The Croton-Harmon Board of Education unanimously approved a $62,762,808 budget for the 2026-27 school year at Tuesday's meeting. The budget will go before voters on May 19, 2026. Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Harrington-Cohen presented the final budget details, highlighting budget drivers, anticipated state aid, the allowable tax levy, tax rate history and projections, revenue and expense overviews, and the three-part budget structure. The presentation also covered a vehicle proposition and a repair reserve proposition. **Leadership Changes at Both Schools** The board made several key administrative appointments for the coming school year. Maylien Herm was named principal of Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School, earning a four-year probationary appointment at a salary of $190,000 beginning July 1, 2026. Superintendent Stephen Walker praised the selection, noting "the entire team was impressed with Maylien during the entire process" and read positive comments from parents, faculty, and students. At the high school level, the board appointed Erica Fiorini as interim principal for one year at the same $190,000 salary. Walker emphasized that her appointment "speaks to how you achieve longevity in a school system" and called her "the right leader at the right time." John Bohuniek was named interim assistant principal at an annual salary of $158,000, with Walker describing him as exemplifying the "teacher-leader" concept through his work as curriculum coordinator, coach, and mentor. **BOCES Election Controversy** In a contentious vote, the board rejected the candidacy of Richard Kreps for the Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES board by a 5-1 margin, with only Trustee Neal Haber supporting Kreps. The decision came after public criticism during the hearing portion, where resident Michelle Minoff urged the board not to vote for Kreps, stating he had "made antisemitic remarks in the past." Haber acknowledged the controversy, saying he was present at the meeting where the remarks were allegedly made but "did not hear the remarks, although the remarks had been established." He noted he had not witnessed inappropriate conduct since then. The other five board members—President Ana Teague, Vice President Anamika Bhatnagar, and Trustees Sarah Carrier, Omar Mayyasi, and Theo Oshiro—all voted against Kreps' candidacy. **Financial and Operational Matters** The board approved the PNW BOCES administrative budget of $12,679,000, with Haber clarifying that this covers internal operations rather than student programs or professional development services. Other financial actions included awarding a gas supply contract to NRG Business Marketing LLC at $0.5420 per therm for the November 2026 through April 2027 heating season. The board also approved a memorandum of agreement with the CSEA custodial unit establishing a new Maintenance Foreperson position, with Michael Krajeski receiving a provisional appointment at step 9 ($90,405). **Public Concerns on Technology and Equity** During the public comment period, several residents raised concerns about district policies and practices. A kindergarten parent criticized the daily use of "videos of books read by celebrities" and "low-quality, high stimulation videos" in classrooms, expressing difficulty obtaining curriculum details and concerns about continued iPad use in grades K-2. Leslie Pollack questioned equity in district committees, asking how the superintendent selects community members and suggesting all parents should have access to committee participation during daytime hours. She argued that "every parent deserves to be on the committees" and students should have the same opportunities as peers in other Westchester County districts. Ed Riely commented on the district's cell phone policy, calling it beneficial but noting it came "too late." He also addressed broader demographic concerns, arguing that schools have wrongly promoted the idea that children are a "population problem" when society actually faces an "under population problem." **Looking Ahead** The board accepted the resignation of high school nurse Gina Fitzsimons, effective April 30, and approved the hiring of Alexandra Palmatier as an English teacher at the high school, starting at $114,691 (MA+30, Step 13) for the 2026-27 school year. The board also approved various personnel changes and accepted a $250 donation from Agnes Zaharias for the Christos Zaharias Memorial Scholarship. Committee reports highlighted ongoing work on policy development, with the Policy Committee scheduled to meet May 11 to continue work on several policies including student awards and scholarships. The Audit Committee reported positive results from the internal audit, with "no observations that required corrective action" and praise for the business team.