March 21, 2025

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Benjamin Franklin

Dear Fair Lawn School Community,

We are pleased to share many highlights of our 2025-2026 Preliminary Budget. This Budget was presented to the Board of Education on March 13, 2025, and it was adopted on March 18, 2025. The Budget represents a thoughtful balance between educational excellence and fiscal responsibility—upholding our commitment that “the leaders of tomorrow attend Fair Lawn Schools today.”

Budget Priorities

Our proposed Budget focuses on strategic investments in several key areas:

• Maintaining academic excellence through curriculum enhancements and educational resources
• Supporting student well-being through continued mental health initiatives
• Investing in our facilities with necessary capital improvements
• Enhancing technology infrastructure and cybersecurity measures
• Addressing enrollment needs with targeted staffing additions

Key Highlights

• Total General Fund Budget: $138,074,188 (1.12% increase from the previous year)
• Tax Impact: For the average homeowner with a property assessed at $338,016, this represents a $10.19 monthly increase ($122.25 annually)—a 1.60% increase, which is below our 10-year average of 1.81%
• Strategic Staffing: Addition of an elementary teacher, a high school counselor, a district behaviorist, and a high school science teacher to address enrollment and IEP requirements
• Capital & Maintenance Improvements: $5.6 million designated for essential facility upgrades throughout all schools, including playground replacements, HVAC systems, and facility renovations
• Educational Resources: Enhanced literacy screening tools, updated textbooks, technology support, and professional development initiatives

Fiscal Responsibility

Our district experienced a reduction in state aid amounting to $674,116. We have worked diligently to identify fiscal efficiencies without compromising educational quality amounting to nearly $792,000. These efficiencies include specific reductions in staffing that do not impact teaching and learning to maintain the quality of education our community has come to expect to serve our students. Additionally, we’ve preserved $3.4 million in banked cap, providing flexibility for future budgets. Compared to similar K-12 districts in Bergen County with over 3,500 students, Fair Lawn ranks 6th out of 8 districts in per-pupil expenditure at $20,274, demonstrating our commitment to substantial educational value while maintaining cost efficiency.

Next Steps

We invite you to learn more about the annual school budget process by reviewing our complete budget presentation and watching the video of our presentation. Following a public hearing, the final budget adoption is scheduled for April 24, 2025.

We want to thank our Board of Education, administrative team, educators, staff, and community for your ongoing support and collaboration. Together, we continue to create educational opportunities that prepare our students for success in an ever-changing world.

All my best,

Dr. Rui Dionisio

Superintendent of Schools

Read more in the Superintendent’s Corner Column here.