Raider Report May 2024

The Red Hook Central School District is proposing a $62.84 million 2024-25 budget that maintains services enjoyed by district families while remaining under the tax cap.

The budget vote and school board election is Tuesday, May 21st. In addition to the budget, there are four other propositions on the ballot, including a capital improvement project. Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. at the Mill Road Intermediate School Cafeteria.

Red Hook officials are inviting all community members to learn more about the budget and the programs offered throughout the district at its inaugural Budget Expo at Red Hook High School, 6 p.m., on May 8th. Following a 6:30 p.m. budget hearing in the Performing Arts Center, residents will be able to speak with staff and student representatives of many programs and initiatives, as well as learn more about the propositions.

The $62,844,338 million spending plan, adopted by the Board of Education on April 23rd, represents a 4.26% increase over 2023-24 and a 3.47% increase to the tax levy. Bruce Martin, Assistant Superintendent for Business, noted due to the growth of the tax base, the district anticipates the actual increase to the typical tax bill to be in the range of 2.25 to 2.5 percent.

The budget includes roughly $17.75 million in state aid and $2.8 million of appropriated fund balance. The district would maintain an unassigned fund balance of $2.5 million. “The district’s proposed spending plan is fiscally responsible while being mindful of the holistic needs of each student and conscious of environmental sustainability,” Superintendent Dr. Janet Warden said. “We hope residents agree and support the budget and each proposition on May 21.”

Should district voters decline to support the budget proposal, the district’s contingency budget of $61,514,705 would precipitate several measures to decrease spending, including the elimination of between 11 and 15 staff positions, and the discontinuation of several existing programs.

The district is holding a voter registration event on May 8 from 2 to 7:30 p.m. at the Red Hook High School Performing Arts Center. Applications for Early Mail ballots and absentee ballots will also be available. To obtain an application for Early Mail Ballots or Absentee Ballots, please visit our website here. The budget newsletter is available on the Red Hook district website. The newsletter is scheduled to be delivered to residents by USPS between May 9-14.

What else is on the ballot

Three seats on the Board of Education are open, each carrying three-year terms. Five candidates will appear on the ballot in the following order: Austin Crittenden, Jennifer Mañón, Seth Halvorson, Mark G. Maroney and Erin Misasi.

There are four additional propositions on the ballot separate from the budget: A school bus purchase, a $14.95 million capital improvement project, and increases in appropriations for the Red Hook and Tivoli Free libraries.

Proposition 2 asks voters to approve up to $500,000 to purchase electric school buses, with a maximum cost of $250,000 per bus after outside grant or funding assistance.

Proposition 3 asks voters to approve a capital improvement project which includes:

• New LED lighting for Red Hook High School and Mill Road Elementary School
• Expanding and upgrading the air conditioning at Mill Road
• Bolstering the boiler system at Linden Avenue Middle School
• Expanding ease of access to the lockdown system in each school
• Repairs to the four front columns of the Linden Avenue building
• Installation of a multipurpose educational and athletic field
• Installation of new field lighting
• Resurfacing of the outdoor track, which is cracked and was last resurfaced in 2010
• Improvements to the other athletic fields’ drainage system
• New fencing for the track and multipurpose field
• Replacement of the high school’s gymnasium bleachers and wall padding, and renovation of its floor

The district is intending to bond the project over a 15-year period, with state aid expected to pay for 64.4 percent of the project. The average cost to a district taxpayer is projected at 1.4 percent for the first year, but would be expected to decline over the course of project.

Proposition 4 asks voters to increase the annual appropriation to the Red Hook Library by $16,000, to the total amount of $224,400. Proposition 5 asks voters to increase the annual appropriation to the Tivoli Free Library by $15,071, to the total amount of $105,371.

For more information on voting, the budget, school board election and propositions, visit RedHookCentralSchools.org

Before the Red Hook Central School District asks voters to support its $62.84 million budget, the District is providing residents with an opportunity to see how their taxes are being spent.

That’s why on May 8th, the district is inviting residents to visit Red Hook High School for not only its annual budget hearing but also to showcase current programming, innovative educational initiatives, and future growth plans.

The inaugural Red Hook Budget Expo will begin with a reception and refreshments at 6 p.m. in the school’s state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center. After the budget hearing at 6:30 p.m., attendees will be invited to explore the gymnasium and school to speak with staff and student representatives regarding programs and ballot propositions.

“Each year when we ask residents to support our budget or ballot initiatives, we are asking residents to trust that we are putting their tax dollars to the best use for their children,” Superintendent Dr. Janet Warden said. “We’re proud of the programs, resources, and the curriculum we offer our students. We want everyone to see for themselves what we see every day and our vision for the future.”

Visitors will be able to tour the athletic fields and an electric bus. School representatives will also be on hand to discuss the capital project and the reasons the district believes it is a necessary improvement for the district.

Staff and students will also be available to discuss such curriculum as the International Baccalaureate Program and project-based learning, as well as the theatre, arts, robotics, SRO and athletic programs, and others.

Residents can also visit the foyer outside of the high school’s Performing Arts Center from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 8 to register to vote. Early mail ballots and absentee ballots will be also available.

The district started their many end-of-year activities, an exciting time when our students shine as they display their talents and abilities. We take immense pride in their accomplishments. Additionally, we're delighted to announce that Red Hook High School has once again been recognized as a top-ranked high school by the US News and World Report. This achievement is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our community, teachers, staff, and students.

As we look ahead to the 2024-2025 school year, our proposed budget includes key factors such as CPI, Tax Base Growth Factor, and Capital Exclusion. Our proposed capital project renovations aim to create physical spaces that amplify our instructional programs while ensuring greater accessibility for all students. Our most recent project was completed with a significant cost saving of $3 million below budget, alleviating the need for additional funds from taxpayers. This achievement underscores our commitment to vigilant cost monitoring throughout the project’s timeline. It is also crucial to emphasize that the proposed project carries a total cost of $14.95 million. With nearly two-thirds of the cost covered by state aid, the final cost to the district will amount to approximately $5 million plus interest. This highlights our prudent financial planning and the effective utilization of available resources to minimize the financial burden on taxpayers. Furthermore, the district is actively pursuing grants to mitigate the expenses associated with acquiring electric buses.

You're all invited to join us at the Budget Expo on May 8th at 6:00 PM, hosted at Red Hook High School. This event promises to showcase our diverse array of programs and provide insightful highlights on the items featured in the upcoming budget. We look forward to your attendance and participation.

Once again, Red Hook High School can call itself one of the top institutions in the country. U.S. News and World Report included Red Hook in its list of the Best High Schools for 2024, a ranking that places an emphasis on college readiness and higher-education curriculum. “As it has in the past, U.S. News and World Report’s formula showed what we in Red Hook have known,” Superintendent Dr. Janet Warden said. “Students graduate from our high school prepared to take on the challenges of college, with skills and training that will aid in future professional success.”

The annual rankings were released Tuesday, April 23, with a methodology that takes into account data from the U.S. Department of Education, state assessments, College Board (Advanced Placement) and International Baccalaureate. The College Readiness Index and College Curriculum Breadth Index, two measurements of student participation and proficiency on Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams, accounted for 40 percent of a school’s score. Other factors included proficiency and performance on state math, science and reading assessments (40 percent); learning outcomes for underserved students, including a school’s Black, Hispanic and low-income populations; and a school’s graduation rate. Red Hook was ranked 3,083 out of 17,655 public high schools nationwide, or in the top 18 percent; it was 292nd in New York, in the top 23 percent.

Graduation and test performance data factored into the rankings dated to 2022. Red Hook’s score included a graduation rate of 92 percent, with 45 percent of students taking at least one AP exam and 32 percent passing at least one exam.

The Red Hook Central School District in recent years has expanded its focus on college readiness, launching new classes and initiatives, and providing students with spaces such as the Performing Arts Center, which boasts professional-level stage production resources. The high school is preparing to launch “IB English for All” this fall, making IB coursework accessible to all students whether or not they intend to pursue an IB diploma. Red Hook High School Principal Kyle Roddey said the school “is once again thrilled” to be recognized by the publication. "This report is a wonderful validation of all the outstanding things taking place at Red Hook High School,” Roddey said. “Our faculty and staff continue to go above and beyond to support our students, and our students do incredible things each day. We are so proud of our upcoming expansion of the International Baccalaureate Program alongside strides we continue to make in theater, STEAM and so much more."

In 2023-24, RHHS is offering 25 IB classes in English, art, film, foreign language, math, physical education, math, science, and social studies and nine AP classes in English, math, music, and social studies.

One year later, Red Hook High School Senior Emily Anderson comes clean. One day last year, she stayed home from school to finish an art project. It was a large canvas painting inspired by Freddie Mercury. In the piece, Ms. Anderson said she was exploring anatomy and the way lighting can affect the texture and color of skin while depicting the late Queen singer in an S-shaped curve.

“That was a really big, monumental thing of my junior year,” Emily said. “It was the first time I ever did anything so big and I put so much time and effort into such a big thing. I’d love for people to see what I’ve done and kind of appreciate it.”

The Red Hook Community had that chance when the high school held its Senior Art Show, which debuted May 2nd, in the atrium of the Performing Arts Center. It was the first of two year-end art shows to be held in the atrium, with the district-wide art show scheduled for May 23rd.

More than a dozen high school senior artists exhibited a selection of their work at the annual senior show, which also featured live music from senior students. District Art Department Coordinator Julia Shultis called the show “a rite of passage” for departing artists “to be able to look back at what they’ve been able to accomplish to the arts and show the public.”

RHHS Senior Laura Holtman mostly displayed ceramic pieces. She said her favorites are a bowl-shaped to look like an octopus wrapped around it and a plant pot decorated with animals like frogs and insects. Each took about a month to create. “I put a lot of detail into each,” Laura said. “I’d say I’m most proud of those pieces.”

In addition to the students and their families, Mrs. Shultis said the senior-focused night is important to the district’s instructors. “It really is a culmination of everybody’s instruction and time that all the teachers throughout the pre-K through 12 experience have helped these students to get to where they’re at for senior year,” she said. “It’s really a celebration for all of us.”

Students in the International Baccalaureate art program are required to participate as part of their assessment. Interested seniors outside of the program were also invited to exhibit. The students curate their presentations for the show, which is one aspect taught to the students, Mrs. Shultis said.

Emily Anderson spoke about her selections two days before the show while sitting in an art class finishing her final piece. The art represents “the evolution of me,” she said, with pieces from ninth to 12th grade. “I truly wanted to document my process as an artist and as a student in high school through my artwork,” she said, “and show people how I progressed as a person and how my style has changed and how my ideas have changed.”

The district art show from 4 to 6 p.m. May 23rd, will include pieces selected by art teachers throughout the district created through the course of the year. Recent Red Hook graduates are set to play music at the show and refreshments will be available. “The district art show is more salon style, it’s just artwork all up the wall, everywhere,” Mrs. Shultis said. “Everybody brings their favorite pieces. We put it anywhere and everywhere we can.”

An overnight school trip can be rowdy. Free of the confines of the classroom and surrounded by busloads of friends, the fun can sometimes overwhelm the education. But as the eighth-grade gaggle from Linden Avenue Middle School reached the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery, the mood changed. “They really came together to respect the changing of the guard,” said Class of 2028 co-advisor Lauren Cerulo. The pensive calm was similar one day earlier at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Mrs. Cerulo noted, “It’s those quiet moments where they rise to the occasion and are really in tune. They see something they know nothing about.”

The annual eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C., April 24-26, struck a balance between a light-hearted way for students to celebrate the end of middle school and a tangible educational experience that caught some students by surprise. Highlights of the trip, Mrs. Cerulo said, ranged from time in museums and a tour of the Capitol Building to a dinner cruise on the Potomac River. “They hang out. There’s usually a DJ and a dance floor,” she said of the cruise. “We got off and the kids were like, ‘Thank you so much for doing this. It’s nice to be together.’” Making the nation’s capital and history a physical reality is the point of the trip, Cerulo said. “They get to see a lot of history,” she said. “They learn about it, but it’s the hands-on stuff. They actually are there and get to experience it and see it.”

The American History Museum made a somewhat unexpected impression on Noah Munn. “We got to see a lot of relics from World War I, World War II. It was really cool,” Noah said. “I didn’t think it would be as fun to be at the museums, but it turned out to be fun.”

In addition, the group visited Fort McHenry in Baltimore; the Washington Monument, the Natural History Museum, the National Archives, and the World War II, U.S. Marine Corps War, Korean War, Vietnam Veterans, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., FDR, Jefferson and Lincoln memorials.

Through news broadcasts, movies and television shows, not to mention classes and textbooks, everyone knows about Washington D.C. and its monuments. But going there and feeling its gravity is a different experience. Lemoni Castelo Branco said she didn’t truly understand the historic feeling of its streets. “It’s nice to be there in the spring,” Lemoni said, noting, “it’s really clean.” Miss Castelo Branco said the Holocaust Museum made an impression. Lemoni said they listened to a survivor tell their story of losing most of their family, and walked down a recreated street. “It was like walking there and seeing what they saw,” Lemoni said. “I found it really cool.”

Mrs. Cerulo said the students were eager to ask about the experiences and jobs of people they met along the way, as well as the tour guides stationed on each bus. “At the White House, some of the kids wanted to talk to the Secret Service who were guarding out front,” she said. “They really get to speak to people who have actual knowledge and get to ask what they want to ask about what’s going on.” Mrs. Cerulo noted, “It’s being there and seeing it for them, that’s the big thing they take away from it. That, and a dinner cruise.”

Mill Road elementary students received a lesson in responsibility and enacting positive change while singing along with educationally focused tunes.

Jared Campbell, a singer-songwriter who performs in schools for students of all ages, played a pair of shows at Red Hook High School’s Performing Arts Center April 30 for the district’s youngest learners. After Mill Road’s primary students cheered and sang songs about kindness and anti-bullying, a second show for Mill Road’s intermediate students focused on being a leader and a change agent.

Jared opened the early show telling the students about lessons a coach taught him about being a “good sport.” He told them to “play by the rules,” “be a good team player” and “have a good attitude.” The performer explained those rules are true off the field, as well.

“If you want to be a good sport at school, all you got to do are those three things,” he told them.

Then, the song began, and the singalong was on:

“I am a good sport.

I play by the rules.

I am a good sport.

If I win or lose.”

Mill Road principal Dr. Brian Boyd watched as the students were enthralled in Campbell’s call-and-response interaction style. “He sings about respect, responsibility and treating others with kindness,” Dr. Boyd said. “He’s a terrific performer.”

Spring has flowers blooming, plants growing and Mill Road students returning to the garden.

The Mill Road Garden officially welcomed students back for the spring season April 9, as Madison Winters’ first-grade class toured the space with garden instructor Douglas Keto.

After the students ran from the Mill Road school building, across the playground areas and barreled down the hill, Keto greeted them at the entrance to the garden.

Walking around the space, Keto pointed out what was already sprouting, including a variety of orange and yellow flowers, as well as the beginnings of strawberry and garlic plants. Daffodils, tulips, lilies, apple blossoms, redbud and cherry flowers were among those to bloom early.

After showing them the progress on a peach tree located near the center of the garden, Keto walked the students outside the fenced off space to explain the large square patch of nearby dirt would slowly transform into a wildflower garden, complete with artificial ponds for hosting frogs and a wooded seating area.

Keto finished the session by giving the students the option of having free time to themselves walking around the space or helping him with the gardening work. Though only a handful at first opted to get their hands dirty, before long nearly all the first-graders were joining in weeding and removing grass where soon new growth will appear.