At a glance
The Board of Education met Monday for presentations on the 2026-27 budget, capital projects, and the energy performance contract. The district received preliminary SED approval for roofing, greenhouse, and cooler work at MC Smith, and submitted the $8 million EPC for review. The 2026-27 budget conversation opened with revenue projections, including a potential tax levy increase up to 7.33% (though administration does not propose that), $27 million in state aid, and dwindling reserves. The district loses $612,000 when the Stronger Connections grant sunsets next year. Staff from buildings and grounds, food service, and custodial bargaining units spoke during public comment asking the board to advocate for competitive wage increases in ongoing contract talks.
Roll Call and Opening
The board president called the meeting to order. Board member Amanda Grubler participated remotely from Mexico, stranded after a canceled flight.
Key points
- All board members present or attending remotely
- Amanda Grubler attended via video from Mexico due to flight cancellation
Student Representative Report
The student representative reported on recent activities, including a trip to see Hamilton, a Model UN competition in March, and a spirit week before break.
Key points
- A group of students will see Hamilton on Broadway
- Model UN has a competition in Beacon on March 7
- National Honor Society applications are open
- The high school implemented a 10-10 rule: no bathroom passes in the first or last 10 minutes of class
- The environmental club is running a Dutch Mill flower bulb fundraiser
Board Committee Reports
Facilities committee met before the meeting; policy committee continues work on revised policies; finance committee reviewed tonight's budget presentation.
Key points
- The pool operates at half lifeguard capacity; hiring is underway
- Cooler, freezer, and greenhouse proposals were submitted to SED and are awaiting approval
- Light poles at MC Smith were repaired over break; back parking lot lighting upgraded to LED
- Policy committee revised the booster organization policy, student wellness policy, and began updates to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies
- Finance committee reviewed revenue projections and the budget presentation scheduled for tonight
Capital Project Update
John Shy from Weston and Samson presented updates on the voter-approved capital projects totaling just over $6 million across MC Smith and the high school.
Key points
- MC Smith projects ($3.1 million) include sidewalk replacements, toilet room renovations, a building generator, and tennis court resurfacing
- Tennis court work will remove 12 inches of base, correct drainage, and add optional pickle ball overlays
- High school projects ($2.9 million) include sidewalk repairs, a new salt shed, storage building, auditorium seating replacement, and pool tile regrouting
- Asbestos consultant drawings are due next week; SED review is expected to take 3-4 weeks
- Phase one work (exterior, roofs, storage buildings, auditorium seating) is scheduled for summer 2026; toilet room renovations for summer 2027
- The greenhouse and cooler/freezer projects were submitted to SED about two weeks ago and should be approved by early March
The project completed SEQR as a Type II action. It was submitted to the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation; five prior projects on the same site received declarations of no impact. The building is eligible for historic registry but not currently listed.
The architect offered to meet with the tennis community to review court plans and answer questions. The district will schedule a public engagement session and post it on normal channels.
Energy Performance Contract Update
John Sanborn from Johnson Controls presented an update on the $8 million energy performance contract, which was submitted to SED on February 11.
Key points
- The EPC includes 15 energy conservation measures with an 18-year payback and $430,000 in annual savings
- The project generates $3.8 million in positive cash flow over 18 years with state aid
- Major work includes a full boiler replacement at the high school (eliminating steam, installing high-efficiency hot water boilers) and a solar PPA buyout
- The solar array, installed nine years ago, can be purchased for $1.1 million (down from $4.5 million at installation); the district currently pays $140,000 per year in lease payments
- SED review is expected in March with permits in April; financing will follow shortly after
- Major equipment procurement and boiler installation are scheduled for summer 2026 to meet the heating season
- The district will own the solar panels after buyout and be responsible for maintenance; inverters will be replaced as part of the project with new warranties
Once the district owns the panels, it will be responsible for mowing and inverter maintenance. New inverters will be installed with warranties as part of the project. Panels are warrantied for 25 years and will be about 80% efficient at end of life; repowering (replacing panels with newer technology) is more cost-effective than removal since infrastructure is in place.
Budget Presentation Part Two: Revenue and Reserves
Assistant Superintendent for Business Christy presented the district's budget philosophy, revenue sources, and reserve balances for the 2026-27 budget cycle.
Key points
- The budget philosophy rests on three pillars: stabilize (consistent resources), strengthen (operational improvement), and sustain (long-term fiscal health)
- The tax cap formula for 2026-27 allows a base increase of 3.44% ($964,481) or up to 7.33% ($1.9 million) when capital exemptions are added
- The district used reserves to balance previous budgets; total reserves declined from $7 million (2023) to $4.7 million (2025)
- Unassigned fund balance is projected at $6.1 million; state law caps it at 4% of the next year's budget (about $2.3 million)
- State aid is projected at $27 million; other revenues (utility taxes, interest, rentals, pilots) total $1.7 million, down $55,000 from the prior year
- Total available revenue for 2026-27 ranges from $56 million (at base levy) to $60 million (at maximum levy)
The 2% figure refers to one line in the 15-step formula. Hudson's allowable levy growth for 2026-27 is 7.33% due to capital exclusions and other factors. Administration does not propose levying at the cap.
The district has no capital reserve. A capital reserve is a voter-approved account that allows the district to save funds for construction; it leverages state building aid (about 70% reimbursement). The next large debt does not roll off until the late 2030s, 12 to 13 years away.
Grants and Positions at Risk
The district currently operates 18 grants totaling $3.2 million with 29 full-time employees. The $612,000 Stronger Connections grant sunsets next year, putting five positions at risk.
Key points
- Eighteen grants generate $3.2 million on top of the $58.5 million general fund budget
- Sixteen grants will continue into next year; 11 are entitlement or performance-based and require annual reapplication
- Twenty-nine full-time employees are funded by grants
- The Stronger Connections grant ($612,000, five FTEs) ends next year and is unlikely to be renewed by the federal government
- The district has $1.1 million in grant applications pending
- Going forward, administration recommends using grants to augment programs supported by the general fund, not to create standalone positions
Not all grant-funded employees were hired with the understanding their positions are temporary. Some were moved into grants mid-year to balance the budget. Administration recommends future grant-funded positions include Finerman agreements (terminal date contracts) to clarify expectations.
The district is not proposing those positions disappear when the grant ends. Funding would need to come from the general fund or another grant.
Class Size Data
Class size data for general education and integrated co-teaching classes was presented. Self-contained special education students (54 elementary, 37 junior high, 45 high school) are not included and will be discussed in a future special education presentation.
Key points
- Elementary (K-6) averages about 20 students per classroom; total 670 students in general and integrated co-teaching classes
- Junior high (7-8) averages 22 students per section; 90 seventh graders (5 sections) and 76 eighth graders (5 sections)
- High school averages 21 students per social studies section (used as a proxy since all students take it all four years); largest cohorts are ninth and tenth grade
- The district is wrong-sized for efficient scheduling: 90 kids in a grade is too many for four teams, too few for eight
- Some grade-level bubbles (large ninth and tenth grade classes) reflect actual cohort size, not just credit accumulation
Numbers alone do not drive staffing. Leadership considers the specific needs of each cohort, the distribution of students with disabilities, and team structure when assigning teachers and sections.
Facilities and Technology Budget Overview
Facilities manages 350,000 square feet across two buildings and 110 acres. Technology supports 130 software programs, 2,000 Chromebooks, and teacher laptops due for replacement.
Key points
- Facilities operates with three building mechanics, two maintenance workers, two laborers (one part-time), and 14 custodial staff
- Fixed costs for 2026-27 include slight increases in fuel and electricity (EPC and Smart Schools upgrades expected to reduce costs later)
- Facilities generates revenue through load curtailment ($26,000 since 2021), car chargers, and rentals ($73,000 since 2021)
- The district replaces vehicles through a $63,000 annual equipment budget; recent purchases include a box truck and dump truck
- Technology manages 130 instructional and administrative software programs and processed 5,347 help desk tickets last year
- Teacher laptops are six years old and need replacement
- The technology plan (2022-2025) is being updated for 2026-2029; surveys are open for students, families, and staff
The district's Smart Schools plan is under review at state ed. It has been sent back a few times for revisions, which is normal. The plan is posted on the district website.
The Verizon Innovative Learning Schools grant ($2 million value over four years) provides Chromebooks with cellular data for grades 6-12, two instructional technology coaches, and professional development. The Hudson Endowment Fund awarded a grant for 40 Time Kettle translation devices ($437 each); the district will provide professional development for staff and workshops for students and families. A local cyber security grant will provide multi-factor authentication tokens for staff. The records grant ($70,000 phase one) is applying for phase two funding.
Public Comment: Maintenance and Custodial Wages
Three members of the maintenance and custodial bargaining unit spoke during public comment, asking the board to advocate for competitive wage increases in ongoing contract negotiations.
Key points
- Staff bring their own tools to do work not supplied by the district; without those tools, the district would pay more to hire outside contractors
- The head custodian at MC Smith has not had a night supervisor in four years, resulting in unpaid after-hours phone calls
- Staff emphasized they are available 24/7 and save the district money by keeping work in-house
- Speakers said talks at the bargaining table have been difficult and asked the board to advocate for real cost-of-living raises
- One speaker noted that under current proposals, staff will bring home less money next year than this year
Public Comment: Superintendent Search Communication
Nikki Janeito, president of the teachers' aide unit, raised concerns about communication around superintendent search focus groups. She said members were not informed about meetings and that the search consultant does not have access to district emails.
Key points
- The search consultant asked Janeito to contact her unit about focus groups, but Janeito said it is not her job to reach out to all aides
- The consultant does not have access to district emails, which is a barrier to scheduling
- An aide focus group is scheduled for 7 PM, which Janeito called too late
- Janeito said the district cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the last two superintendent searches and asked the board to get communication right this time
Board President Mark acknowledged the concerns and said he will call the superintendent first thing in the morning to improve scheduling and communication. Communications staff will send focus group dates directly to district emails, post on Facebook (including language-specific posts for translated sessions), and update the website.
Superintendent Search Update
The board reviewed the schedule for superintendent search focus groups and discussed communication issues. The community survey is open for one more week; the leadership profile will be presented after all focus groups conclude.
Key points
- Central office administrators met February 23; teacher assistants met remotely February 24 from 6 to 7 PM
- Parent and community focus groups are Thursday, February 26 (high school library, 6 PM) and Monday, March 2 (7 PM), both with Spanish and Bengali translation
- Hudson Educational Secretaries meet Thursday, February 26, 6 to 7 PM; Hudson Teachers Association meets 7 to 8 PM
- Makeup sessions for anyone who missed a focus group are March 4 (6:30 PM) and March 5 (6:30 PM), both with translation
- An additional teachers' aide focus group is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 6 to 7 PM
- The leadership profile will be presented in March after all focus groups are complete; Dr. Adams will summarize board interviews, survey results, and focus group feedback
- The job posting is live; a promotional video is in production
Focus group notifications went out during winter break, later in the week, which gave people little time to respond. Some internal email addresses were incorrect. The board acknowledged the need to improve communication and will post all dates on the website, Facebook, and the electric sign outside the high school.
The board will discuss at an upcoming meeting who will serve on the confidential interview committee for semi-final interviews.
Budget Development Timeline and Additional Meetings
The superintendent proposed adding a workshop meeting on March 10 and a regular meeting on March 17 to allow time for academic presentations and additional budget topics before the April 21 budget vote.
Key points
- March 10 workshop (5:30 PM start) will include student performance data from building leaders and presentations on athletics, transportation, and food service
- Policy committee will not meet March 10 to allow full focus on academics; committee will work asynchronously
- March 17 regular meeting will cover K-12 staffing, special education, administrative costs, and the board budget
- April 21 is the scheduled date for the board to vote on the 2026-27 budget; additional meetings can be scheduled between March 17 and April 21 if needed
- The goal is to deliver all budget information before April 21 so the board is not receiving new material on the night of the vote
After April 21, the district faces tight state-mandated deadlines for budget adoption and public notice.
Personnel and Retirements
The board approved personnel items and acknowledged three retirements: Gus Ellsworth (custodian, 10+ years), Francis Manino (food service, 13+ years), and Scott Rogers (maintenance, 37+ years). The board also appointed Malita Deselines as the new registered nurse at the elementary school.
Key points
- Malita Deselines holds a BS in nursing, an MPH, and a BS in public health; she has worked at several Hudson Valley hospitals and was a substitute nurse in Kingston for two years
Policy Adoption
The board adopted policy 1222 (relationship with booster organizations) and the 1120 series (school district records). Policy 5405 (student wellness) returned for a third reading with updates from the attorney.
Key points
- Policy 1222 clarifies approval processes and use of district communications for booster fundraising events; Teresa Hayes, president of the booster club, gave feedback and was satisfied with the language
- Policy 5405 includes PE requirements and does not define smart snack requirements (so the policy does not need revision every time federal guidelines change)
- The 1120 series (records management) passed with no changes to fee structure from the first reading
Board Self-Assessment and Adjournment
The board president distributed meeting observation sheets for the midyear board self-assessment. The board will use the sheets over the next few meetings and compare notes before the year-end assessment. The meeting adjourned at 9:05 PM.
Key points
- Each board member will score meetings on a 1-5 scale across several categories; scores will be compiled and discussed
- The year-end self-assessment will review board goals and objectives
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.
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