District News

The Somerset Hills Board of Education met on Saturday, March 15, 2025, for their annual public Budget Retreat and adopted a tentative budget for the 2025-2026 (FY26) school year. In attendance were Board of Education President Sam Frenda, Vice President Heather Santoro and BOE members Bob Baker, Nicole Cooper, Mindy Hoppe, Gaby Gomez, and Pat Wry. Dr. Brian Brotschul, Dr. Coleen Butler, and Ms. Jamie Koransky presented detailed slides, along with input from Interim Business Administrators Ms. Beverly Vlietstra and Ms. Debe Besold.

FY26 Budget highlights:

• Includes a 3.88% tax increase that balances the needs of the taxpayers with the need to balance educational opportunities for the students we serve.

 

• Maintains all current staff positions and class sizes: this is especially important to sustain the integrity of our programming at a time of increasingly challenging economic conditions.

 

• Enhances curriculum in Math, Language Arts, Special Education, Bilingual Education, and certain College Board (“AP”) courses; supports professional development.

 

• Maintains transportation for (Bernardsville) students living on hazardous routes.

 

• Introduces a Bilingual teacher in Grade 1 at Bedwell.

 

• Honors our community engagement work with stakeholders who have children qualifying for Special Education or 504 services due to a disability.  The FY26 budget has an additional Special Education teacher at Bedwell, a Behaviorist dedicated to the District, but focused at Bedwell, and increases our District coverage for our Child Study Teams by adding a team member to assist with duties connected to Special Education services as well as supporting mental health initiatives and student support.

 

• Enhances safety and security measures by investing in our door sensors and wiring for security hardware at all District schools.

 

• Supports the onboarding and unveiling of a new website coming in August.

 

• Supports maintenance and upkeep of our facilities: Audio upgrades in the Performing Arts Center; a new stage curtain; and retaining wall maintenance.

 

• Dedicates full funding for the installation of LED lights on Olcott Field in the Summer of 2025.

 

• Implements the first year of a two-year plan to replace six tennis courts at the Polo Grounds in the Summer of 2026.

Shared at the March 15th public meeting was this Budget Retreat slide deck that can be found along with other information on the district's website. Dr. Brotschul also spoke to numerous budget slides at the March 19th regular Board of Education meeting.

There will be a BOE Special Meeting on March 25th at 6:00 pm in the Bernards High School Community Room. Topics will include the Long-Range Facility Plan and a Referendum discussion. Additionally, the Board will host a Budget Hearing on April 30th at 7:30 pm, in the Bernards High School Community Room. All are welcome to attend!