Denise Harrington-Cohen
Person
Superintendent (per minutes 2024-12-05 – 2026-01-08)
27 mentions
Background
Spoken at:
Board of Education (15 meetings, 2024-10 to 2026-08)
Name verified via: rag.db://meetings/76; rag.db://entities/1108
In our coverage:
- Reorganized School Board Seats Two New Trustees and Two Student Members, With Bhatnagar as President 2026-07-16
- School Board Hires Four Teachers, Shifts $200,000 to Reduce Lunch Fund Deficit at June 29 Special Meeting 2026-06-29
- Board of Education Grants Tenure to Seven Staff Members in Annual Recognition Ceremony 2026-05-19
- Croton-Harmon Board Adopts $62.8 Million Budget, Rejects BOCES Candidate Over Antisemitism Concerns 2026-04-21
- Board Recognizes Student Achievement, Approves New Scholarships and Health Insurance Advocacy 2026-03-12
- Board President Apologizes for ‘No Surprises’ Lapse in Dubak Appointment, Says Legal Review Cleared the Process 2026-02-26
Related
Neal Haber
Sarah Carrier
Board of Education
Omar Mayyasi
Theo Oshiro
Ana Teague
Anamika Bhatnagar
Allison Samuels
Joshua Diamond
Stephen Walker
Denise Bisaccia
Christina Vagenas
Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School
emergency response
Family Resource Center
Appearances (26 most notable of 27)
Work Session and Ceremony for Tenure, Retirement, 20 years of service, and National Board Certification recipients (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)
Generated by Denise Bisaccia on Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Members present
Anamika Bhatnagar, Sarah Carrier, Ne…
Enhancements to Support Our Vision
New Video to be launched 4/22
Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Harrington-Cohen reported on the following:
2026-27 Budget Presentation Schedule summary
Budget Drivers
NYS Budget (delayed)
Anticipat…
On the question: Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Harrington-Cohen explained about this authorization further. It enables school districts to establish health insurance reserve funds to cover rising costs of health insurance. We're part…
Athletic Director Christine Drago will be monitoring this and they also discussed ways to keep athletes safe, healthy, and active.
2. Work Session
Presentation: 2.1 2026-2027 Budget Presentation
Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Harring…
Liaison Reports: Board Trustee Neal Haber reported that he attended Student Faculty Congress where they discussed additional thoughts re: Policy 2125 re: the student ex-officio. They engaged in a robust discussion re: changes to be made to CHHS sche…
Audit: Committee Chair Omar Mayyasi was not in attendance. Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Harrington-Cohen reported that they will be postponing February 26 meeting to early March.
Board Development: Committee Chair Anamika Bhatnagar …
Final Resolution: Motion Carried
Yes: Anamika Bhatnagar, Sarah Carrier, Neal Haber, Omar Mayyasi, Theo Oshiro, Allison Samuels, Ana Teague
Report: 4.6 Update: Stop Arm Camera Installation on District Buses
Assistant Superintendent for Business Den…
On the question: Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Harrington-Cohen reported that the 2 projects are related to repairs in the buildings. A hearing is required for Board approval of expenditure. Funds do not come out of general fund as th…
On the question: Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Harrington-Cohen reported that the Business Office conducted a study of natural gas usage, including supply costs vs delivery costs. The deregulation of supply side gave us the option of …
On the question: Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Harrington-Cohen noted that this opportunity was open to all NYSIR subscribers.
Board Vice President Anamika Bhatnagar stated that it was great that we're taking advantage of this.
Boar…
BOE President Ana Teague presented on the following topics:
Coming back from winter break
Beginning Budget Season
CET: Coaches Chat & Chew to meet re: math materials
CET Literacy Committee to meet on 1/26
CET PTA: next meeting is 3/19
PVC PTA: …
Policy: Committee Chair Neal Haber reported that they met on 12/16 and approved polices for first reading today, and changed some that had first readings, to second readings. The next meeting is 1/20, 1 pm.
Liaison Reports:
None
Report: 2.6 Assis…
Action: 4.1 Donation - CHEF - Learning How to Ride a Bike
RESOLVED: That the Board of Education gratefully accepts a grant from the Croton-Harmon Education Foundation (CHEF) in the amount of $5,478.00 for the purchase of bicycles for Kindergarten an…
On the question: Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Harrington-Cohen noted that item 9.9 (Change Order) represents work not completed by original contractor, now awarded to 2nd contractor.
Final Resolution: Motion Carried
Yes: Anamika Bh…
Discussion: 2.1 Croton Free Library Budget Presentation
Jesse Bourdon, Director of the Croton Free Library, presented the library's proposed budget.
3. Public Budget Hearing
Action, Discussion: 3.1 Open Public Budget Hearing
The public budget hea…
Communication: Communication Committee Chair Sarah Carrier reported that the committee has not met since last meeting. The next meeting is to be scheduled. She thanked Assistant Superintendent Denise Harrington-Cohen, Technology/Communications Spec…
Advocacy: Advocacy Committee Chair Theo Oshiro reported that the committee met 3/17, discussed state budgets from senate & assembly and cell phone policy updates. He asked about meetings with legislators, in that WPSBA typically puts together these m…
Motion by Sarah Carrier, second by Anamika Bhatnagar.
On the question: Board President Ana Teague thanked Asst. Supt. for Business Denise Harrington-Cohen for her explanation of change orders provided to the Board prior to the meeting.
Final Resol…
Denise Harrington-Cohen, Assistant Superintendent for Business, introduced the 2025-2026 Budget presentation
Superintendent Stephen Walker presented the budget as it relates to the Vision Map.
Kelly Lent, Assistant Business Manager, presented the 2…
Board President Ana Teague registered for the 3/14 SuperEval workshop, hosted by NYSSBA, and gave a shout out to winter sports athletes celebrating senior games.
Discussion: 8.4 Items Needed for Next Board of Education Meeting
Assistant Superintend…
Report: 2.4 2025-2026 Budget Presentation (Revenues)
Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Harrington-Cohen gave an update on the budget development focusing on Revenues:
Governor’s Executive Budget & State Aid Proposal
State Aid Comparison…
Concerns are not minimized, dealing with bias of any form will continue to be discussed.
Discussion: 6.3 Polling of the Board
Board Trustee Sarah Carrier spoke about upcoming LHEC & WestPut SBA meetings on regionalization and the governors' budget.…
RESOLVED: That the Board of Education hereby approves the proposed settlement for the Tax Certiorari of Matter of South Riverside Croton, LLC v. Assessor of the Town of Cortlandt, et al. (Sup. Ct. West. Co. Index No. 65153/22) as presented.
Motion b…
Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Harrington-Cohen gave a 2025-26 budget development update including:
Budget Timeline
Revenue Assumptions
Expenditure Assumptions
Next Steps
Budget Presentation Schedule
Board Trustee Neal Haber a…
Assistant Superintendent Denise Harrington-Cohen added that the 30-day comment period was opened. No questions were received.
Action: 3.3 Adjourn the Public Hearing on the District Wide Safety & Emergency Management Plan
Public hearing adjourned a…
Student Trustee Ex-Officio Isabelle McLoughlin asked if the clubs raise money themselves or does the school finance?
Asst. Supt. for Business Denise Harrington-Cohen responded that clubs raise money. Board Trustee Josh Diamond added that stipends a…