A Message from Dr. Villanueva: Regarding the May 19 Budget Vote Results

Dear Eastchester Families, Faculty, and Community Members,

I want to personally thank every member of our Eastchester community who has supported our schools throughout this budget process. On May 19, our community made its voice heard at the ballot box, and the proposed 2026–2027 school budget was not approved.

To our parents, staff, PTA leaders, and community members, thank you for caring deeply about our students and believing in the work we are trying to accomplish on their behalf.

Everybody processes in different ways, and I know that our community members have a range of emotions and reactions today—from worry and disappointment to anticipation regarding the next steps of the process.

I have heard from parents, teachers, staff members, and community advocates who are concerned about what this means for our students and our schools, and those feelings are understandable.

What happens next is critically important.

In the coming days, the administrative team, the Board of Education, and I will begin the difficult work of refining a second proposed budget for the 2026–2027 school year. As part of that process, we will need to identify additional and significant reductions in areas where more cuts will be required. At this time, programs will begin to be altered and adjusted to absorb these reductions.

You can count on us to continue communicating openly, honestly, and pragmatically every step of the way, while doing everything in our power to preserve programs, opportunities, and experiences that have been invested in. 

The revised budget will go before voters on Tuesday, June 16.

Now that we are facing our last and final chance to pass this budget, I also need to be candid with our community about the stakes ahead. If the second budget is defeated, the district will be automatically required by the state to operate under a contingency budget next year and we will be required to make an additional $5.24 million in cuts, leading to even more more drastic reductions to staffing, programs, student opportunities, and services across all grade levels. What is certain is that, if we are placed in a contingency budget, the current experience in Eastchester schools will be altered and the impact will be substantial and long-lasting.

Even in this difficult moment, your district leaders remain driven by our vision and commitment to providing the best for our students within the parameters available.

To our PTA organizations, thank you for your advocacy leading up to last night’s vote and your partnership throughout this process. Your commitment to our students and schools is clear and I know that our community is grateful for all you have done to support Eastchester students and schools.

I would also like to commend our faculty and staff who show up every day for children, even during moments of uncertainty. Their professionalism, resilience, and dedication to students remain the foundation of this district.

I continue to believe deeply in what we can accomplish together. Eastchester has always been a community that rises to challenges, supports its children, and works together in difficult moments. That spirit and drive matters now more than ever.

As we move into this next phase, I ask our community to stay engaged, stay informed, and continue advocating for the future of our schools and our students.

Together—and one step at a time—we continue working toward our shared vision: Four Campuses, Four Pillars, One Goal, Elevate Eastchester.

Yours,

Dr. Villanueva