A potential fiscal flashpoint dominated the Croton-Harmon Board of Education’s first meeting of 2026, as parents delivered a blistering critique of the district’s handling of a Universal Pre-K (UPK) funding shortfall. Warning that the crisis could depress property values and force young families to flee the village, residents urged the board to override tax caps or reallocate discretionary funds to save the popular Children's Space North program. The tension in the room was palpable, a stark contrast to the usual routine of mid-year reports. While the board also received good news regarding high school AP scores and the smooth rollout of the state’s cell phone ban, it was the urgency of the Pre-K situation—a program that has served roughly 200 Croton students since it launched locally in 2021 [Board Of Trustees 2026-03-26](/article/1)—that defined the night. **A Question of Emergency** Mike Rubiak, a parent leading the advocacy efforts, opened the public portion of the evening by announcing a breakthrough in Albany: Governor Hochul intends to fully fund UPK at $10,000 per pupil by 2028. "We do have a lot of support from our local elected officials," {{quote:447}} Rubiak said, referencing tours scheduled for local officials next week. "We should all take credit [for the state funding]. Thank you, governor, but you probably did it because of us." {{quote:490}} However, the 2028 timeline offers little solace for the immediate budget cycle. Rubiak warned that without local intervention, the current provider cannot survive the interim. "They will not be able to continue because of the financial constraints," {{quote:447}} Rubiak said, pleading with the board to keep what he called the "continuity of learning" {{quote:447}} for current students. {{quote:543}} Jacob Fiss Howard, a resident of Thompson Avenue, underscored the reputational risk to the district. He praised Children's Space North as "by far" the best facility his family had encountered, contrasting it with options in New York City. "I do feel that it would be somewhat of an embarrassment if we could not continue UPK in this town the way that so many other towns have been able to figure out how to do." {{quote:819}} {{photo:yt-TzciddgWZcE:543:Mike Rubiak urges the Board to bridge the funding gap for Children's Space North.}} **Legal Threats and the Math of the Gap** The meeting took a sharp turn toward confrontation when Ian Porschner, an Arlington Drive resident, accused the board of failing to treat the situation as an emergency. Citing a conversation with the State Office of Early Learning, he noted that districts are expected to use local funds to supplement state aid. "From my perspective, this is clearly an emergency," {{quote:853}} Porschner said. {{quote:957}} The financial stakes were laid bare by William Mac Shear, a practicing attorney and town resident. Mac Shear argued that the board has both the legal discretion and the fiscal means to solve the problem immediately without waiting for Albany. "I have been doing a fair amount of legal research... there's a fair amount of discretion and ability within this room to actually fund this shortfall," {{quote:1112}} Mac Shear told the board. {{quote:1085}} He presented a calculation that challenged the board's priorities: covering the entire estimated $260,000 shortfall would cost the average household between $80 and $120 annually—a fraction of the $24,000 cost of private daycare. "There's a million dollars in discretionary funds within the budget," {{quote:1112}} Mac Shear claimed, framing the tax levy as a critical investment in community stability. {{quote:1132}} Ludmilla Shatskin, the Town Clerk of Croton, reinforced the community-wide desire for a solution, noting that the school tax levy is the most significant tax residents pay. She pointed to the Town Board's recent decision to exceed the tax cap to maintain services. "The people who are paying those taxes are asking you as a group to make a very specific decision," {{quote:1303}} Shatskin said. {{quote:1326}} {{photo:yt-TzciddgWZcE:1326:Town Clerk Ludmilla Shatskin asks the Board to make a decision on the tax levy.}} **"The Cost is Shifted" {{quote:1456}}** Beyond the immediate financials, educators warned of long-term consequences. Kathy Long, a special education teacher with nearly two decades of experience, argued that cutting UPK is "a non-negotiable" {{quote:1456}} issue that would merely shift costs to other parts of the budget. "When early intervention is removed, the consequences do not disappear... The cost is shifted and not eliminated at all," {{quote:1456}} Long warned. {{quote:1477}} Sarah Ruder, a North Street resident, echoed the sentiment that letting the program lapse while waiting for state funding in 2028 would be a dereliction of the district's values. "It would be an even greater shame and loss to let the program fail and lapse during the intervening years," {{quote:1793}} Ruder said. {{quote:1705}} **The District’s Response: RFPs and Real Estate** In response to the public outcry, Superintendent Dr. Steven Walker pushed back against the characterization that the board was being adversarial. "All I would gently push back on is the assertion that somehow it feels adversary... There is no intent from anyone who's seated at this table to allow UPK to flounder, to fail, or to be paused in the system," {{quote:4620}} Walker said. "That simply will not happen." {{quote:4620}} Walker announced that the district is actively exploring a "viable possibility" {{quote:4620}} to allocate classroom space at CET to house a community-based organization. By providing district real estate, the administration hopes to lower provider overhead costs, making the program financially sustainable without increasing the per-pupil allocation. "We think of UPK as a program and not necessarily as a specific provider," {{quote:5286}} Walker said. Rachel Axelrod, the district’s UPK coordinator, provided a timeline for the next steps. She confirmed that the district will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) this month, with bids due around January 28. Axelrod noted that the district is also considering "shared services" {{quote:5286}} with adjacent districts that may have open seats. The lottery for seats will open in late February or March, though the exact number of state-funded seats allocated to Croton historically isn't released by the state until summer. {{photo:yt-TzciddgWZcE:8840:Superintendent Walker discusses allocating space at CET to house a UPK program.}} **Curriculum Overhauls and Student Achievement** Before the public comment period, the board heard a detailed presentation on student achievement at the high school. Dr. Laura Dubac, Principal of Croton-Harmon High School, presented data showing the district is among the top performers in the region, earning the AP Honor Roll Platinum Award—one of only three schools in the region to do so. The board also approved the rollout of new "math improvement materials" {{quote:7}} at CET, part of a broader shift in instructional policy [Board Of Trustees 2026-02-25](/article/7). A "CET literacy committee" {{quote:7}} is scheduled to meet on January 26 to finalize a new "comprehensive framework" {{quote:7}} for literacy. Additionally, the board congratulated Denise Sullivan, Assistant Superintendent for Business, on her appointment to the Board of the New York State Insurance Reciprocal, a role that brings prestige to the district's administrative leadership. **What’s Next** The budget season will culminate in the school district budget vote on May 19. In the meantime, parents are organizing tours for local elected officials to lobby for the program. The district expects to open the UPK lottery in late February, with a final recommendation on providers coming at the February board meeting. For residents, the choice is becoming clearer: risk the disruption of a beloved program or open the wallet to keep it. As one parent put it, the question is no longer if the program can continue, but how much the community is willing to pay to ensure it does. --- **References used in this article:** - [Board Of Trustees — 2026-03-26](/article/1) · Infrastructure Fails and Budget Plans Collide: Croton Village Weighs Costs of Aging Water Mains and Winter Overtime - [Board Of Trustees — 2026-02-25](/article/7) · Trustees map 2026 grant strategy after snow budget shatters