The Croton-Harmon Board of Education's May 7 meeting stretched past midnight, dominated by a wide-ranging and sometimes tense examination of student technology use and a proposal from the Croton Free Library for a substantial tax levy increase to fund long-deferred renovations.

Technology Presentation Sparks Sharp Questions

Director of Technology and Innovation Ellen Moskowitz delivered an extensive presentation covering device usage data, software vetting processes, and research on educational screen time. But it was the board's response that defined the evening, as trustees pressed repeatedly on the accuracy and scope of the data presented. The device usage figures — which tracked time on individual student devices — drew immediate skepticism. One trustee said he thought the community's concern was classroom screen time overall, rather than just time on individual student devices. 86:11▶ The superintendent acknowledged the gap between the data and expectations, telling the board that "these numbers appeared lower to me than I thought they were gonna be." 88:41▶ Superintendent Stephen Walker called for conversations with faculty to determine whether the numbers reflect actual classroom practice, framing the presentation as a starting point rather than a conclusion. Board members raised serious concerns about student data privacy, particularly around images collected by educational applications. One trustee questioned whether teachers fully understand the privacy implications of the tools they request. Another noted the limitations of relying on BOCES for vendor data privacy agreements since the district effectively subcontracts licensing decisions it cannot directly oversee. The discussion also exposed a disconnect between technology and curriculum oversight. "I'm surprised we don't have anybody here to talk about curriculum given the nature of this discussion," 168:53▶ one trustee said, noting that technology and curriculum decisions cannot be separated. The board agreed that future discussions should include curriculum leadership. The technology department did highlight areas of progress, including a 33% reduction in software tools this year. The superintendent described a 33% reduction in a year as a substantial change for a school district. 120:37▶ The department also drafted an AI policy, though it remains in development following new guidance from NYSSBA. The high school's cell phone policy, in its first year of implementation, drew questions about enforcement and compliance data. Trustees deferred a detailed review, saying high school administrators needed to be present to address specific concerns. The board tabled a related budget transfer for iPads after a trustee said they were not comfortable approving the purchase without further understanding of its curriculum implications. By late evening, a trustee proposed a committee of administrators and other stakeholders, including community members, and urged the board to move the work forward. 199:54▶ Board President Ana Teague indicated the charge would be developed in consultation with administration.

Public Concerns Mirror Board Debate

The technology discussion echoed themes raised during the public comment period. Dan Zeliger, representing the Croton Community Collective, advocated for phone-free schools and keeping smartphones out of childhood. Claire Benoist described a disconnect between what parents are told and what children report, noting her daughter watched more than 20 minutes of read-aloud and AI-animated videos in class through a program called Fast Forward. According to the minutes, Benoist said that "a child watching a screen is still screen exposure" and that the technology report would show "nothing is changing." Jill Anderson advocated for maintaining smaller class sizes for rising fourth graders and expressed concern about one-to-one devices in elementary school. Mike Grubiak raised concerns about the Universal Pre-Kindergarten lottery process.

Library Seeks 55% Levy Increase

Library Director Jesse Bourdon presented the Croton Free Library's proposed 2026-2027 budget, which includes a one-time 55% adjustment to the library's tax levy, bringing it to $1,526,158. The increase would cost the average village resident about $10.50 per month, the library director told the board. The library has operated under the state tax cap for years, but rising insurance costs and utilities have consumed more than half of each year's permitted increase. The library director identified a $425,000 debt-service line as the largest part of the levy increase, accounting for nearly 79%. 59:33▶ It would support a $9 million renovation plan developed with Butler Rowland Mays architects. The building has not had a major renovation since the late 1990s. The project would redesign the children's room, create a dedicated creative space near the entryway, and add a new teen area. The library director noted that the library used $30,000 in fundraising monies last year just to cover basic operational costs. The presentation listed $18,000 in mandatory cost increases for 2025 across insurance, utilities and Westchester Library System fees, compared with an average annual levy increase of about $22,000 over the preceding four years. The library's visitation reached a four-year high in 2025 with over 230,000 visitors, a 41% increase since 2022. The library budget is voted on as a separate proposition from the school budget on the May 19 ballot.

Budget Hearing and Other Business

The board opened and closed the public hearing on the 2026-2027 school budget in about a minute, with no public comments. Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Harrington Cohen was absent from the meeting. In other actions, the board accepted a $100,000 DASNY SAM grant for a turf field shock pad extender at Spencer Field, an $8,000 donation from the Croton-Harmon Education Foundation for a Glowforge laser cutter at PVC, and $2,000 in scholarship funds from the CHHS PTSA. The board also approved a policy on new board member orientation after second reading and continued discussion on a vision statement policy that trustees said needed more work to be actionable rather than purely philosophical. The board listed May 19 for its next meeting and tenure celebration, on the same day as the annual budget vote and trustee election.