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Candidates at Hendrick Hudson forum center on reserve funds, programs and facilities ahead of May 19 vote
Summary
Five candidates for two Hendrick Hudson Central School District board seats debated district finances, use of reserves after Indian Point’s closure, and priorities for instruction, special education and facilities at a PTA-hosted forum. The election is May 19; voting is in person at Frank G. Lindsey School, 7 a.m.–9 p.m.
Antoinette Pio, Amelia Silverman, Dan Salim, Tamika (Danica) Dietrich and Denise Rivera outlined how they would steer the Hendrick Hudson Central School District through a looming fiscal squeeze and stressed protecting classroom instruction and student services.
The forum, hosted by the district PTAs and moderated by student moderators Ardi Rajashaker and Victoria Shostak, focused early and repeatedly on finance: candidates described a major funding gap since the closure of Indian Point and urged continued advocacy for state and federal assistance. Danica Dietrich, the board’s vice president, said the district has tapped reserves to bridge losses: “This year alone, the board is having to use $7,600,000 out of that money in order to help keep the taxes at a reasonable place,” she said, describing the reserves as finite and urging long-term revenue work.
Why it matters: candidates and incumbents said the district has reorganized reserve funds into categories (capital, repair, retirement, energy stabilization and others) and set aside an undesignated fund balance target (about 4% of the budget). Several speakers repeated the figure that the district lost roughly $25,000,000 in annual funding after Indian Point’s closure and warned that the associated cessation/mitigation funding is time-limited; incumbents said that will push difficult budget choices without additional aid.
On instruction and accountability, incumbent board member Amelia Silverman and other candidates emphasized data-driven evaluation and new assessment tools. Silverman pointed to an upcoming switch to NWEA testing to gather longitudinal student-growth data and said the board has worked to align the administrative team to support consistent instructional practices. “We are going to have a new testing program, the NWEA, which will be able to give you real lifetime data of student…efficiencies,” she said.
Candidates offered broadly similar priorities for protecting classroom instruction, special education and mandated services. Several urged operational efficiencies and reducing outside consultants where possible; the board’s recent actions to cut consultant spending drew praise from multiple candidates as a way to preserve direct student services.
Special education and early intervention were frequent emphases: candidates described efforts to expand in-district supports (dyslexia certification for teachers, MTSS) and proposed workshops to help parents understand IEPs and 504 plans. “We have to help them more than others,” Antoinette Pio said of students who require intensive supports, arguing for stronger early identification and resources.
Arts, enrichment and career readiness also featured. Many candidates called arts and extracurriculars essential to the “whole child,” and suggested asking students what they want, expanding cultural programming and increasing partnerships with local businesses for apprenticeships and internships.
Facilities and capital planning came up as an urgent, concrete need. Incumbents described a roughly $30,000,000 capital bond approved to address high-priority work drawn from a larger needs list they estimated near $90,000,000; candidates stressed finishing those projects and improving accessibility. One incumbent cited a high-school roof estimate of about $1,500,000 as an example of the projects the bond is intended to address.
On technology, answers ranged from advocating balance and professional development to caution about losing basic skills: several candidates supported intentional tech use and board-level policies on AI to prevent plagiarism and define appropriate classroom uses.
The forum closed with short reminders about community engagement and a vote reminder. The PTA-hosted event collected questions from 21 community members (85 total questions submitted) and the moderators reminded attendees that the school board election is Tuesday, May 19, 2026; in-person voting will be held at the Frank G. Lindsey School behind Hendrick Hudson High School, 57 Trolley Road, Montrose, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Next steps: the election will determine two three-year trustee seats. Candidates emphasized different blends of continuity and new perspectives — incumbents highlighted continuity and stability, challengers emphasized outreach and fresh approaches to communication and student opportunities.
