On Tuesday, May 20, Hammond CSD residents voted to approve the district’s proposed $10.27 million budget for the 2025-26 school year that carries a 3.65% tax levy increase and a 5.01% spending increase compared to the current year.
The proposed $10.27 million budget focuses on supporting the district’s mission to build each student’s self-esteem, love for learning, and academic, physical, and artistic skills. The budget will strive to achieve this through curriculum enhancements like increasing the number of advanced courses being offered, adding new electives for grades 7-12, and utilizing the Science of Reading based instruction for grades UPK-8.
“It is affirming to see that our Hammond community is supportive of our school district's proposed plans,” said Superintendent Lauren Morley. “The Hammond Central School District is committed to providing students with as many opportunities as possible and our 2025-26 budget will allow us to do just that. The Board of Education and our administrative team are grateful for this vote of confidence from the people we serve.”
There was one seat on the board of education on the ballot. The community voted for Allen Howie to fill the seat. The seat carries a 5-year term.
The community voted to approve the transportation proposal on the ballot. This will allow the district to purchase one 60-passenger diesel powered school bus for $185,000, one large passenger vehicle to not exceed $90,000, and a truck with a plow not to exceed $70,000. This totals to $345,000.