Rockland Schools Brace for Deficit as Budget Season Begins
RHS Math Curriculum Heads to Town Meeting
ROCKLAND - February 9, 2026 - The Rockland School Committee approved a new high school math curriculum and honored a decade of service from its retiring facilities head on Monday night. However, the meeting was underscored by a sobering report from Superintendent Dr. Alan Cron, who warned that the district is entering another “tight budget year” with an expected deficit, describing the schools as a “delicate ecosystem” that administrators are working to trim without causing lasting damage.
The Full Story
The Rockland School Committee moved forward with a significant educational investment during its Monday session, holding a second reading and granting final approval for a new Rockland High School math curriculum. The proposal, which utilizes Pearson materials, replaces a decade-old system that officials described as increasingly “obsolete” in its presentation and utility. [00:53]
Assistant Superintendent Jane Hackett clarified that the curriculum update is being treated as a capital project. The district has already presented the request to the Capital Planning Committee, seeking to fund the purchase using “free cash” at the upcoming Town Meeting in May. [01:06] While the committee unanimously approved the proposal, Chair Jill Maroney noted that the implementation remains “fingers crossed” pending the town’s financial approval this spring. [01:15]
The fiscal reality of the district took center stage during Superintendent Dr. Alan Cron’s report. Following the release of the Governor’s budget, Dr. Cron informed the committee that Rockland is facing another difficult financial cycle. He noted that while the specific “number” for the school’s allocation is not yet finalized, the administration has already begun communicating with principals, department heads, and teachers to prepare for a lean year. [02:43]
“We are a delicate ecosystem... It’s very difficult when you build a team and you build a system to think of ways to trim it without hurting it.” [03:46] — Dr. Alan Cron, Superintendent
Dr. Cron expressed gratitude for the collaboration with Town Hall, specifically Town Administrator Doug Lapp, but did not sugarcoat the difficulty of the task ahead. He emphasized that after several years of “reallocation and adjustment,” further cuts become increasingly risky for the district’s operations. [03:31]
The meeting also served as a bittersweet farewell to Mark Shom, Rockland’s Head of Maintenance and Facilities, who is retiring after 10 years. Dr. Cron credited Shom with saving the town “millions of dollars” by acting as an internal project manager during major school building projects. [04:46] Assistant Superintendent Hackett added that Shom viewed his role as a form of “service to Rockland,” often performing critical maintenance tasks without seeking recognition. [06:10]
In other business, the committee approved two new fundraisers: a Domino’s “Dining for a Cause” event for the Middle School PAC and a Hilliard’s Chocolates sale to support the 8th-grade trip to Philadelphia. [01:54]
Why It Matters
For Rockland residents and taxpayers, the meeting highlights a dual challenge: the necessity of maintaining modern educational standards—such as the new math curriculum—while navigating a structural budget deficit. The decision to fund the $100,000+ curriculum via free cash is an attempt to modernize classrooms without further straining the operating budget. However, Dr. Cron’s warning of a “tight budget year” suggests that the district may face difficult decisions regarding staffing or programs when the final budget is presented to Town Meeting in May.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To approve the Rockland High School math curriculum proposal. [01:44]
Vote: Unanimous ([01:50])
Motion: To approve the request for Middle School PAC and 8th-grade fundraisers. [02:14]
Vote: Unanimous ([02:20])
Public Comment
No formal public comments were made during this session, though the committee recognized the upcoming “Rockland’s Got Talent” fundraiser as a major point of community engagement. [10:02]
What’s Next
February 11, 2026: “Rockland’s Got Talent” fundraiser at 7:00 PM to support the music and WRPS scholarship funds. [10:08]
February 16-20, 2026: February Vacation; schools closed. [08:31]
March 2, 2026: Phelps Elementary Family Night. [09:38]
March 3-4, 2026: Kindergarten pre-registration nights (A-L on March 3rd; M-Z on March 4th). [10:35]
May 2026: Annual Town Meeting, where the math curriculum funding and overall school budget will be decided. [01:06]
Source Video: WRPS Rockland