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Superintendent’s Report: The Highland Park Board of Education met for a special session to present updates to the 2026–2027 Preliminary Budget, a plan largely shaped by rising health care costs. The purpose of the meeting was to address two major unknowns that loomed over the initial March 23 presentation: prioritizing newly identified cost-saving strategies and finalized health benefit rates to stabilize the district’s financial outlook. While initial projections braced for a 32% spike in healthcare costs, the district secured a lower 26.1% increase for medical/prescription and a 5% increase for dental.
Additionally, based on clarification and directives provided by the New Jersey Department of Education as part of the budgeting process, and because the district does not provide transportation for local public school students based on distance, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:27-2.2(b), the district does not have the legal authority to issue Aid in Lieu (AIL) payments to families of nonpublic students. This adjustment results in a projected cost savings of approximately $225,000.
With these figures now clarified, the primary goal of the meeting was to facilitate a transparent dialogue with the board and the community regarding the tax levy. The administration noted that while the state's health benefits adjustment allows for a tax levy increase of up to 5.13%, the tentative budget currently sits at 4.14%. In sharing these updated figures, the Board listened to sincere dialogue with staff and community members to determine the most responsible path forward. Your input is essential in helping us strike a balance that honors both our students' futures and our taxpayers' stability before the final hearing on April 27.