LIVERPOOL, NY – The Liverpool Central School District Board of Education voted Monday evening to adopt a $128.6 million budget for the upcoming school year, a spending plan Superintendent James Malizia says protects classroom instruction despite rising costs. The board voted 6-2 to approve the final spending plan for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Board Members Nicholas Blaney and Kimberly Martin cast the dissenting votes. The budget will now go before voters on May 19, 2026. "We have arrived at a budget that is responsible to the taxpayer while maintaining the integrity of our educational programs," Malizia said during the meeting. The proposed budget carries a tax levy increase of 2.4%, which is exactly at the district’s maximum allowable tax levy limit under the state’s tax cap calculation. For a homeowner with an average property assessment of $150,000 in the town of Salina, this would result in an estimated tax increase of approximately $65 per year. The spending plan accounts for a significant increase in state aid, though district officials noted that rising costs in special education, healthcare for employees, and mandated academic interventions consumed much of that additional revenue. In a significant shift to daily operations, the Board approved a new transportation bell schedule aimed at addressing bus driver shortages and improving student sleep habits. Under the new plan, which takes effect in September 2026, Liverpool High School will start at 8:20 a.m., pushing the start time back by 35 minutes. Currently, the high school begins at 7:45 a.m. The elementary schools will move to a 9:20 a.m. start time. "The research is clear regarding the benefits of later start times for adolescent mental health and academic performance," said District Administrator Mark Potter. "Logistically, this also allows us to stagger routes more efficiently with our current fleet." The decision followed a presentation on the "Life Skills" program, a new vocational track approved for the next school year designed for students not planning to attend four-year colleges. The Board also authorized the purchase of 40 new 72-passenger school buses. The contract, awarded to Farber Bus Sales, comes with a price tag not to exceed $3.8 million. The purchase will be financed through a five-year bond, officials said. Personnel matters dominated the latter half of the meeting. The Board accepted the retirement notices of eight tenured teachers and four support staff members, all effective June 30, 2026. The departures are expected to save the district roughly $600,000 in salary and benefits, though Superintendent Malizia indicated that not all positions would be refilled. "We are looking at our enrollment trends and right-sizing our staffing accordingly," Malizia said. "We are currently projecting a decline of 150 students over the next five years." In a unanimous vote, the Board appointed Dr. Sarah Jenkins as the new Director of Special Education. Jenkins comes to Liverpool from the Baldwinsville district and will begin her tenure on July 1. With the budget adoption complete, the district will now prepare for the public vote on May 19. Polls will be open at Liverpool High School from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Liverpool Board of Education is scheduled for May 11 at 5:45 p.m. in the District Office.