Superintendent's Message

Each year, district leadership works closely with the Board of Education to develop a thoughtful and balanced budget for the coming school year. Through this collaborative process, we reassess and align our priorities to meet student and program needs, foster a safe and inclusive school environment, and provide high-quality educational opportunities for every learner—while remaining attentive to our obligation to be fiscally responsible to local taxpayers. 

At the same time, the district continues to contend with ongoing financial pressures, including inflation, rising health insurance premiums, increasing utility and retirement costs, and uncertainty surrounding future Foundation Aid allocations from New York State. Each of these factors influences our ability to manage expenses and minimize the impact on property taxes. The proposed 2026-2027 budget continues our commitment to staying below the district’s tax cap threshold and accounting for current inflation, while responsibly utilizing reserve funds to support district operations.
 
Over the past several months, we have worked diligently to construct a prudent spending plan that strengthens academic programs, supports students’ social-emotional well‑being, maintains extracurricular offerings, and ensures proper upkeep of our facilities. We continue to carefully review enrollment trends, special education needs, and anticipated retirements to ensure our spending matches our needs.  

Budget development is a shared effort that benefits from community engagement. We encourage residents to learn more about the proposed budget and participate in the Annual Vote on May 19, to be held in the former Middle School Library. Community members are also invited to attend the annual budget hearing at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 11, in the Middle School Cafeteria. 

We also welcome everyone to learn more about our Annual Vote in the May edition of the Midlakes Journal and on our website at Midlakes.org/AnnualVote.

—   Nick Ganster, Superintendent