Voters of the Rye City School District overwhelmingly approved the $113.2 million school budget Tuesday night.
The final unofficial tallies saw the school budget pass by a more than 4-to-1 margin. In total, 765 voters approved it, while just 158 voted it down as backers cheered the results inside the Rye Middle School gymnasium.
Jane Anderson, the Board of Education president, and Jenn Boyle, the board’s vice president, also won new three-year terms in uncontested elections on Tuesday.
Marking a 2.45 percent increase over the current budget, the 2025–2026 school plan will maintain all existing district programs and services. It introduces four new staff positions, with one reduction due to retirement.
The new budget, which goes into effect on July 1, will usher in two new high school teachers for the much-anticipated International Baccalaureate (IB) program, a districtwide director of school counseling, and a custodian for the new wings at Midland and Osborn.
With the passage of the budget, the district will now be able to expand and further enhance the climate and culture inside the school buildings, according to Board of Education President Jane Anderson.
“We look forward to the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Diploma … and the work of the Director of School Guidance and Student Wellness,” she added.
One physical education position will be cut following a retirement.
The budget also funds several capital improvements, including upgraded theatrical lighting and audio systems at the middle and high school auditoriums, repairs to the high school gym floor, new flooring in several music rooms, a new cafeteria roof at Osborn School, and updated communication technology at both Midland and Osborn schools.
To support the plan, the tax levy will rise by 3.66 percent, requiring $102.3 million to be collected through property taxes.
Salaries and benefits remain the largest portion of the 2025–2026 budget, accounting for about 75%, or $85.4 million. That number is an increase of $1.7 million over the current year’s budget.
Health insurance premiums are also projected to rise by nine percent in the new budget.
The budget, which was presented by outgoing Schools Superintendent Eric Byrne in February, was unanimously adopted by the Board of Education at their April 8 meeting before it went to a vote on Tuesday.
Byrne is set to retire at the end of June. The Board of Education has appointed Patricia Murray, the current assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment, to replace Byrne in July.
This story was last updated at 11:45 a.m. on May 21.
