Editor’s note: This statement was provided by Pelham Board of Education President Jackie De Angelis. The Pelham Examiner publishes statements in the form received as a service to the community.
Dear Pelham Community,
On Tuesday, May 20, Pelham voters will decide on a proposed school budget and a set of capital improvement propositions that support our mission of Inspiring a Standard of Excellence for All Students and advance the goals of our Strategic Plan. As we approach this important vote, the Board of Education thanks you for your continued engagement and support of our schools.
This vote represents a significant opportunity for our students and our community. Below is information to help you make an informed decision at the polls.
2025–26 School Budget
The proposed $96.2 million budget supports the District’s Strategic Plan priorities: personal growth and achievement, belonging and wellness, and facilities and sustainable learning environments. It reflects our shared commitment to maintaining strong academic, arts, athletics, and extracurricular programs; expanding support for special education; and managing staffing—our greatest resource and largest expense—in a thoughtful and responsible way.
Key investments include:
- A new AP Seminar course at Pelham Memorial High School
- Continued integrated co-teaching in early grades
- Ongoing after-school math tutoring
- Technology renewal to keep systems current
The budget also maintains our interventionist support and increases the number of special education teachers. A part-time clerical position will be added to support a move to electronic registration for 6th and 9th grade families—strengthening residency verification and improving operational efficiency.
With 13 staff members retiring this year, the District closely reviewed the course schedule and will only replace 8 of those positions—primarily by consolidating low-enrollment high school classes. This helps preserve the breadth of academic and extracurricular offerings while being fiscally responsible. It’s important to note that staffing and programming has increased significantly over the past decade. Administrative staffing remains flat, with no new administrative hires included in this budget.
The proposed 3.48% tax levy increase is within the New York State Tax Cap and the District is pleased to have received $250,000 more in New York State Foundation Aid than originally projected.
Capital Improvement Bond Propositions
After two years of study—including a building condition survey, an enrollment trend analysis, peer school visits, and community feedback—the Board developed a focused capital improvement plan to address pressing facility needs. The plan is presented in four separate propositions to give voters greater choice and transparency.
Proposition 1: Critical Infrastructure at HS/MS, Colonial & Prospect Hill and AC at Colonial and Prospect Hill
- Boiler/heating system upgrades of end-of-life systems
- Roof & Window replacements and masonry repairs to prevent water infiltration and maintain buildings
- Central air conditioning and HVAC improvements at Colonial and Prospect Hill to improves air quality and lower classroom temperatures
Proposition 2: Siwanoy Renovation and Expansion
- Infrastructure upgrades and full ADA accessibility
- Central air conditioning
- 8-classroom addition with modern instructional space
- New cafeteria and reimagined outdoor play space with flood mitigation
Proposition 3: High School Science Rooms and Student Commons
- Renovation and expansion of outdated science labs
- Creation of a student commons and expanded cafeteria space
Proposition 4: Geothermal Systems at Prospect Hill and Siwanoy
- Environmentally sustainable heating and cooling systems
- Improves long-term energy efficiency
These projects will modernize classrooms, labs, and common areas; address overcrowding; and ensure our learning environments support student success for years to come.
Financial Considerations
The Board recognizes that this is a substantial investment in our schools of up to $144 million if all propositions are approved by voters. Importantly, the District can borrow up to $65 million with no new tax impact due to the retirement of debt from prior capital projects. As older debt is paid off in 2026–27 and again in 2030–31, the local share of debt service will decrease by approximately $500,000 and $2.7 million, respectively.
To further minimize financial impact, the District will:
- Phase construction to align with debt retirement
- Use short-term borrowing and existing debt service funds
- Take advantage of New York State Building Aid, which currently reimburses 49% of eligible project costs
State Building Aid and Reimbursement
Importantly, New York State provides building aid to help school districts offset the cost of approved capital improvements. The amount of aid a district receives is determined by a formula that considers multiple factors, including the district’s aid ratio and the portion of each project deemed eligible for reimbursement. Currently, 49% of Pelham’s eligible project costs are reimbursed by the state. This ratio is recalculated annually and may vary slightly from year to year based on statewide data. Since the 2018 bond that funded the new Hutchinson School, Pelham’s aid ratio has increased from approximately 41% and has remained relatively stable.
Estimated Annual Tax Impact
The chart below shows the estimated annual tax impact based on home assessed value and which propositions are approved. These estimates assume a 49% building aid reimbursement rate on eligible projects.
Acquisition & Renovation of 29 Franklin Place
Lastly, voters will be asked to consider the District’s proposal to purchase 29 Franklin Place and renovate it for administrative offices. This project would be funded using the District’s existing fund balance – essentially a savings account – meaning that no additional taxes would be levied.
Purchasing this property, which is adjacent to Pelham Memorial High School, would allow the District to save about $175,000 in annual rent currently paid for space in The Sanborn Map Building. In addition to the long-term financial benefit, acquiring a property so close to the secondary campus provides strategic value. In the future, the site could potentially be repurposed for educational use as community needs evolve.
We are grateful to the current property owners for approaching the District with this opportunity and for considering the needs of our schools.
We encourage you to visit www.pelhamschools.org/bond to see detailed renderings of the proposed improvements and to learn more about how these projects will benefit our students and the community.
We appreciate your partnership and encourage you to vote on the budget, property acquisition/renovation, and important capital improvements on Tuesday, May 20.
Sincerely,
The Pelham Board of Education
Jackie De Angelis, President
Natalie Marrero, Vice President
Sidney Burke
Kathryn Cohen
Annemarie Garcia
Darra Gordon
Will Treves
