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Hendrick Hudson principals detail curriculum rollouts, UPK expansion and classroom budget shifts
Summary
Principals and curriculum leaders reviewed K–12 curriculum moves—including a district‑wide K–5 ELA implementation, UPK expansion to seven classrooms, a proposed move to trimester reporting in elementary grades, adoption of new science standards and targeted materials increases—while explaining budget code reallocations.
District curriculum leaders and building principals used the Feb. 5 board meeting to explain how proposed program changes would show up in the 2025–26 budget and how those changes relate to instruction.
Margaret Roller (curriculum office) framed the presentation by listing recent accomplishments and ongoing initiatives, including a district K–5 ELA rollout, an updated K–5 report card and a planned schedule review that will inform 2025–26 changes. Roller said the district has introduced curricular coaches and consultants to support ELA and math work and is piloting universal screeners (NWEA MAPS) that “talk to each other and can feed data” to inform instruction.
High school principal Lauren Scollins described classroom changes tied to new state science standards; the freshman Earth and Space Science course will replace former Earth Science, requiring additional supplies. She also said the district is piloting a “Plan” program tied to performance‑based assessments and regional professional learning.
Middle school leadership highlighted advisory program improvements (Positivity Project), expanded MTSS alignment, a new flex program for students with self‑regulation challenges that includes a full‑time psychologist and a teaching assistant, and safety improvements including redesigned evacuation routes and lowering lockdown blinds for classrooms.
Elementary principals and program leads discussed targeted increases for workbooks, materials, music and physical‑education equipment, and noted several budget code reallocations rather than new spending in many areas. The presentation also noted a modest increase in BOCES contractual charges tied to district services, and an anticipated state textbook aid estimate.
The district emphasized that some line‑item increases reflect reallocation of previously budgeted money into clearer codes rather than net new spending. Administrators said they will continue to provide detail during line‑by‑line budget review and will post supporting materials (example: the universal screener presentation recording and parent report comparisons) on the district website.
What happens next: building principals and curriculum staff will provide more granular, line‑by‑line budget details at upcoming meetings and participate in the district’s budget work sessions prior to the March finance committee updates.
