Voters OK school Spending

by Parry Teasdale

GHENT—Voters around the county have overwhelmingly approved public school district annual budgets and ballot propositions. Four of the six districts had posted results on their websites. Only Hudson City School District and Taconic Hills apparently had not posted their outcome as of 11: p.m.

The margin of victory in the New Lebanon was so large for the budget and a bus purchase proposition that, in a brief website letter to the community, schools Superintendent Andrew Kourt referred to the victories as “80%” and “70%” respectively. Read more…

Light shines brighter on these missing or murdered

by DAVID LEE

A march and rally were conducted in Hudson Friday, May 6 in solidarity with the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) officially observed May 5. The march proceeded from the Hudson Riverfront Park up Warren Street to Hudson City Hall where, among the speakers, Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson formalized the annual citywide MMIP Day of Awareness as May 5. Photo by David Lee

HUDSON—May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP), formalized in a proclamation issued by President Biden to raise awareness of the fact that the murder rate of indigenous women is 10 times the national average.

A march and rally was conducted in Hudson on Friday, May 6 to demonstrate local solidarity with the proclamation. The event was organized by the Forge Project, which is a native-led art, culture and decolonial education initiative located on the unceded homelands of the Muh-he-con-ne-ok in Upstate New York. It was the first event of its kind in the area and was supported by RISE (Radical Indigenous Survivance and Empowerment) as well as the Hudson City Council and Mayor Kamal Johnson’s office.

At the May 6 rally, Mayor Johnson formalized the citywide MMIP Day of Awareness May 5. Read more…

Hudson school officials make case for annual budget

by JEANETTE WOLFBERG

HUDSON—City School District (HCSD) Superintendent Lisamarie Spindler and Business Administrator Jesse Boehme reviewed and summarized the proposed 2022-23 budget at the April 26 and May 3 school board meetings. The proposed new budget calls for spending $54,125,024, 3.6% higher than for 2021-22. it will go into effect only if voters pass it on May 17.

Under this budget there will be no lay offs, and the HCSD will replace all retirees, hire more teachers and support staff, and add a second pre-kindergarten class.

Mark DePace, vice president of the board, wondered what to say if a member of the public asked why the budget is increasing while enrollment is decreasing. Read more…

Hawthorne Valley recalls raw milk

by STAFF

HAWTHORNE VALLEY—A press release from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Friday, May 13 says that on Tuesday, May 3 a sample of raw milk was taken from the farm’s creamery’s bulk tank by state Department of Agriculture and Markets. “On Thursday, May 5, this sample came back as presumptive positive for listeria monocytogenes, a harmful bacteria that can cause listeriosis,” according to the release.

The release goes on to say, “This positive result was confirmed on Thursday, May 12. All raw milk has been pulled off the shelf and any that was purchased since May 2 must be discarded. The milk will be retested by the state until it is confirmed that is safe again to consume. Read more…

Students show support for LGBTQ+ club

by EMILIA TEASDALE

KINDERHOOK—Several students, a teacher and a parent spoke out in support of the middle school Pride Club at the Ichabod Crane Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 3.

The club, which several of the speakers pointed out is not a mandatory class, meets after school and “offers a safe place for all individuals of all backgrounds and differences,” according to the district website.

The description of the club goes on to say that “our goal, as a club, is to promote and teach tolerance and acceptance throughout the school community and beyond. We also aim to provide a safe, non-judgmental space as a support network for students of all identities in the Ichabod Crane community.” Pride clubs are in many schools in the country and are open to LGBTQ+ students and their allies. There is also a Pride Club in the Ichabod Crane High School. Read more…