes $1.8 million in capital improvements across the district, including bathroom renovations, lighting upgrades, HVAC repairs, plumbing and masonry improvements, new pavement and landscaping, and continued investment in flexible furniture for learning spaces.
Donna Downing won the open trustee seat on the Board of Education with 1,641 votes, preparing to serve her second term. She cited her first-term accomplishments, such as expanding universal Pre-K, launching new academic and extracurricular programs and helping craft a new strategic plan, as key motivations to continue serving. A longtime district parent and college instructor, Downing emphasized her educational expertise and commitment to inclusive, responsive leadership amid evolving challenges in public education.
"I’m honored to be re-elected to the school board, and I’m grateful to the community for their strong support — not only for my candidacy, but also for the budget that provides the resources our students need to succeed," Downing said. "I want to thank my volunteers and all of our district residents who consistently show up to support our public schools.”
The Rockville Centre Public Library budget of $4.2 million was also passed with 2,101 votes, and Meryl Sussman and Christine Faraday were elected to the Board of Trustees. The library plans to make modest adjustments to collections and materials, reducing spending on books and DVDs while increasing investment in eBooks and audiobooks.
