Dear Oyster River Community,
The ORCSD FY26 operating budget will be on the ballot Tuesday, March 11, 2025. A summary is available here.
I shared my FY26 public budget hearing PowerPoint presentation during the January 15 School Board meeting. The presentation is available on the district’s YouTube channel. It starts at 2:50:50 in the recording.
This budget is anticipated to have a 2.65% increase, a rate comparable to the past 5 years in which the increase fluctuated between 2 and 4%.
The major cost drivers for this budget are several expenditures related to:
- Health insurance for employees.
- IT updates to increase cyber security, device replacements, and software.
- Curriculum and professional development for competency-based programming.
- Transportation for the replacement and maintenance of buses and vans.
- Capital plan to cover an immediate need for roof and HVC repairs across the district.
On voting day, you will also notice warrants on the ballot, such as the Guild agreement and Mast Way/Moharimet facilities expansion and renovations.
A summary of Warrant Articles #3-7 is as follows:
- Warrant #3 is the operating budget for $58,002,091.
- Warrant #4 is the Teacher Guild agreement in the amount of $1,141,204.
- Warrant #5 is for the expansion and renovations at Moharimet and Mast Way in the amount of $530,922.
- Warrant #6 is funding toward Facilities development, maintenance, and replacement expendable trust fund in the amount of $125,000.
- Warrant #7 is funding toward the replacement of the high school turf field in the amount of $125,000.
One significant area of focus is the challenge of growing enrollment and currently available space. For this reason, ORCSD is presenting Warrant #5 requesting the appropriation of funds for fees related to architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and civil engineering services.
Additional information about our capital planning initiative is available on the district's website.
We will also host a community information session on February 19 at 6:00 p.m. in the Morse Recital Hall at Oyster River Middle School to provide information about our capital plan and Warrant #5. NOVO Studio architects will be there to answer questions.
Respectfully,
Dr. Robert Shaps
Superintendent of Schools