Bedford Central School District unveils 2026-27 budget

BEDFORD, N.Y. - The Bedford Central School District’s Jan. 28 school board meeting featured updates from Fox Lane High School Principal Dr. Jennifer Amos, a budget presentation by Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Jose Formoso and updates from Director of Facilities Tim Walsh.

Minding the Gap

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Jose Formoso unveiled the 2026–27 preliminary budget of $167,508,295 (up slightly more than 4 percent from the 2025–26 budget of $160,905,500).

Expense projections for the package that will go to voters on May 18 include general support ($14,531,221), instruction ($87,228,353), transportation ($10,289,861), employee benefits ($45,639,345), debt service ($9,019,515) and interfund transfers ($800,000).

Formoso reviewed general fund operating results, budget development considerations and preliminary projections for the 2026–27 budget.

Key items include a projected $3.8 million gap within a 2.6 percent tax cap. Strategies to close the gap include reducing spending where possible, leaving some open positions unfilled and using reserve funds. The gap is expected to shrink by the end of February.

Formoso presented a five-year review of general fund operating results, showing a cumulative operating surplus of approximately $1.7 million. He also discussed the impact of COVID-era grant funding on expenditures and the ongoing structural issue of expenditures exceeding revenue.

Formoso said switching from a self-insured health plan to the New York State Health Insurance Program reduced expenses by approximately $3.1 million.

He outlined the preliminary 2026–27 budget, including contractual salaries, state retirement system contributions and health insurance costs under NYSHIP, noting projected increases tied to inflation and the need to manage expenditures.

Projected expenditures include contractual obligations, retirement system contributions and health insurance. Student transportation costs and higher electrical expenses also affect the budget.

Projected revenues include property tax calculations and state aid, with a slight reduction in state aid noted.

“In 2025–26, our budget is $23.6 million,” Formoso said, referring to the hospital and medical portion of the budget. He said those expenses are projected to increase by approximately 11 percent.

“Even though our budget is $23.6 million, we are trending. We just made an update today and we are looking at a little over $1 million trending over budget,” Formoso said. “If you compare budget to budget, 2025–26 to 2026–27, we will be seeing about an 11 percent increase, or $2.6 million. Once we get into NYSHIP, our next increases are expected not to be at the same levels, because at that point we have already set the budget under NYSHIP, and their increases have typically remained in the single digits over the last few years.”

The Board voted to accept the Phase 2A elementary bid package, approving the bid order for the $62 million bond project.

The maintenance building bid is out, with the press mechanical package and elementary school ADA compliance and exterior work to follow.

Other Business

The budget presentation followed discussions about facilities, district partnerships and an update from Fox Lane principal Amos.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Glass praised Walsh’s facilities department for efficient operations and maintenance work. He said the district’s partnership with Northwell Health is gaining traction, citing increased family usage and improved access to services.

Northwell partners with local school districts to expand access to children’s mental and behavioral health care through Behavioral Health Centers that provide same-day or urgent support, short-term crisis care, follow-up services and care coordination.

Walsh also highlighted the district’s partnership with Bedford 2030, a local environmental organization focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving natural resources through the Bedford Climate Action Plan.

“We talked a little bit about the synergies we are going to engage to help some of our energy efficiencies become green,” Walsh said. “We’re starting to get some information on the five-year building plan.”

Walsh said the district has been working with its architect, using aerial drone footage to identify areas in need of attention and assign priority levels.

“They’ll be putting their priority levels next to those,” he said. “We should have that wrapped up by the end of February.”

Walsh provided an update on the locker room project, saying work on one side will be completed before February break, with construction then moving to the other side.

He said library and guidance room projects remain on schedule for completion by the end of April. Photos showing work in progress were made available to the Board ahead of the meeting.

“Everything looks great and it’s on time,” Walsh said.

Glass said a student achievement report scheduled for the Feb. 25 meeting will feature detailed demographic analysis and reports from individual schools in the district. The annual report compares student assessment data year to year and informs curriculum decision-making.

Safety First at Fox Lane

In her report, Amos said the administration remains focused on student safety and academic excellence, with emphasis on physical safety, social-emotional well-being and rigorous learning.

“At a high level, our first priority is always safety, and that means physical safety in our classrooms, in our hallways, buses and common spaces,” she said.

She said the school’s emergency response team, led by Assistant Principal Jason Spector, trains regularly and has been recognized by BOCES for its protocols.

Academic highlights showed that 88 percent of Advanced Placement exam scores earned college credit and that 91 percent of students are college bound. Amos also reviewed engagement, support and transition programs, including dual enrollment and mentorship initiatives.

Quarterly common assessments across core courses are used to monitor student learning and adjust instruction based on results.

A slide deck provided to the Board included data on Advanced Placement courses, Regents exams and college acceptances.

Amos said Fox Lane maintains an open enrollment policy for honors and AP courses and partners with five colleges and universities to offer 15 dual enrollment classes. Many seniors graduate with enough credits to enter college as second-semester freshmen or first-semester sophomores.

She also presented a proposed Leadership Academy elective for ninth- and 10th-grade students, incorporating Advancement Via Individual Determination strategies and guest speakers to support the transition to high school. The AVID program includes college visits for first-generation college-bound students.

Amos cited language achievement at Fox Lane, noting that 44 students in the Class of 2025 earned the Seal of Biliteracy. About 15 percent of graduates each year demonstrate proficiency in at least one additional language.

She also highlighted improvements in attendance among students participating in a mentoring program, with 77 percent showing improved attendance.

The school runs regular classes during the day and sets aside 25 minutes for academic reflection and goal-setting.

Amos recommended shifting geometry and chemistry Regents exams to locally developed assessments beginning in June 2027, saying the change would allow teachers to focus more deeply on curriculum and critical thinking.

She said the master schedule inquiry team has narrowed potential bell schedule options and expects to make a decision in the spring after reviewing feedback from students, staff and parents.