CUTS LOOMING With a deficit of more than a million-and-a-half dollars, the Rockland Central School District BOE is looking at eliminating as many as seven positions. Manor Ink file photo
With tight budget, RCSD to lay off 7 staffers
Interim Supt. Lewis freezes the budget
By Manor Ink Staff
Town of Rockland, NY – At the Rockland Central School District Board of Education budget meeting on Mar. 12, interim superintendent Keith Lewis announced that he will be proposing the elimination of seven staff positions for the 2026-27 school year.
These cuts are being recommended because tax revenues received were not sufficient even with the incentive funds received as part of the merger. Staff affected have been notified. In addition, Lewis emailed all personnel that a budget freeze will be in effect as of April 10 (see the box at right).
Budget at a glance
2026-27 financial data provided by the RCSD Board of Education:
Total appropriations: $34.7 million | Up 7.84 percent from 2025-26.
Tax levy increase: 4.48 percent | $669,579 more than prior year.
Total state aid: $16.3 million | Up 11 percent from 2025-26.
Budget gap: $1.6 million | To be addressed.
With seven positions on the chopping block, it is probable that several of the newly-offered educational enhancements, including college courses, elective classes and clubs, will no longer be available to students. These were opportunities that were created when the Livingston Manor and Roscoe school districts were merged this school year.
There is a budget discussion meeting along with a regular board meeting at 6:30 p.m. on April 7 in the middle school/high school old gym. Members of the community are encouraged to attend.
Voters in the Rockland Central School District will vote on the 2026-27 school budget between noon and 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, at the Rockland Middle/High School Gymnasium, 19 School St., Livingston Manor, and the Rockland Elementary Gymnasium at 6 Academy St. in Roscoe.
For more details on the budget visit rcsd.us/169796_3.
Lewis halts spending
As Manor Ink was going to press on Mar. 24, Roscoe Central School Interim Supt. Keith Lewis announced a budget freeze in an email to teachers and staff. It read in part as follows:
“Effective April 10, 2026, a budget freeze will be implemented for the remainder of the 2025-26 fiscal year. This means that all non-essential spending, new purchase requests, and discretionary expenditures will be paused until further notice. Only items deemed essential for health, safety, or core instructional needs will be considered during this period.
“I understand that this may require adjustments to planned activities or purchases, and your flexibility and cooperation is appreciated. This measure is being taken to ensure responsible stewardship of our financial resources and to maintain stability as we move through the remainder of the budget cycle.”