Each year, district leaders and the board of education develop a school budget to present to voters in May. The district strives to create a proposal that balances needs and strategic priorities with responsiveness to our taxpayers. 

In December, the district asked students, families and staff what are the most important things the district should consider as it develops budget priorities.

Based on that feedback and factors affecting this year’s budget, the district and board of education will use the following budget priorities to develop a 2026-27 spending plan:

Continue a strong academic program that provides for student growth, support and exploration.

• Strengthen existing curriculum and support programs, refine academic support models (MTSS) and expand college and career pathways aligned with the Portrait of a Graduate.
• Continue to adapt special education programming based on student needs.
• Maintain strong investment in professional development and training connected to strategic priorities.
• Expand prekindergarten programming to serve more Niskayuna four-year-old learners.

Support the ongoing evolution of middle school learning in Niskayuna.

• Continue to plan, develop and implement program recommendations from the Middle School Redesign Team.
• Provide for staffing needs in all areas with grade 6 at Van Antwerp and grades 7-8 at Iroquois.
• Assess transportation system needs for fully reconfigured middle schools (2027-28).

Provide robust support for student mental health and well-being, social-emotional learning and safety and security.

• Continue to provide student mental health support and relevant social-emotional learning at all grade levels.  
• Maintain support for the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS) system.
• Sustain the District’s School Resource Officer program and school-based safety and security teams to ensure consistent protocols, presence and support in all schools.

Pursue operational excellence as an employer of choice.

• Continue outreach across the community, region and beyond to build a diverse workforce and strategic efforts to build a high-performing, supportive workplace.
• Expand bus driver retention and recruitment efforts to improve student and family experiences. 
• Support information technology and instructional technology programs that meet the needs of today’s teachers, staff and students. 
• Continue ongoing facilities investments and efforts to plan for the future. 

Over the past three budget cycles, the district has added nearly 70 teaching, support and leadership staff positions. These positions have allowed the district to address middle level class size, implement an alternative education program at the high school, expand special education programming to meet student needs, and increase social and emotional support for students. Investments in recent years have also focused on strengthening the core curriculum and academic support, improving safety and security districtwide, and supporting a growing number of students taking advantage of career and technical education.

“In this budget cycle, we are focused on maintaining what we have been able to add in recent years to strengthen academic programs and services for students,” said Assistant Superintendent of Business & Operations Matt Leon. “We have made investments that are directly aligned with our strategic plan, and we look to sustain them into the future and enhance them where we can, at a cost that is reasonable for our taxpayers.”

The Niskayuna Board of Education election and budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. In addition to approving a school budget, voters will elect two individuals to the board of education. For more information about the budget and development timeline, visit the budget section of the district website.