Rockland BOE hears flood mitigation proposal, budget update
The Rockland Central School Board met on Tuesday, April 7, for a regular meeting and to continue to work on the budget for the 2026-27 school year.
After hearing reports from the administrators, the town of Rockland, along with Trout Unlimited, presented information on a $4 million grant from the state to be used for flood mitigation. The plan, which has two phases, would reclaim some of the natural flood plain to help mitigate flooding in the hamlet of Livingston Manor. Phase one, which is covered by the grant, would not directly impact district property. However, part of phase one would be planning for phase two, which proposes removing some of the berm on school property. That would allow the current athletic fields to flood. Phase two would relocate the fields to the 11 acres farther down School Street on the former poultry plant property. That phase would require additional funding, which presenters said they hoped would be a grant.
Several questions and concerns were raised by board members and members of the public, including how the school building, in particular the area of the new gym, would be protected as the elevation is very close to the fields. There were also questions on the impact on athletes and spectators if the fields were relocated, how it would be funded and who would own the land and who would be liable for it.
Presenters said that many of the details would still need to be worked out, but assured those in attendance that no plans would put the building in more danger of flooding. They also said that if the district is not comfortable with phase two, it would not move forward. Phase one will offer some mitigation, but phase two would add further protection. The slides from the presentation are available on the district Simbli site.
Following the grant presentation, Interim School Business Official Kathy Blackman offered an update on the preliminary budget.
The preliminary 2026-27 budget is at $34.2 million, a 6.58% increase over the current year, with a $669,579, or 4.48%, tax levy increase, which is at the tax levy limit. The district is expecting $16.3 million total in state aid, an increase of 11% over current year. Going into the meeting, the preliminary budget had a $1.2 million budget gap.
The preliminary budget included the reduction of seven positions previously announced, and the district is still exploring all options to close the gap.
Interim Superintendent Keith Lewis emphasized that student education is the priority. There is plans for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) enrichment program instituted next year at the elementary school, and electives at the middle and high school will be based on student interest.
The budget presentation is available on the Simbli site
The preliminary budget will be presented to the board at a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 21. The proposed budget adopted by the board will go before voters on May 19, with voting from noon to 8 p.m. in the new gyms at the Rockland Middle/High School in Livingston Manor and at Rockland Elementary in Roscoe. There will be a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. May 5 at the Livingston Manor building.