HUDSON–The temporary closing of the elementary school’s auditorium, the initiation of two-year kindergarten, and the presentation of a children’s book written by a relative of a former member of the Hudson City School District Board of Education highlighted that Board’s meeting August 20.
Schools Superintendent Maria L. Suttmeier announced that the Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School will not use its auditorium until mid-November. Its old seats have been removed and will be replaced. But before the new seats come, the auditorium must undergo asbestos abatement and painting.
After the new seats are delivered, Dr. Suttmeier said she expects the contractor to finish installing them by mid-November. The District has also ordered new audiovisual equipment.
In addition, Dr. Suttmeier said, kindergarten screening has identified between 12 and 15 students for the district’s first two-year kindergarten program. The class will be the first year of two years of kindergarten for children judged to need more than one year to prepare for 1st grade. At one time, the district was also planning to have a second year class of two-year kindergarten this year but decided to hold off for next year.
Also at the meeting, Joseph Carr, who served on the board in 2013-2014 and has come to several meetings as a member of the public since, distributed a children’s book written by his sister-in-law, Sharon Patterson Carr. He distributed the copies in order to encourage the board to add it to the elementary school library. The book, “A Woodchuck Could,” is about woodchucks, the Civil War and honoring its soldiers including those buried at Hudson’s Cedar Park Cemetery.
In other business:
• Assistant Superintendent April Prestipino reported “the kids looked like they were having a great time,” when she saw Camp Invention on its last day. The week-long camp had about 80 students, four teachers, and two directors
• Ms. Prestipino announced that “We have more than anticipated” from certain state grants and care will be taken to ensure the district uses the money in the best way.
The next meeting of the Hudson City School District Board of Education will take place Tuesday, September 3 at 6:30 p.m., in the Hudson High School library.
