By EMILIA TEASDALE
KINDERHOOK—The Ichabod Crane Board of Education held a celebration in recognition of school-based volunteers and organizations before their regular board meeting on April 9. At the meeting the board accepted the resignations for the purpose of retirement of several longtime teachers. Some are retiring at the end of this school year and some next year.
The groups recognized before the meeting included TEMPO (which supports the performing arts in the school), the PTA, Booster Club and the school’s Package Program. “We thank them all,” Superintendent Marie Digirolamo said during the meeting.
The board also reviewed the proposed budget numbers for the 2024-25 school year. The board plans to adopt the proposed budget at a special meeting on April 22 before it goes to voters for approval on May 21. The board looked at revenues and appropriations which are both about $50 million, though currently there is a deficit of $557,864, which the district has plans to close. The presentation with a break down of the numbers is on the district website at www.ichabodcrane.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/April-9-2024-Budget-Presentation.pdf
During the presentation to the board, both Superintendent Digirolamo and District Business Manager Michael Brennan mentioned that at that time the final state aid numbers were not available, so they used what Mr. Brennan called “the mid-range” numbers of about $12 million in the calculations, but it could be different once the state budget is finalized.
The special meeting to adopt the Ichabod Crane school budget will be at 7 p.m. on April 22 in the high school library and there will be a public hearing before the regular board meeting on May 7 at 7 p.m.
The board also awarded tenure to several staff members at the meeting, including Assistant Superintendent Lucas Christensen. The other staff receiving tenure were Katherine Gardner, Andrea Phillips, Nicholas Spanswick, David Manarel, Courtney White and Rebecca Wiseman.
In 2024, the teachers retiring include elementary school teachers Christine Cox-Hughes and Elisabeth Milot; special education teacher Jacquelyn Purificato; and English teacher Stephen Werthner. The board also accepted the retirements of cleaners Richard Hempler and William Bryant; bus driver Lori Creeron; and cook Joyce Hoffman.
In 2025, the teachers retiring include physical education teachers Daniel Funk and Daniel Cremo; elementary school teachers Terri LaBrie, Stephanie Bell, Kathleen Balstad, Michele Carey, and Karen Seymourian; and Theresa Longhi, ESL teacher.
When retirements and tenure announcements end up on the same board meeting agenda, Superintendent Digirolamo said it feels like the “passing of a torch” and she offered her congratulations to both groups.
The next regular board meeting will be May 7 at 7 p.m. in the high school library.
For more information about the district go to www.ichabodcrane.org
To contact reporter Emilia Teasdale email eteasdale@columbiapaper.com
