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Superintendent's Budget Message

Dear Mount Pleasant Central School District Residents,

Last night, the Board of Education adopted the Proposed 2026-2027 Budget, which is tax-cap compliant, in the amount of $82,851,333. It results in an estimated 2.18% increase in the tax rate, which is lower than this year’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase of 2.63%. This is an estimated annual tax increase of $272.51, based on an average assessment of $8,500. Importantly, the proposed levy falls short of the allowable tax cap by more than $691,000, reflecting the district's continued commitment to responsible fiscal management. The 2026-2027 proposal marks the 15th consecutive year in which the Mount Pleasant Central School District has presented a budget in compliance with the state-mandated tax cap legislation and the first time we have presented a budget below the allowable tax cap. 

The operational budget has been constructed to align with our values. With student achievement, wellness, and safety serving as our fundamental principles, this budget has been developed in accordance with our Strategic Plan and the Portrait of a Mount Pleasant Learner framework. Each allocation is designed to support student success, fostering confidence that the district prioritizes educational excellence and well-being while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

In developing the 2026-2027 budget, particular emphasis was placed on the following domains: instructional programming, safety and security, professional development, student wellness, and facilities management. Significant budgetary provisions include:

  • Continued implementation of literacy and math initiatives that are already showing results. Data from our newly implemented literacy programs show reading gains across every grade level from kindergarten through fifth grade, and sixth graders using Eureka Math² improved their proficiency from 65% to 71% in a single year.
  • Expansion of the Foreign Language in Elementary Schools (FLES) program to grades K-2 at Hawthorne, building on the current program in grades 3-5, along with the introduction of Personal Finance Education at the middle and high school levels.
  • Additional sections of Algebra, Biology, and Spanish at Westlake Middle School to accommodate a large cohort and support smaller class sizes in 8th grade.
  • Launch of Syracuse University Project Advance dual enrollment courses at Westlake High School, giving students access to transferable college credit.
  • Establishment of The Harbor, a new structured support program at the Westlake campus for middle and high school students experiencing emotional challenges, keeping them engaged in meaningful academic work with appropriate guidance.
  • Continuation of our shared School Resource Officer with the Town of Mt. Pleasant, full-time security coordinator, and ongoing implementation of long-term safety audit recommendations, including expanded cameras, 30 additional radios, formalized threat assessment teams, an additional security officer, and a new security booth at the Westlake campus entrance.
  • Construction is underway at Hawthorne Elementary and Westlake High School, modernizing libraries, science labs, makerspaces, arts spaces, and a new engineering lab, with classroom additions at both Hawthorne and Columbus and ventilation upgrades across the district.
  • Finalization of an Energy Performance Contract to bring air cooling to Westlake Middle School through solar-generated energy savings, and capital fund investments to complete the Career Research Academy space and address emerging health and safety needs.

Detailed budget materials, voting procedures, and information about Board of Education candidates will be available on our Budget Website.

Please remember to vote on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the Westlake High School gymnasium. Polling hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For absentee and early mail-voter ballot information, please visit the budget section of the website at www.mtplcsd.org/board-of-education/budget. Please contact our District Clerk, Mary Beth Mancuso, at 914-769-5500, ext. 5105, or mbmancuso@mtplcsd.org . Completed absentee ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on May 19,  2026.

Thank you for your continued support of our schools!

With best regards,

Dr. Peter Giarrizzo
Superintendent of Schools