On May 19, the Port Washington Union Free School District’s 2026–2027 budget passed, along with two crucial capital improvement propositions.  This passing ensures that Port Washington’s public schools will continue to operate from a position of strength, preserving the impressive academic and extracurricular opportunities that define the district’s schools and its community.

“I think this is a really good thing for our school and I support this decision very strongly because I think funding the school is really important so we all have a good experience and can learn a lot,” said sophomore Leo Raber.

The new budget ensures that extracurricular activities and high quality education will continue.  By passing this budget, the community has provided a firm financial foundation that allows teachers, counselors, and administrators to focus entirely on their primary mission: educating Port Washington students.

“I really think that it is so important that this vote got passed and I am thankful every year because it ensures that I have access to a good education and to extracurricular activities. These are really important to me because I am able to do things I enjoy at school which enhances my education,” said sophomore Jed Michael Mallari.

For students, the impact of this vote will be felt right at the start of the 2026-2027 school year.  It guarantees the preservation of small class sizes, allowing for individualized attention and support.  It also protects electives, advanced placement (AP) and honors classes, and opportunities in the arts and music programs that allow students to discover and develop their passions.  Furthermore, the funding secures resources for mental health support, reading specialists, and special education services, maintaining the district’s commitment to excellence and support for every student, each of whom has different needs.

While the main budget handles education, Propositions 2 and 3, which were also passed, focus on the physical environments where learning takes place.  The passing of the Repair Reserve and the Facilities Improvement Program represents a major victory for long-term success and improvements to Port Washington schools.

In a public school system, building maintenance is an ongoing challenge.  Aging infrastructure, outdated heating and cooling systems, and evolving security requires constant attention.  However, by authorizing the creation and funding of a dedicated Repair Reserve, there is now an emergency account for the district’s physical spaces.  This measure ensures that if a structural issue arises mid-year, administrators can address the crisis immediately, without dipping into instructional funds or forcing an emergency tax levy on the public.

“I’m really thankful that the people voted to make sure this proposition passed because some of my classrooms can be very uncomfortable when it’s really hot or cold out. This makes sure that our learning environment is better and we won’t have to worry about weather affecting our education or activities,” said sophomore Hyunmin Lee.

Simultaneously, the approval of the Facilities Improvement Program sets the stage for modernization across the district, providing dedicated funding to ensure that vital repairs are completed in order to improve all Port Washington’s schools.  The community’s desire for stability and continuity was displayed in the Board of Education trustee elections, as incumbent trustees Julie Epstein and Rachel Gilliar were both ran unopposed and re-elected to their seats on the board.