May 13, 2026 – Regular Meeting

The Hackensack Public Schools Board of Education held a regular meeting on May 13, 2026, focusing heavily on budgetary challenges and their impact on school programs and staffing. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing reductions in athletic programs, including the elimination of freshman sports in some cases and cuts to coaching staff and supply budgets. The board also addressed the outsourcing of special education related services, which sparked extensive public comment expressing concern about the loss of in-house staff, the impact on student services, and the financial implications of outsourcing. The board announced the creation of a new in-house general counsel position aimed at reducing legal expenses by an estimated $200,000 to $250,000 annually. The state had recently approved the district's budget, allowing the district to avoid state monitoring, but the board acknowledged the difficult cuts and committed to developing a comprehensive plan for the 2026-2027 school year to restore programs and staffing over time. Community members and staff urged the board to consider alternative solutions and emphasized the importance of transparency and collaboration moving forward.