Kingston City School District board votes to abolish positions as part of 2026–27 budget plan

The Kingston City School District Board of Education approved two resolutions on [the special meeting date] to abolish a set of district positions the administration said were necessary to close a projected gap in the 2026–27 budget.

District administrator Dr. Padalino told trustees the figure on the ballot is a single spending limit voters will approve and that the proposed budget addresses a roughly 14% drop in student enrollment since 2019–20. He described proposed workforce reductions that would reduce 21 Kingston Teachers Federation positions (12 layoffs, nine attrition), cut 18 ESP/teacher assistant positions (9 layoffs, 9 attrition) and reduce central administration by four positions (one layoff, three attrition). He also noted a plan to return several students from out-of-district placements as a cost-saving measure, estimating about $5.8 million in savings that the administration expects to partly reinvest in behavioral specialists and teacher training.

"Voters are voting on this number. That's what's on the ballot," Dr. Padalino said, explaining the distinction between the ballot total and the budget's line items. He warned that the budget relies in part on using reserves — roughly $12 million in this proposal — and that a failed budget vote would restrict the district's spending authority and require additional cuts or service limitations.

Trustees pressed administration on specifics. Several asked how reductions would affect reading and literacy services, summer school and bilingual programming. Trustee Ms. Kearns, who announced she would vote no, said she could not support abolishing positions tied to student guidance, ELA and reading instruction. "For me, that means I cannot support the abolition of positions connected to student guidance, ELA, and reading instruction specifically," Kearns said.

Other trustees argued the administration's cuts were a difficult but necessary step to align recurring expenses with projected revenues. Trustee Mr. Mann said acting now would allow affected employees to seek other employment sooner; Trustee Mr. Spicer and others said the proposed cuts had been developed thoughtfully and that postponing action would merely delay an unavoidable reckoning if state aid does not increase.

The board considered BOE 45, a resolution to abolish the positions presented by the administration effective 06/30/2026. After discussion, the board conducted a roll-call vote; trustees recorded six votes in favor and one opposed, and the chair announced BOE 45 passed. The board then considered BOE 46 to abolish the assistant superintendent for human resources and public relations position effective 07/31/2026; trustees voted to approve BOE 46.

The administration said officials would reexamine service delivery and potentially call back staff if revenues or needs change. Dr. Padalino said some of the ARPA-funded positions added during the pandemic became ongoing costs and that reimagining central-office responsibilities would be part of the work going forward.

The meeting closed after trustees discussed whether to move certain follow-up conversations into an executive session and then voted to adjourn. The administration will submit the budget to the state and the district will hold a budget vote as scheduled.

Votes at a glance:
BOE 45 — Resolution to abolish listed positions effective 06/30/2026: Approved (roll-call recorded six yes, one no; resolution declared passed by chair).
BOE 46 — Resolution to abolish assistant superintendent for human resources and public relations effective 07/31/2026: Approved (roll-call recorded support from trustees present; chair declared approved).

What’s next: The administration must file the budget with the state by the deadline; the public budget vote remains scheduled and the board said further implementation details and staffing impacts will be refined if the budget is approved or revenue conditions change.