Croton-Harmon school leaders outlined plans to add courses and student-support opportunities without adding staff during the Board of Education’s April 9 budget work session. One tradeoff was already clear: a separate high-school robotics elective would wait because of strong demand for the new engineering course. The meeting also highlighted a student-led mentoring program connecting high-school volunteers with elementary pupils, and included acceptance of Athletics Director Christine Drago’s resignation, effective June 30. All seven board members were present: President Ana Teague, Vice President Anamika Bhatnagar, and Trustees Sarah Carrier, Neal Haber, Omar Mayyasi, Theo Oshiro, and Allison Samuels.

Students Honored for Leadership and Technical Achievement

The meeting opened with recognition of four Croton-Harmon High School students inducted into the National Technical Honor Society through their programs at PNW BOCES. Dr. Laura Dubak, CHHS principal, introduced the honorees: Brooke Nusbaum (Child Development & Education), Avery Ragsly (Cosmetology), Bodhi Portnoy (Law Enforcement), and Sophia Misiti (New Visions Health). Board Trustee Neal Haber, who also serves on the PNW BOCES board, praised the range of programs available, from animation and architecture to culinary arts and veterinary medicine, and said the district's support of BOCES programs allows students to find their passions. PNW BOCES Superintendent Neil Boyle put the honor in context: “So, we have about 1,500 kids that go to career in technical education and only about 80 receive this recognition.” Read 6:33▶ The board then recognized the Leaders of Tomorrow, a student-founded peer mentorship program that has grown into what administrators described as the district's largest club. High school students Nicky Mukherjee, Laila Asghar, and Thomas Cornell presented alongside their CET faculty advisors Robin Woolley and Tammiann Trudel. Mukherjee explained that the program originated from a school counseling advisory committee meeting where high school students reviewed behavioral data from Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School. The concept was simple: high schoolers would visit CET on Tiger Tuesdays to mentor younger students during recess, lunch, and classroom activities. What began with hopes of recruiting 35 to 40 students has blossomed into a program engaging approximately 80 high schoolers working with hundreds of elementary students. The program sends small groups of high schoolers into CET classrooms with self-designed lesson plans on topics such as friendship, handling strong emotions, and conflict resolution. The students also organize recess activities and share lunch with the younger children. School counselor Robin Woolley recalled the initial recruitment goal: “And I don't think any of us sitting here ever imagined so many kids would be interested and so many kids would commit to spending their time doing this.” Read 33:45▶ Board members praised the students’ planning and the relationships between high-school volunteers and elementary pupils. The discussion emphasized benefits for both age groups and the hope that the program would continue as students graduate. The presenters described expanding their second-grade work that spring, after a smaller trial, with the goal of reaching all elementary grades the following year. Student adviser Thomas Cornell described the enthusiasm: “They're excited. Today, I even had a few ask if we had a club meeting today because they were they were looking forward to it.” Read 41:43▶

Budget Presentations Showcase Vision Map Progress

Superintendent Stephen Walker introduced presentations covering the proposed 2026-2027 budgets for the three school buildings and Pupil Personnel Services. Walker noted that even in a difficult budget year without new staff additions, the proposed spending plan continues to add new opportunities for students.

Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School

Principal Kerri Bianchi and Assistant Principal Craig Campanaro highlighted recent gains in third- and fourth-grade ELA proficiency, with math scores also above state averages. The presentation touched on school climate data, outdoor learning spaces, and a schedule shift from a six-day to a five-day letter cycle for the coming year. A proposed restructuring of world language for grades K-4 would use shorter, more frequent sessions; Bianchi emphasized that the details were still being worked out. An outdoor classroom and garden space will be available to all students, not as a club but as an extension of the regular school day. Bianchi stressed access to the garden: “It's open to everybody. all classes, all students will have the opportunity to take advantage of that garden space.” Read 78:06▶ Board members engaged in extensive discussion about field trip equity across classrooms and the balance between teacher autonomy and consistent student experiences.

Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School

Acting Principal Nichole Kelly presented a budget emphasizing academic growth and student belonging. Kelly reported US News & World Report recognition for PVC, with a state rank of 209, and cited proficiency figures of 75 percent in math and 73 percent in reading. Kelly highlighted interdisciplinary projects, including eighth graders teaching fifth graders about space exploration, and discussed plans to refine the advisory schedule and passion pursuit offerings. In discussing how to combine existing offerings, Kelly said: “Hey, we might not need more. We could be a little bit more intentional, a little bit more strategic about aligning some of those.” Read 122:01▶

Croton-Harmon High School

Principal Dr. Laura Dubak and Assistant Principal Erica Fiorini showcased strong academic outcomes. Dubak reported 95 percent proficiency on the English Regents exam, second among the 18 districts in the PNW BOCES region. The school’s 2024 AP Honor Roll distinction was at the Platinum level, which she described as reaching roughly 7 percent of high schools nationally. New course offerings for 2026-2027 include AP Psychology, an AP Business course with a Personal Finance Career Kickstart component, and a Project Lead the Way engineering class. The school is joining a national network of STEM-focused schools through the Project Lead the Way program. Dubak also explained a change from the presentation’s course list: “we had also planned to offer a separate robotics course, but we are putting that on hold temporarily because there was such overwhelming interest in the engineering course.” Read 135:29▶ Fiorini described the high school’s introduction of eight interdisciplinary courses, including classes designed to include students with different learning needs. The high-school program also includes expanded college-credit opportunities and a dedicated clubs period within the school day. A discussion emerged about tracking college acceptances to highly selective institutions. The discussion weighed the changing college-admissions landscape, costs and the importance of preparing students for success beyond acceptance rates.

Pupil Personnel Services

Assistant Superintendent for PPS Rachel DePaul presented a budget focused on wellbeing and inclusion. Highlights included the Family Resource Center, which launched this year and offers digital navigation support, counseling referrals, tutoring, parenting workshops, and cultural events. DePaul detailed a new Vocational Readiness Program operated in partnership with Search for Change, a nonprofit that provides transition job coaching at no cost to the district. The program helps students develop soft skills and workplace behaviors, with the goal of placing them in externships and job shadowing opportunities in the village. DePaul described the longer-term aim: “And our goal is ultimately to allow students to be able to be independent and have longterm um job retention.” Read 192:56▶ The proposed budget would also support a new Northwell Health partnership, through BOCES, for community education, staff development and administrative consultation on mental health. DePaul described a needs assessment as part of designing the community sessions; the partnership still depended on support for the budget. DePaul reported that 95 to 97 percent of surveyed students felt a sense of belonging. The separate emotional-safety measure was 97 to 98 percent; it was that measure she compared with national figures in the mid-70s to low 80s.

Policy First Readings

The board reviewed two policies for first reading. Policy 0000, the district's Educational Philosophy statement, is undergoing a regular evaluation cycle. The Policy Committee sought to condense it for clarity, though some trustees felt it may have been shortened too much. Trustee Allison Samuels requested more emphasis on learning and evidence-based decision-making. Trustee Omar Mayyasi described the philosophy language as dense and urged clearer recognition of students’ different ways of learning and the community’s role. Board President Ana Teague asked the committee to make the NYSSBA boilerplate version available between readings for reference. Policy 2510, covering New Board Member Orientation, is being updated to reflect onboarding work accomplished in recent years.

Action Items

The board accepted the resignation of Christine Drago, Director of Athletics, Physical Education, Health and Wellness, effective end of day June 30, 2026. A $23,500 bid award for a scissor lift for grounds maintenance was approved, with the contract going to Olori High Reaching, LLC. The board approved a Side Letter of Agreement with the Croton Teachers' Association and accepted six donations totaling $7,275 for various scholarship funds at Croton-Harmon High School: $4,750 from the CHHS PTSA, $1,000 from Franzoso Contracting for the Erica Illescas Memorial Award, $500 each from the Croton Democratic Committee for the Frances Allen and John Habib scholarships, $500 from the Croton Police Association for the Officer Charles Riegel Scholarship, and $25 from Susan McCormack for the Class of 1985 Scholarship Fund. Two athletic mergers were approved for 2026-2027: a two-way merger with Hendrick Hudson for varsity girls swimming and diving, and a three-way merger with Briarcliff Manor and Hendrick Hudson for modified, JV, and varsity boys volleyball. The consent agenda passed unanimously, including budget transfers totaling $423,221.30 for facilities projects, non-instructional personnel changes, coaching appointments, special education recommendations, treasurer's reports for February 2026, and approval of minutes from three prior meetings. The board's next meeting is scheduled for April 21, when trustees will vote to adopt the superintendent's budget along with the property tax report card. A public budget hearing will follow on May 7, ahead of the May 19 budget vote.