The budget failed, but only barely. The proposed 2026–27 budget was voted down by a margin of about two points. 49% in favor, 51% against. Because the budget didn't pass, the district now faces a choice under state law. It can put a budget to a second public vote, or it can adopt what's called a contingency budget, which caps the tax levy and forces spending cuts. If a district holds a second vote and that also fails, it must move to a contingency budget. The board accepted the results and did not lay out which path it will take at this meeting.

Voters approved the buses. Even as they rejected the overall budget, voters said yes to the separate $420,000 proposition to buy two new diesel buses. Because the state reimburses roughly 90% of bus purchases, most of that cost comes back to the district. The two questions were on the ballot independently, so this one stands regardless of what happens with the budget.

Three board seats were decided. Three seats drew four candidates this year. Voters returned Jeff DeMatteis to a five-year term and elected Suzanne Carvelli and Rocky Capponi to three-year terms, all beginning July 1. Carvelli, a longtime member, was recognized at the same meeting for 15 years of board service. Capponi is new to the board.

An outside review of special education. The district shared findings from a diagnostic review of its special education program, conducted with an outside partner. The review found that the department is stretched thin and too centralized, and it flagged that students with disabilities are suspended at disproportionate rates. This is an issue the district is already under a state corrective plan to address. About a quarter of Rome's students have special education plans, roughly double the national benchmark of 10%, though in line with New York State. The reviewers also found the district offers an unusually rich range of services that families actively seek out. Their main recommendation is to spread special education expertise across all nine schools so support is more consistent and proactive.

About 30 educators earned tenure. Before the meeting, the district held a ceremony recognizing roughly 30 staff members who reached tenure this year, building on the group approved earlier in the month. Several board members were also honored with state recognition awards for their work on board governance, including one member marking 15 years of service.

Routine business. The board approved a couple of overnight trips, accepted a college affiliation agreement, extended one teacher's probationary period, and set a combined audit and finance committee meeting for mid-June.