Ichabod presents $50 million proposed budget for 2024-25

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By EMILIA TEASDALE
KINDERHOOK—The Ichabod Crane Board of Education held a public hearing for their proposed 2024-25 budget of $50,187,013 on May 7 at 7 p.m. before the regular board meeting. The budget is a 3.29% increase from last year, about $1.5 million, and the tax levy increase is 2.95%, which is below the state tax cap.

District Business Manager Michael Brennan said that residents will be voting on “the educational spending plan” on May 21. Polls are open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the High School Gymnasium on Route 9. There is information on registering to vote and absentee ballots on the district website at www.ichabodcrane.org/district/budget/

Voters will also be approving the purchase of five school buses, and the approval of a student representative to take a seat on the board as a non-voting member. A bus purchase proposal is on the ballot every year. The approval of the student members is on the ballot every two years.

There are also now four open seats on the board to be filled. Megan Pelizza resigned from the board after the deadline for petitions for the board candidates to be on the ballot, so one of the open seats will be filled by a write-in candidate. As for Ms. Pelizza’s resignation, Board President Matthew Nelson said it was an “unexpected departure,” and thanked her for her year of service on the board.

There are three candidates who handed in their petitions to be on the ballot. Those candidates include one current board member, Anne Schaefer, and two newcomers, Valerie Spensieri and Cal Waits. The three highest vote-getters will fill full three-year terms on the board, currently held by Ms. Schaefer, Jennifer Allard and Jared Widjeskog, starting in July. The fourth highest vote-getter will finish out Ms. Pelizza’s term, which will be for two-years and starts after the election.

After no comments from the public, the board closed the budget hearing at 7:13 p.m.

During the regular meeting, the board discussed new and updated policies presented by the policy committee and heard from each building principal about the recent Climate Survey filled out by students, staff and parents. Board President Matthew Nelson, reporting for the facilities committee, said the committee is working with engineering firm CS Arch on a new capital improvement project proposal for late 2025.

Superintendent Marie Digirolamo announced that Ichabod Crane High School has been named a U.S. News Best High School. She offered, on behalf of herself and the board, “thanks and appreciation to every person who contributed to that recognition” at the meeting.

In an email to the school community on April 26, Superintendent Digirolamo explained, “In the 2024 Best High School rankings released this week by U.S. News, our High School achieved high national and metro-area rankings. By earning a national ranking in the top 40%, Ichabod Crane High School achieved status as a U.S. News Best High School.”

She also wrote, “Day in and day out, our entire Rider community – including our dedicated faculty and staff, students, parents/families, Board of Education and community members – come together to prioritize our students’ academic, social and emotional success.”

During the board meeting, board member Jennifer Allard noted the ranking and the 98% graduation rate this year. Ms. Allard pointed out that it was Teacher Application week and thanked the teachers for “all your service.”

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