Raider Report March 2025

The process of creating the 2025-26 district budget accelerated this month and two propositions likely to appear on the budget and Board of Education election ballot began to take shape.

District leaders on Feb. 12 met for the annual budget workshop with the Board of Education. Department heads and school leaders discussed accomplishments this school year and goals for 2025-26 that will help frame the process of completing a budget draft to put in front of voters. The meeting is a great way for residents to gain a deeper understanding of all that goes on in each corner of the district. Watch the meeting here and read through the presentation here.

The board on Feb. 20 also indicated it would add two propositions to the ballot, one proposing the purchase of four electric school buses at little cost after state aid and grant funding, and one proposing a renovation of the main high and middle school field complex using a grass surface. Scroll down to read more about those tentative plans.

Two board seats will be on the ballot as the terms for members Kelly Borrelle and Charles Kachigian expire at the end of June. The Dutchess County School Boards Association is running a workshop for anyone considering running for a school board seat on Saturday, March 15 from 9-11 a.m. at the Dutchess BOCES Conference Center, 5 Boces Road, Poughkeepsie.

Contact Executive Directly Kelly Lappan at Kelly.lappan@gmail.com to register for the free event. Attendance is not required to run. Red Hook board members serve three-year terms. The deadline to submit a petition to the district clerk to be included on the May 20 ballot is April 21.

The budget and board vote is scheduled for May 20 from noon to 9 p.m. at the Mill Road Elementary School's grades 3-5 cafeteria. The next board meeting is scheduled for March 20.

The annual event connects residents with district leadership through small group conversations in an informal setting. The goal is for us all to think about the future together and learn from each other. This year's session will focus on envisioning the future of our school district as we adapt to evolving graduation requirements, shifting workforce skills, industry demands, job growth and the rapid advancements in technology. As the world changes, so must our approach to education.

Come share your thoughts, ask questions and help shape the direction of our schools as we work together to build a stronger, more inclusive vision for our schools.

Mill Road Elementary will have a place in its 2025-26 Pre-K program for all students whose families submitted an initial interest survey by the Feb. 28 deadline. However, they must complete the registration process to secure their student's seat by April 4.

Parents and guardians are invited to attend one of the school's upcoming information sessions Wednesday, March 12 at 2 p.m. or Thursday, March 13 at 10 a.m., both at Mill Road's K-2 cafeteria. Principal Dr. Brian Boyd and Assistant Principal Kristen Strothmann will be on hand to meet with families and answer questions. The sessions are expected to last 30-35 minutes.

There are two different registration links:

For families new to the Red Hook Central School District, use this link.

For families with a student already attending a district school, use this link.

Find more directions regarding registration on the district's pre-K enrollment page.

Once families complete registration, school leadership will send an email confirming their spot in the program. The school will also communicate important summer dates and other information during the month of May.

The free, full-day program runs five days a week and operates on the district's calendar. Our curriculum-based program blends play, socialization and structured learning, and aligns with state standards for pre-K instruction. Students enjoy engaging activities including art, music, physical education and use of facilities like our Imagination Station, school garden and nature trail. Students must turn 4 years old by Dec. 1 of the enrollment year to be eligible.

Though only those who expressed interest in the Pre-K program by Feb. 28 are guaranteed a spot, families can still fill out the form here to be added to the waiting list for potential inclusion.

The district is seeking to purchase four new electric school buses as it progresses toward meeting New York State’s zero-emission vehicle mandates. The bus purchases would be of little cost to local taxpayers thanks to grants and state aid reimbursement programs.

In addition, the district announced the two electric buses voters approved last spring will retroactively also come at little cost to taxpayers, through the same programs.

The Board of Education at its meeting Feb. 20 expressed its intention to add a proposition to purchase additional electric buses on the May 20 school budget and board election ballot, following a presentation from district officials.

The district has traditionally proposed voters approve the purchase of two to three buses per year, following a roughly 12-year cycle for replacing the entire district fleet. By purchasing four this year, the district would capitalize on aid programs intended to assist schools’ transition from combustion to non-combustion vehicles and reach clean energy goals.

Officials from the State Education Department State Aid Office informed the district it would be eligible for reimbursement on roughly 50% of the electric vehicles’ full cost. The district also remains eligible for a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, or NYSERDA, grant for roughly $220,000 per bus for up to six buses. Between the two programs, a bus that may cost roughly $460,000 can be obtained for around $10,000.

The exact percentage of reimbursement and cost of the bus is expected to fluctuate, making it impossible to give an exact estimate of how cheap the final expense will be. The district will also have to put forward the cost of the buses before being reimbursed by the state. Consequently, the exact ballot proposition posed to residents will ask if they will support spending several hundred thousand dollars per bus – the exact amount is to be determined – even though there will ultimately be little-to-no impact on taxes following the reimbursement.

Last spring, voters approved the district spending up to $500,000, and no more than $250,000 per bus, to purchase its first two electric school buses. The state reimbursement program, which was not known to the district at the time, applies to that purchase, as well, meaning most of the roughly $237,600 spent by the district per bus will be recovered. The district expects to receive those buses by May 1.

Under a state mandate, no school district will be permitted to purchase a vehicle with a combustion beginning in 2027, and all districts will be required to use only non-combustion vehicles by 2035.

The state believes the shift will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease negative environmental impacts and reduce noise. A district analysis last year showed it would save $1,600 per year, per bus on fuel costs with electric buses.

Red Hook’s fleet encompasses 29 buses and 15 SUVs, vans and sedans, in addition to the two electric buses. By beginning to satisfy the state mandate early and gradually cycling out those combustion vehicles with new electric purchases, the district is seeking to capitalize on available assistance while limiting the fiscal burden that a larger purchase closer to the state deadline would create.

The district is moving forward with addressing issues of safety and accessibility on its main high and middle school athletic field through a capital project proposition this spring. The Board of Education at its meeting Feb. 20 announced it intends to add a referendum on the May 20 school budget and board election ballot asking voters if they would support a renovation project utilizing a grass field surface.

The exact components, cost and proposition language are expected to be determined before the board’s March 20 meeting. Broadly, the project will include rebuilding the grass field with a new grass surface, replacing the surrounding track, replacing the perimeter fence and adding led lighting. It will also include an interior renovation component, making it eligible to receive state aid.

The main field has long been a concern. Years of overuse have rendered the field overly compact, uneven and prone to flooding – which not only causes postponements but also reduces the safety of the surface when in use. Consequently, careful field maintenance has been an ongoing project, and access has been drastically limited in order to keep the field in as good shape as possible.

The fencing has several damaged areas, and the track, which has not been resurfaced since 2010, has several large cracks. The district has presented to voters three previous ballot propositions to renovate the main field in the past three years. With some variations, each called for the construction of a multipurpose space that would include an artificial turf field, lighting, fence repairs and replacement of the track. Voters rejected each proposition, with environmental concerns tied to the artificial surface a common reason cited.

Most recently in October, residents voted down a proposal to renovate the main field while approving a separate proposition to fix two other troubled field spaces with grass surfaces and drainage. Voters also approved a proposition to address interior building issues, including a renovation project for the high school gymnasium.

Since October, the board Facilities Committee has been sifting through options for how to address the main field, which included the possibility of simply repairing the grass surface and surrounding elements without another capital project. That option, though, would cost upwards of $875,000 and not be eligible for state aid; it would also more than likely need additional repairs much more quickly than a full field replacement.

The new direction approved by the Board of Education would give Red Hook students a pristine and accessible playing surface with improved drainage. Its main use would be for football and lacrosse competitions and the track and field team, with other fields and spaces utilized for practices and the physical education department.

The district would aim to preserve the surface and protect against the overuse that has plagued the schools’ fields. The led field lighting, several board members said Thursday, is an important aspect to include in the project as it would allow for nighttime football games and other community events that would inspire school pride and boost the student experience.

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As she painted purple tail feathers on a roughly three-foot hummingbird, April Castelo Branco pictured what it would be like when the mural she and her classmates were creating is adorned on a wall outside Red Hook High School. “I’ve thought about what it will be like pointing it out to my mom and saying, ‘Oh yeah, I painted that part,’ or just coming back and seeing it still hanging up,” the freshman said.

Castelo Branco was one of more than 70 Red Hook High School students who helped paint the 12-by-8-foot mural, which will take the place of an existing mural to the left of the school’s main entrance. More than simply a public art project, the piece is a part of a larger push to revitalize the Healing Garden that surrounds the entrance and an effort to bolster student well-being through the calming nature of the space, gardening and artistic endeavors.

The project was facilitated by a $3,400 grant from the Red Hook's Arts and Education Program and Dutchess County BOCES Arts in Education/Exploratory Enrichment. Red Hook Education Foundation board member and art educator Ali Roland, a driving force behind the garden’s genesis 17 years ago, spearheaded the project in association with Julia Shultis, art department coordinator, bringing in professional muralist Ramiro Davaro-Comas to guide the students. The mural will be unveiled at the school during an event scheduled for May 28 at 11:15 a.m. in the school lobby.

The project embodied many of the elements of the Raider profile, encouraging students to collaborate, create, consider their emotional health and problem solve. The garden in recent years has not been properly maintained and students do not frequently utilize the area’s benches or greenery. Ms. Roland intends to continue working with teachers and students to revive the garden completely to become a space that may not only be a destination for students to relax but also host events, such as poetry readings or recitals, and be incorporated into lesson plans. “The mural will beautify the space and generate more interest in bringing the garden back to life,” she said.

The mural’s design includes images of plants and animals drawn by students during an introductory session with Mr. Davaro-Comas. The artist took those elements to create the complete image the students painted during three days in late January and early February. The theme was inspired by the mural’s intended setting and purpose. “The students spent two classes learning about local native plants and sketching out their own plant drawings to be used for the mural,” Ms. Roland said. “Ramiro took all the students' color drawings back to his studio where he selected several that he copied into the final mural design concept. The color palette selected by the students was also applied to the final design.”

The act of painting is meditative. And, the vibes inside Ms. Shultis’ classroom as students painted were relaxed, with music softly playing in the background. “I’ve been really enjoying it,” freshman Isaac Imboden said. “The whole structure of the project is very fun and engaging, and helps you connect to your peers. You’re making something new together.”

Castelo Branco said she likes painting and Mr. Davaro-Comas’ direction removed any stress from the project. “I already know what I’m doing,” she said. “I can just do it without having to think.”

That was one of the goals, Roland said, noting the majority of students surveyed afterward said they felt the project had reduced their stress and made them feel calmer. Longevity was a consideration throughout the process, as well. Most of the students who participated are in the ninth grade, with some in 10th, by design. “We felt the ninth graders would be here for the next few years. They would have a lot of pride and ownership in this,” Ms. Shultis said. “They can show their friends. They’ll be here to really enjoy it.”

Students and staff are anticipating the spring unveiling, and what a revived garden will bring to the school. “A bunch of people are going to see this when they come to the school and walk in each day,” Imboden said. “It’s going to be awesome.”

Ninety-five percent of Red Hook High School students who began in fall 2020 graduated on time last summer, and nearly half of them earned a diploma with an advanced designation. Red Hook finished the 2023-24 academic year tied for the second-highest four-year graduation rate among Dutchess County public schools.

The 95% represents an improvement of eight percentage points over the previous year. The cohort thrived despite being the first students to begin at the high school after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re very excited,” High School Principal Kyle Roddey said. “We’re really proud of that growth, proud of our faculty and proud of our students for the resilience they’re showing.”

Sixty-three of the 128 graduates earned a Regents diploma with an advanced designation, which includes additional foreign language, science and math requirements. The school in recent years has placed an emphasis on in-depth educational opportunities, such as its International Baccalaureate program; 12 earned full IB diplomas last June.

Statewide, the graduation rate for 2023-24 was 86%. In Dutchess, Spackenkill High School had a graduation rate of 98% and Millbrook also graduated 95%. When looking at districtwide data, which includes students within the district but who may not take part in the traditional high school program, Red Hook’s graduation rate of 94% was second in the county, behind Spackenkill. Data included not only those who graduated in June but anyone else who completed their diploma by the end of August.

Mr. Roddey attributed the graduation rate increase largely to Red Hook’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, or MTSS, committee. The group, composed of school administrators, counselors, social workers, psychologist, a nurse and a teacher, and led by Assistant Principal Colleen Lynch, works to identify students early on who may need additional support and provide help through an action plan to ensure they do not fall through the cracks. Both Mr. Roddey and Ms. Lynch said while the improvement is exciting, the goal is always to improve graduation rates and reach 100%.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janet Warden called the graduation rate “a collective effort” that can be celebrated by all members of the district. “From teachers to cafeteria and custodial staff to counselors – everyone works each day to support student achievement,” Dr. Warden said. “We’re so lucky to have a community that supports public education.” The superintendent also credited Roddey: “He’s very detailed. He focuses in on every single kid to meet their individual needs to thrive.”

Red Hook has routinely enjoyed graduation rates topping 90% in recent years. Still, the 2023-24 class’ outcome represents the district’s second-highest percentage in more than a decade, even as it navigated the challenges of the pandemic and the increased social-emotional factors tied in with the rise of social media and smartphone use. “We’re starting to see our cohorts emerging from that storm who have built resiliency and stick-to-itveness,” Mr. Roddey said, “and I think being more focused on their own success.”

USA Today’s 2025 Women of the Year list includes a face familiar to anyone who has come through the Red Hook Central School District since 1961. Martha Strever is the representative from New York on the annual list.

The Linden Avenue Middle School math teacher is one of 61 women across the country highlighted for breaking barriers, pushing for change and making communities better. The list includes seven national honorees and one from each state, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. One state honored a group of three women. Each was profiled with an article and video feature. The list ranges from Olympian Ilona Maher, United Way CEO Angela Williams and Astronaut Kellie Gerardi as national honorees to local activists, emergency responders and members of Congress.

Ms. Stever was honored not only for her longevity – her 64 years (and counting) at LAMS make her not only the longest-serving active teacher in New York but likely the longest serving teacher ever, among other records – but also for the impact she continues to make on students.

This marks the fourth year USA Today has cultivated the list and the first time a representative of the mid-Hudson Valley has been selected. Read the profile of Ms. Strever here and see the entire 2025 Women of the Year list here.

The Red Hook High School Hardscrabble Players production of "Bye Bye Birdie" is scheduled for this month, culminating months of preparation for the spring musical.

There will be three performances of the musical comedy: Friday and Saturday, March 14 and 15, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 16, at 2 p.m., at the school's Performing Arts Center.

Advance tickets cost $12 for students and seniors and $14 for general admission; tickets at the door will cost $1 more. Visit this link to secure your seat.