Hillcrest students, staff highlight reading, math gains and new programs at Peekskill CSD meeting

At a Peekskill City School District Board of Education meeting (date not specified), Hillcrest Elementary School Principal Crystal Hernandez, staff and students presented school outcomes and enrichment work, including literacy and math gains, new inclusive playground equipment and after-school programming.

The presentation summarized academic measures, arts and extracurricular offerings and family partnerships that staff said supported student engagement. Hernandez said Hillcrest is focused on a “whole child” approach and highlighted dual-language instruction, an after‑school LEAP program, a student newspaper club called the Hawkeyes, and new instruments for the school orchestra.

Hernandez said the school uses data-driven instruction and cited recent reading gains: “The percentage of fourth grade scholars reading at or above proficiency increased by a whopping 40% last year,” she told the board, and also noted other slide figures showing similar gains in Spanish-language reading and math. She said the school serves roughly “about 250 students per grade level.” Dr. James Gordon, who the school identified as an assistant principal, described tiered student supports and expanded morning activities such as gardening, drumming and arts to promote social‑emotional learning.

Students who addressed the board praised recent capital and enrichment work. Alina Adir, Hillcrest student council president, thanked the district, a state senator and the board for a new inclusive playground: “We all appreciate the new inclusive equipment, especially the air glider,” she said. Another student, Austin Clark, described the playground’s value for students who previously could not use the old equipment.

The presentation showcased Hillcrest’s Hawkeyes newspaper and collaborative projects: fifth-grade club reporters said the experience taught research, interviewing and publishing skills and asked the board to consider supporting a middle‑school newspaper to continue the work. Principal Hernandez said district leaders had already discussed bringing the LEAP program and related opportunities to the middle school.

School leaders also described classroom pilot programs using generative AI for differentiated writing assignments. Hernandez credited the pilot with providing immediate feedback to students and summarized the tool’s role in producing teacher-facing summaries of student work to streamline feedback.

Other highlights included new virtual‑reality headsets for student use, expanded music instruction (including recently purchased harps), and a partnership that placed student artwork in nearby senior facilities. Superintendent David Mauricio and other district administrators were on stage to acknowledge staff and families; Mauricio reminded the audience about a May 20 vote mentioned earlier in the meeting and thanked Hillcrest families and staff for their engagement.

Votes at a glance: Trustees handled routine governance motions during the same meeting. Recorded motions on the transcript included: (1) a motion to accept new agenda items 8a–8b (moved by Mrs. McDonald, seconded by Mr. Jenkins) that passed by voice vote with “Aye” responses and no recorded nays or abstentions; (2) a motion to approve business meeting minutes (moved by Mrs. McDonald, seconded by Mrs. Washington) that passed by voice vote; (3) a motion to approve the consent agenda items 11a–14b (moved by Mr. Jenkins, seconded by another trustee as recorded) that passed by voice vote; and (4) a motion to adjourn the meeting and adopt a condolence resolution noting the passing of Mrs. Ruth Cooley (moved by Mrs. McDonald, seconded by Mr. Jenkins) that passed by voice vote. The transcript records verbal “Aye” responses; no numeric tallies were provided.

The presentation emphasized family and community partnerships — for example, LEAP after‑school dinners supported by district staff and a parent leadership team that runs enrichment events. Hernandez singled out several staff and community contributors by name and asked the board to recognize them for sustaining arts, enrichment residencies and family events.

The board meeting segment that included the Hillcrest presentation was followed by brief trustee remarks praising the school’s programs and the student performers. No formal board action specific to Hillcrest programs (such as a funding authorization) is recorded in the transcript segment: the Hillcrest portion was a school update and community showcase rather than a policy vote.

Board President Simpkins closed the Hillcrest portion of the meeting after the student orchestra performance and a short recess, and business resumed with routine agenda items.