At a glance
The Hudson City School District Board of Education opened a hearing on a proposed $58,544,000 budget for 2025-26, and heard from a resident who said the budget book did not reach her until 3:15 that afternoon, hours before she was expected to ask questions about it. High school administrators walked the board through accountability data showing a 74% graduation rate last year and Regents results ranging from 86% in Algebra 2 down to 37% in geometry. A motion to adopt an updated voting procedures policy, revised by the district's attorney ahead of the May 20 budget vote and board election, was put to a voice vote. The superintendent spotlighted four people for going above and beyond for students, and the student representative asked the board to rethink parts of the new policy that governs her own seat. The captions record the motions and the call for 'all in favor' but not the responses, so this page does not say how any of them came out.
Pledge, Roll Call and Agenda
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call, and a motion to accept the agenda as presented was put to a voice vote.
Key points
- Seven people answered the roll call
- Among the names the captions record are Mark DePace, Amanda Grubler, Kjirsten Gustavson and Matthew Mackerer
- A motion to accept the agenda as presented was made, seconded, and put to a voice vote
The captions begin at 4:32 with the pledge, so anything said before that point, including the call to order, is not in this record. The board's student representative answers the roll call alongside board members and is not a board member, and the captions garble several of the names, so this page does not assign roles to the three roll call names it cannot match.
Student Representative's Report
The student representative ran through competitions, exams and end of year events, and shared news of a music scholarship she had been selected for.
Key points
- The environmental team competed recently and is going to states on May 29, with two teams placing first and third in the region; the representative said she believed they stay overnight and compete over two days
- Model UN traveled to a high school in New York and the trip went well, with a van for transportation
- AP exams are underway, some students have already taken self-studied AP tests, AP US History is this Friday and AP Biology follows
- The multicultural festival is May 15 during periods 6 to 8, run by the multicultural club with tables, food and information about different countries and cultures
- Meet the board candidate night is May 15 at 6 o'clock, hosted at the school by the student council, and the National Honor Society induction is next Friday in the auditorium
- Prom is May 31, senior awards night is June 5, and the senior trip is June 9
- The representative said she was selected as a finalist in a music scholarship competition, that a Hudson student had never been selected as a finalist before, and that finalists go on to places like Juilliard and Eastman
Policy Committee Report
The policy committee reported on a full slate of policies, including the student member of the board policy and a voting procedures update the committee wanted adopted before the May election.
Key points
- The student member of the board policy is up for first read, with changes from the lawyer described as formatting rather than substance, and will be ready for a second read next week
- Attorney comments on the promotion and retention policy are finalized and it will be up for first read next week
- The committee will rescind a policy setting credit requirements for junior high, which the speaker said is not supported by the way New York State tracks promotion; high school credits continue
- Work on the district org chart will be ready either at the next meeting or the one after
- The voting procedures policy is up for first read and recommended for adoption, adding provisions for military ballots, early voting language, assigning poll workers at least 10 days in advance, and a line making it the chairperson's duty to call the polls open and closed
- The committee is finalizing the policy development and adoption policy and a policy charter, and returns to the code of conduct at its next meeting
The committee said it recommended adopting the voting procedures update that night so the changes would be in place for the imminent election, the annual budget vote and board member election scheduled for May 20.
Other Board Reports and Teacher Appreciation Week
Facilities and the audit committee had no report. The board read a statement thanking district teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week.
Key points
- Facilities had no report at this time, and the audit committee had no report at this time
- The board thanked Leia and Mr. Rubinitz for helping put together a presentation for Teacher Appreciation Week
- The statement said teaching has never been more complex or more vital, and thanked teachers for the long hours, the personal sacrifices and the deep commitment to student success
- It said that for many young people school is more than a place to learn, it is a place to be seen, to feel safe and to grow
High School Accountability Status
A district administrator presented the state accountability status report for Hudson Senior High School, pointing to attendance and college, career and civic readiness as indicators to watch.
Key points
- Hudson Senior High School is in a local support and improvement designation, which means the district itself provides the supports the school needs
- Attendance and college, career and civic readiness are flagged in red on the indicator slide, and the presenter said the state has been using both as accountability measures
- Every named group of students in the district meets the local support and improvement accountability status; groups without a designation are those where the district does not have a large number of students
- Graduation rate is at a level one for Hispanic and Latino students and at a level one for Black and African American students, which the presenter said puts the all students category at a level one as well
- The presenter said the district will address these in the school improvement plans it drafts every year, with planning and professional development for teachers and administrators
The captions render this presenter's name several different ways, so this page describes her by role rather than guessing at a spelling.
Regents Results and the Graduation Rate
The high school principal reviewed last year's Regents results and a 74% graduation rate, and said student attendance is the biggest factor behind students not finishing.
Key points
- Last June was the first time since the pandemic that students again needed a 65 or higher without the waiver that had let scores of 50 to 64 count, which the principal said had an impact on scores
- ELA, the 11th grade Regents, came in at 75%; algebra was at 48 and geometry at 37
- Algebra 2 was at 86%, earth science at 63, chemistry at 71, physics at 64 and global at 62; the principal credited Mr. Antonelli for chemistry coming in above the Questar and New York State figures
- US History was at 77%, and the graduation rate last year was 74%, which the principal said is not where the school wants it
- About 65% of students coming into ninth grade are being recommended for self-contained math or a foundations of algebra course rather than Algebra 1, and the principal called math a district-wide struggle, not just a high school problem
- The principal said student attendance is the biggest factor regardless of subgroup, that each building holds weekly attendance meetings on chronically absent students, and that staff are sent to houses on a regular basis
- Some students in the graduation cohort list were not enrolled when the principal arrived three years ago, and he said this year's rate is tracking similar to last year's
The living environment result reads '80 58%' in the transcript, so the actual score is not recoverable and is left out here. The principal's surname is also spelled four different ways by the captions.
Next Steps for the High School, and English Language Learners
The principal described schedule and sequencing changes aimed at math and science results, and answered questions about the growing number of English language learners.
Key points
- The principal is building master schedules with a colleague and looking to free up staff to provide extra support in struggling subject areas, math most of all
- The school may resequence courses, running Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 back to back because they are similar and putting geometry after, and may change when earth science is taken
- The principal said the high school needs to do a better job with the MTSS process, which is complicated because teachers cover many subjects and grade level team meetings pull from three different lists
- Freshmen struggle most, and the school is considering monthly or every six week meetings with the ninth grade class instead of a couple of assemblies a year
- A speaker asked about the increase in English language learners and referenced a 20% graduation rate for that subgroup; the principal said the increase has lowered the graduation rate and that improving it is part of the school comprehensive education plan
- Two brand new ENL teachers came in this year with different certifications than their predecessors, which changed who they co-teach with
- An administrator said the district is looking at the delivery of services, including clustering students so required English as a second language minutes fit the schedule, and that the minutes a student gets depend on the proficiency level they test at on arrival
- Steps to graduation are the same for an English language learner; credits from prior formal schooling can transfer, and an administrator said it is a race with time that the district explains to parents
Proposed 2025-26 Budget Presentation
Two staff members presented the proposed 2025-26 budget, built around the district's six keys of success, and walked through the state budget code series that organize it.
Key points
- The proposed 2025-26 budget is intended to maintain general fund programs and create efficient systems of support, with a total budget of $58,544,000
- Total revenue is also $58,544,000, with the increase driven primarily by planned use of additional assigned fund balance and reserves, which the presenter called one-time revenue sources
- The district is reducing expenses through attrition by not filling certain positions when employees retire or leave, which the presenter said lets the district avoid layoffs
- The 1000 series covers general support, including the board of education, the superintendent's office, the business office, legal services, human resources and building upkeep
- The 2000 series, instruction, is the largest share of the budget and covers teachers, teaching assistants, special education, guidance and health services, libraries, technology and BOCES programs
- The 3000 series is transportation contracts, the 7000 series is community services including recreation and parent engagement, and the 9000 series covers employee benefits and debt service
- Presenters said the budget book and specific allocations are available online on the district website
The captions do not give the presenters' full names. One was introduced only as Miss Ferry, who covered the budget code series portion.
Budget Hearing: Questions From the Board and the Public
A motion opened a budget hearing for public comment at 6:39. Questions covered a drop in the guidance line, why the district is pursuing a capital project during a tight budget year, and when the public will see which jobs are not being refilled.
Key points
- A resolution to open the budget hearing for public comment at 6:39 was made, seconded and put to a voice vote, and a motion to close it at 6:48 was also made, seconded and put to a voice vote
- One speaker asked about a $218,000 decrease in total guidance; staff said it may be a vacancy that is not being filled, and that there had been an excess amount of money in that line from previous years that was not being used
- Asked why a capital project is fiscally responsible in the same year the budget rises, staff said the district is grappling with aging infrastructure that is increasingly failing and that district debt is coming off, which they said creates an opening to act without added strain on taxpayers
- Staff said construction on the proposed project would not begin until the summer of 2026, that it takes roughly a year after a vote is approved to begin construction, that capital projects should ideally happen every five years, and that New York State building aid offsets costs
- Asked whether the public will be told which retirement positions are not being refilled, staff said they are transparent and will release the information once it is finished, but need time and plan to start that work next week
- A member of the public said they were told the budget would be out on the 30th, that it did not come out until 3:15 that day, and that they did not have time to read it before the hearing where they were supposed to ask questions about it
- The same speaker said they own two properties in the county and pay city tax on them, that they attended another budget meeting last week where no information was visible on the screen, and that they have never seen a budget process like this before
- Asked when the next chance to ask budget questions would be, staff pointed to Monday, May 12 at the AB Shaw Firehouse and Tuesday, May 13 in the high school cafeteria
After the resident finished, the response on the record was 'Thank you. Understand your frustration.' The captions record no further answer on the timing of the budget book.
Personnel Agenda and Spotlight on Excellence
The board took up the personnel agenda, then the superintendent spotlighted four people who she said go above and beyond for district students.
Key points
- A motion to accept the personnel agenda, items A 1 through 8 and B 1 through 4, was made, seconded and put to a voice vote
- No executive session was needed at that point, and after a check with the board clerk, nobody had signed up to speak
- The superintendent spotlighted Elena Mosley of Operation Unite, saying she gives students exposure to art and other enrichment, access to scholarships, and organized a youth government day held at city hall and a December gift wrapping project for a senior home
- She spotlighted Jennifer Nixon, who raised the money for a bus so her class could go to a state park and asked the district only for the $50 park entry fee
- She spotlighted Wayne Francis, an aide at the high school, for supporting school plays, chaperoning, advocating for safety and flagging students who may be falling through the cracks
- She spotlighted Larry Stevenson for countless hours of chaperoning and for building relationships with students, saying she overheard a student tell him he was the only person they could talk to at school
- None of the four could be there that night; the superintendent also had a district administrator come up for a photo with the board after missing an earlier spotlight while out sick
Superintendent's Report
The superintendent thanked teachers, reported on an Earth Day event and district programs, and listed the meetings and the vote coming up in May.
Key points
- The superintendent thanked the district's teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week
- She attended an Earth Day celebration at the elementary school with a state senator and Mayor Johnson, who she said donated a magnolia tree, with a free fence from Roma Fence donated to go around it
- Conversations with the Superintendent runs from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on May 15 at the Hudson Department of Youth
- PreK slots are still open and the superintendent asked families to spread the word that four year olds can start in the fall
- She attended the MBK symposium with district MBK fellows, who took part in roundtable discussions, and said the program has two new inductees
- At the CASSDA awards, the mayor was honored with a community service award after being submitted for a community award by a district staff member for reading to students on Wednesdays through Hudson Reads
- Upcoming: a budget presentation May 12 at the AB Shaw Firehouse at 5:00 p.m.; a May 13 presentation at 5:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria covering the capital project and the energy performance contract, where printed copies will be available this time; meet the candidates night May 15; and the budget vote and election May 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
New Business, Consent Items and Upcoming Dates
The board took up the voting procedures policy with the attorney's revisions, heard the student representative's questions about the policy governing her own seat, and read the May calendar into the record before moving to executive session.
Key points
- A motion to adopt the voting procedures policy with the revisions suggested by the district's attorney was made, seconded and put to a voice vote
- The described revisions replace the words ballot scanners with voting machine, and add that machines may be unavailable only in emergency situations caused by a technical or mechanical failure
- The other policies on the agenda were first readings that needed no action; a speaker singled out the new 2410 policy, which would expand the policy committee to include other members of the community
- The student representative said the policy calls her seat the student president when the position is actually the student council president, and asked how the rule on missing three consecutive meetings applies when the student council vice president attends in her place; the answer was that a no-show without arranging a replacement would prompt a conversation, while giving notice and sending a replacement is a different thing
- She asked whether leaving a meeting early needs advance permission from the board president and was told in the moment or a heads up is fine, and a committee member noted a change made that day will move the student representative's meeting with the superintendent to after the agenda is set
- She asked the board to consider whether a student representative could be seated at summer meetings, and to state plainly in this policy that student representatives are welcome at policy committee meetings, noting an older policy already names the seat on that committee
- A motion to approve consent agenda items A through G was made, seconded and put to a voice vote, and after another check with the board clerk, nobody had signed up to speak
- Meeting dates read into the record: audit committee Friday, May 9 at 10:30 a.m. in the district office conference room; budget presentation Monday, May 12 at 5:00 p.m. at the AB Shaw Firehouse; the capital project, energy performance contract and proposed budget presentation May 13 at 5:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria; policy committee Tuesday, May 20 at 6:00 p.m. in the high school library; a special Board of Education meeting Tuesday, May 20 at 8:00 p.m. in the high school library; and the annual budget vote and board member election
A motion to go into executive session at 7:10 was made and seconded, with a statement that there would be no further business, and it was put to a voice vote. The captions end there.
About this page
FUTURE HUDSON is an experiment in civic engagement: every public meeting of the City of Hudson since January 2026, transcribed and made readable, so any resident can follow what the city is deciding without attending every meeting. This page covers one meeting; see the full archive.
How it was made
The meeting video was transcribed automatically; the transcript was then organized into sections and summarized. The raw transcript is above, every claim can be checked against it.
What to be skeptical of
The transcript is automated and contains speech-recognition errors; names and numbers may be wrong. This page has not been reviewed by a human. Nothing here is an official record, the school district's official minutes are authoritative.
About coverage of this body
Board of Education meetings are livestreamed by the Hudson City School District to its own YouTube channel. The school district is a separate government from the City of Hudson. If a meeting is missing from the archive, the recording was likely not posted. See the archive index for the full coverage note.