Update: Voters approve School District’s spending plan for the 2026-27 school year

Islanders showed appreciation for their school Tuesday night, passing the district budget by a vote of 549 to 256 with one blank ballot.

It was a long, slow night for school officials, with polls closing at 8 p.m. but the counting of 806 paper ballots stretching on for two-and-a-half hours before tension could give way to sighs of relief when they heard the numbers represented a 68% approval rating for the $13.57 million budget.

Because the district had pierced the State’s mandated 2% tax cap on new spending over the previous budget, a 60% approval from voters was needed to secure the win.

Three candidates ran unopposed for the Board of Education. Anthony Rando secured 682 votes to win a second three-year term, while Dawn Hedberg, who received 605 votes, was also re-elected. Silvani, a newcomer to the Board of Education, garnered 641 votes in her first bid for a Board seat. There were a lot of write-in votes, including one for School Nurse Mary Kanarvogel, a beloved figure among students, colleagues and the wider community.

“We deeply appreciate the trust placed in the district as we work to balance fiscal responsibility with maintaining the high quality educational opportunities our students deserve,” said Superintendent Brian Doelger, Ed.D. He thanked the Shelter Island community for its strong support and continued commitment to students and the school.

During budget workshops, Mr. Doelger told the community if they passed the budget for the 2026-27 school year, they could expect budgets that would not pierce the tax cap for at least 10 years.

“The continued support of our community allows Shelter Island to provide exceptional academic opportunities, keep innovative programs and sustain the outstanding level of achievement consistently demonstrated by our students and staff,” he said.

Board President Kathleen Lynch said the win reflects “the true spirit of Shelter Island — people who believe our children are worth investing in.  I’m so grateful to everyone who showed up for them.”

The Board’s newest member, Laurene Silvani, said she’s honored and excited to be elected.

“Public schools shape not only academic success but the strength and future of our entire community,” Ms. Silvani said. She said she’s looking forward to working collaboratively with her Board colleagues, students, families and educators to support opportunities that help every student thrive. “I’m grateful for the trust placed in me and eager to listen, learn and contribute in a meaningful way.

Mr. Rando said he is pleased to continue to work with the Board for a second term to achieve goals that will benefit students.

Approval of the budget means the Pre-K3 program that had to be dropped for the current year can be restored.

Community members joined Board members, operators of the Early Childhood Learning Center, the members of the Presbyterian Church and Town officials in cobbling together a program that would allow working parents of 3-year olds to benefit from an ongoing program this year. But for financial reasons, it was a solution that could not have been sustained for another year if the budget had failed.

District officials are still awaiting a state budget, hoping they will benefit from more basic foundation aid than proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and as much as $100,000 to offset costs of its Pre-K4 program.