The Oceanside School District held its final budget workshop for the year, outlining a proposed $192.4 million spending plan for the 2026-27 school year that maintains all programs and staff while navigating rising costs and ongoing revenue challenges.
Superintendent Phyllis Harrington and Assistant Superintendent for Business Jerel Cokley led the third and likely final workshop on March 18 before the district’s formal budget hearing in May. Officials said the proposal reflects months of revisions that began with nearly $198 million in initial requests from administrators.
“This year’s budget development has been very tight,” Cokley said, noting the district worked to align expenses with available revenue while preserving educational offerings.
The proposed budget represents a 3.06 percent increase over the current year, which would result in a 2.28 percent tax levy, remaining below the allowable state cap and Nassau County averages.
District officials highlighted several staffing adjustments driven by enrollment trends and student needs. Elementary enrollment is projected to increase slightly, resulting in two additional class sections district wide, with funding set aside for potential staffing adjustments if class sizes grow.
At the secondary level, staffing changes include the addition of special education teachers and a reallocation of existing staff to better align with instructional needs. A literacy initiative will also expand into a K-12 model by reassigning a certified teacher to bridge gaps between grade levels.
“We are really pleased that we have the right teacher already on staff,” said Jill DeRosa, assistant superintendent of Human Resources, Student Services and Community Activities, emphasizing the district’s focus on strengthening literacy instruction across all grades.
The district will also expand its Hebrew language program, adding an additional class section to better meet student needs despite ongoing challenges in recruiting qualified instructors.
School officials said budget pressures continue to mount due to factors largely outside district control, including rising health insurance cost, transportation expenses and fuel prices. At the same time, long-term financial planning has been complicated by uncertainty in state and federal funding.
While state aid is projected to increase by $2.8 million, totaling $41.6 million, Cokley noted that only a portion of that represents flexible new funding. Much of the aid is tied to reimbursement-based expenses.
“We’re still battling the gap between rising costs and state aid growth,” said Board Trustee Sandie Schoell.
The district also continues to absorb significant revenue losses tied to the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) “glide path,” a state-imposed phase-down of property tax payments from LIPA to local taxing entities, including school districts. The gradual reduction, implemented over several years, decreases the amount of revenue districts receive annually from LIPA-owned properties. It is estimated that Oceanside has lost more than $18 million over the past five years but has avoided cuts to programs or staffing.
“If you would have told me five years ago that we were going to lose $18 million and not cut one program or have to lay off one teacher, I would have called us crazy,” said Board Member Seth Blau. “That doesn’t happen overnight. It’s quite remarkable for us to take that hit and not only not skip a beat, but really continue on to do some remarkable projects.”
Cokley attributed the success of the tight process of budgeting — what he called “grunt work” — to Harrington.
“She has the mindset of putting the district first, but the community as a very, very close second,” Cokley said. “We call this process ‘sharpening the pencils’.”
To balance the budget, the district will rely on a mix of revenue sources, including state aid, property taxes and over $16 million in local revenues such as interest income, payments in lieu of taxes and fund balance usage.
In addition to the operating budget, voters will consider a capital reserve proposition totaling $5.7 million. Planned improvements at Oceanside High School include track resurfacing, bathroom renovations, fence replacement and air conditioning for the main gym — which officials said is needed to comply with a state mandate requiring schools to provide a cooled space capable of accommodating large numbers of students during extreme heat emergencies. Cokley emphasized the project would not result in additional tax impact, as funding has already been secured and set aside.
The district is scheduled to hold its budget hearing on May 6, with the public vote set for May 19.
