Millbrook BOE holds public hearing on budget, talks about graduation

MILLBROOK — The Millbrook Central School District (MCSD) Board of Education (BOE) held the required public hearing on its 2021-22 budget on Tuesday, May 4, via Zoom; was live streamed on YouTube. The public was invited and could send in any questions it had before the hearing. 

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Facilities Brian Fried gave a short presentation on the budget at the start of the meeting. Stating that the over arching goal was for all students to continue to have access to the district’s programs and services, Fried said that the only programs that were cut in next year’s budget were scheduled to be retired anyway. 

He reminded those present there is still a need to plan the MCSD’s re-entry for next year following this year’s mostly remote learning schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that he believed the budget was a “thoughtful” fiscal plan with a commitment to Millbrook’s evolving academic, co- and extra-curricular, social and emotional programs.

The school board had previously adopted the 2021-22 school district budget at an earlier meeting this month; the budget will be put before voters on Tuesday, May 18. The ballot will ask for voters to pass Proposition A, which the  proposed $31,714,951 school district budget, with a suggested tax levy of $25,418,814, an increase of .97% over this year’s budget. (For a full report on the 2021-22 budget and the other propositions that will be up for vote, go to www.tricornernews.com.)

Fried reported the unexpected news that the district shall receive state aid at record levels, some of which will go toward its pre-k program. There are currently 26 slots available in the program. There is also a one-time federal aid program offering $1.1 million dollars, much of which will go toward summer and after-school programs, he noted.

According to Fried, if the budget does not pass, it will be put out and voted on a second time, as the state requires a contingency budget that does not raise the tax levy. That would require the district to make transportation changes, not include any capital projects, for certain programs to be contracted, to make administration cuts and for the staff to be reduced.   

District Clerk Cheryl Sprague asked if there were any questions from the public regarding the budget; there were none so the hearing was closed. 

BOE meeting continues

Superintendent of Schools Laura Mitchell reported that everyone was happy to be back to in-person learning. She gave the enrollment statistics for the MCSD: Elm Drive Elementary School has 150 in-person students, 16 are still learning remotely; Alden Place Elementary School has 135 in-person students, 23 are still learning remotely; Millbrook Middle School has 144 in-person students, 61 are still learning remotely; and Millbrook High School has 180 in-person students, 117 are still learning remotely.

Mitchell also reported that the district’s sports complex and playgrounds are open with new signage explaining COVID safety regulations. She said there are some live events planned: Friday, June 4, there will be a field day for the elementary and middle schools and a prom for the high school; on Wednesday, June 9, there will be a drama program, a concert and a recital; on Wednesday, June 16, a National Honor Society Induction ceremony will take place; graduation will take place on Friday, June 25, at 7 p.m. on the sports field. 

There are 72 graduates expected; each will be allowed six guests as of now. Each guest must have a negative COVID test 72 hours before the event; a negative rapid test six hours prior to attending; full immunization 14 days prior; or prove a 90-day recovery period from COVID. The ceremony will also be live-streamed.

There will also be a web page devoted to the 2021 graduating class on the school’s website. All information about live events and other moving-on ceremonies and celebrations will be posted online.

The BOE meeting then moved on to new staffing and programs that will be implemented in the 2021-22 school year and a report given by Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Pupil Personnel Services Caroline Hernandez-Pidala. 

Hernandez-Pidala said that the summer and after-school programs would be a help for those students who struggled through the remote learning process during the pandemic.

The two pre-k classes set for next year plan to have 15 children each; if more register the district may have a lottery. Interested parties should check the website for more information, as registration will start early.

In the final portion of the meeting Fried discussed the financial plan, which had dated back to 2019. The board felt the need to keep updated on a variety of events, keeping in mind that no one expected the mold situation that the two elementary schools experienced  or the COVID crisis. There will be more discussions on a new financial plan in the future.

The BOE passed the newly created district policies, authored by outgoing BOE member John Rudy. Rudy, who has served on the school board for more than 29 years, was thanked for the work and his many years as a board member.

The board voted to write a letter of support against starting a charter school in Poughkeepsie. It approved the hiring of an outside auditor, choosing one of three who had been interviewed. 

The last piece of business was a pleasant one, a vote that accepted a donation of $3,077 from the Eastern Dutchess Road Runners Club, from the proceeds of its recent and first-ever Millbrook Marathon.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 18, at 7 p.m. in the library at Millbrook Middle School, located at 43 Alden Place, Millbrook. The MCSD budget vote and BOE elections will be taking place that day in the middle school auditorium, from noon to 9 p.m. For more information, go to www.millbrookcsd.org.