Gail N. Howes (1942 – 2025)

By EMILIA TEASDALE

KINDERHOOK—The Ichabod Crane Board of Education heard an updated budget presentation at their regular board meeting on April 8. District Business Manager Michael Brennan reported that with new cuts made, the deficit in the proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year, which was at first around $2 million, is now down to about $227,000. He told the board that they are in “striking distance” of closing this gap. The district is still waiting for final state aid numbers.

Mr. Brennan said the district had just received the final health insurance numbers for employees, which was a large part of the deficit, but that the state budget was still not final at the time of their meeting. “Things that are still up in the air,” he said.

In this third draft of the proposed budget the appropriations were at about $51.2 million and $51 million in revenues.

Superintendent Marie Digirolamo said the budget needed to be “ultra-efficient” and the administrator’s work is to “right size.” The district which is planning for 11 retirements and an expected decrease in enrollment. But she also pointed out that there is a greater need for special education and they do not want to cut programming.

“If it’s any consolation, we are in good company across the region,” she told the board, pointing out that all of the neighboring school districts are struggling with these issues as well.

Mr. Brennan said that some of additional modifications made in this third round of the budget included looking at not replacing a 4th grade teacher position due to retirements, and not replacing some retiring TA positions as well an art teacher. There are cuts in the summer school program and reductions of some purchases from BOCES.

Superintendent Digirolamo said that she, Mr. Brennan and District Treasurer Mena Mazure went through the budget “line by line” looking at the “places in the budget where we can reduce with minimal impact to student programming.” All the places they were worried about getting cut, like art programs, are maintained, she said.

The final presentation of the budget is April 22 at 7 p.m. in the high school library. At that meeting the board will approve the proposed general budget and the Questar III BOCES budget. There will be a budget hearing May 7 and the budget vote and school board member election is May 20.

Information on the budget presentation is available at www.ichabodcrane.org/district/budget/

Also during the meeting, the board appointed Debra Berndt as interim primary school principal, commencing March 31, and continuing on a per-diem basis to no later than June 30. Ms. Berndt, who at the meeting, said “Thank you everyone for having me.” She is taking over from Principal Andrea Williams.

During the public comment period of the meeting, the board heard from a primary school staff member who questioned the communications about the change in administration. Though she didn’t name the administrator, Crystal Cirillo said the staff was told our “dedicated leader” was out “on leave” and then there was “a total black out of information.” She questioned how the district can afford to pay for an interim principal at this time.

Principal for APPR Tim Farley and High School Principal Craig Shull, saying they were representatives of “our group,” gave the board a letter on the “positive attributes of one of our colleagues.” They did not read the letter out loud.

The board did go into executive session (a closed door session) and returned to an open session to vote to extend the period of administrative paid leave for “employee #2176” pending further action of the board. They did not name the employee.

Also at the meeting:

*The facilities committee reviewed the pros and cons of turf and natural grass fields as part of a possible capital improvement project on the sports fields at their last meeting. Board member Max DiOrio, reporting for the committee, said the “environmental concerns on turf fields are minimal.” They also met with the engineering firm CSArch and Turner Construction about the designs of a health and wellness center, adaptive PE area, large group space for student and community use. The committee is hoping to have the scope of the work ready in June or July. Asking for the funds for the project would have to be voted on by residents in the fall

*The board heard a plan from Girl Scout Troop 1539 advocating for better quality, more age-appropriate feminine hygiene products in the middle school. The troop discovered that there were outdated state regulations that meant they couldn’t replace some of the products. Superintendent Digirolamo said she shared a letter the troop wrote about the issue with all 22 of the superintendents in Questar III BOCES. Seventeen are signing on to the letter. It will be sent to the Office of General Services and, once the budget is settled, to the governor. “It’s really cool, I’m proud of them,” said Middle School Principal Anthony Marturano

*Superintendent Digirolamo reviewed the progress of the committee looking at Safe and Responsible Cell Phone Usage. Information on the report is on the district website. Any change to the district’s current phone policy will have to be approved by the board

*The board accepted the resignations of Terrell McArthur, building mechanic; Michael Walsh, building mechanic; Agnes Kirchner, bus driver; Mary Kapusinsky, art teacher; Joanna Stegman, SEIT teacher; Rudy Butler, cleaner; Tonya Sauca, teacher, Melissa Taylor, monitor, and Naomi Carter, teacher

*The board appointed the following teachers to tenure: Christopher Coffey, Lindsey Porreca, Shane DeCanio, Rachael Imbert, Kristyn McHugh, Tessa Fox-Kondas, Kelly Hindes, Brittany Minotti and Ashley Mitchell.

The next regular board meeting will be May 6 at 7 p.m. in the high school library.

To contact reporter Emilia Teasdale email eteasdale@columbiapaper.com