Peekskill residents will go to the polls on May 20 to vote on the Peekskill City School District’s proposed 2025-26 budget of $131,740,528.
The proposed budget is about 7 percent higher than last year’s budget of $123 million. The proposed tax cap is 4.59 percent, the projected increase in tax levy 1.50 percent and projected tax rate increase 0.59 percent.
The homeowner impact is projected at a $3.67 increase monthly and a $44.03 increase annually.
At the May 6, Board of Education meeting, Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Mauricio said, “We don’t tell you how to vote, but we ask you to exercise your vote. It’s very important that we hear your voice.”
Of the$131 million-plus budget, about $74.6 million (57 percent) comes from state aid, about $46 million (35 percent) from tax levy, about $9 million (8 percent) from other revenue, such as utilities tax, sales tax and miscellaneous), and $2 million (1.5 percent) from assigned fund balance.
Cynthia Hawthorne, Assistant Superintendent for Business, said everything in the budget is to continue the “Peekskill Promise,” a mission by the district to “educate and empower all students to strive for excellence as life-long learners who embrace diversity and are contributing members of a global society.”
The budget includes three part-time monitors at Oakside/Woodside/Hillcrest Elementary Schools ($33,201), a full-time physical education teacher also assisting with health programs at Peekskill High School and Middle School ($140K), and a college and career school counselor at the high school, funded by a combination of grant funds and the district’s general fund ($140K).
The educational plan also includes the addition of French to the High School World Language Program, to expand students’ linguistic options; continued support of social emotional and academic programs previously funded through the American Rescue Plan; and $500K for flooring replacement and abatement at the high school, Oakside Elementary and Hillcrest Elementary Schools.
Highlights from the elementary level include a STEM [Science Technology Engineering Math] enrichment program, math enrichment, continued enhancement of the phonics program, daily accelerated instruction to individual students needs, the dual language program, literacy, special education and math coaches, and the music and the brain curriculum, which teaches students music theory and piano skills.
For secondary level, there are accelerated classes at Peekskill Middle School, pathway-driven courses at the high school, the New York State Seal of Biliteracy and Civic Readiness, and the Extended Day Program.
Additional highlights:Pre-K through Grade 12 included increased parent education; continued technology enhancements (including fully equipped STEM exploratory classrooms); staff for dedicated English as a New Language (ENL);, continued growth of Social Emotional Learning (SEL); continued expansion to the Community School Model providing enrichment opportunities.
The three-part budget is 77 percent for program, 14 percent for capital and nine percent for admin.
The budget by object is 67.89 percent salaries and benefits; 9.49 percent contractual; 9.10 percent Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES); 5.86 percent interfund transfers; 5.09 percent tuition; 1.53 percent material and supplies; 0.66 percent textbooks; 0.38 percent equipment.
Some increases in the budget compared to last year included the Board of Education (5.74 percent); curriculum development and support (4.78 percent); security (51.65 percent); youth program (10.53 percent); maintenance on plant (7.33 percent).
Some decreases compared to last year’s budget include computer assisted instruction (-4.78 percent);, health services – Reg. school (-5.33 percent); custodians at the high school (-21.21 percent); BOCES services (-21.01 percent); security at the high school (-8.41 percent).
A May 6 hearing of the budget was not not attended by any members of the public.
Challenges in funding budget is a constant
In March, the U.S. Department of Education canceled over $1 billion in grants from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), reportedly canceling tutoring and counseling funds for hundreds of students across Westchester County.
That included $500K slashed from the Peekskill City School District, said State Sen. Pete Harckham, shortly after the March announcement on a social media post where he criticized the cutting of education resources.
But on the same day as the budget presentation, May 6, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction ordering the Trump Administration to restore states’ access to those rescinded funds.
New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 16 attorneys general and the Pennsylvania governor in suing the Trump administration for ending access to the funds cited in the law aimed at helping Americans respond and recover from the impacts of Covid-19, including aid to help students recover educationally.
“The Trump administration’s illegal decision to cut off essential education funding put some of our most vulnerable students at risk of failing behind in school,” James said in a release. “[The judge’s decision to restore states’ access to the funds]is a major win for our students and teachers who are counting on this funding to help them succeed.”
Michael Simpkins, outgoing president of the district’s Board of Education, told the Peekskill Herald that in his more than 23 years on the board, the budget was never fully funded and has always been a challenge.
However, he said, thanks to good superintendents of business administration, the district has had the foresight to pre-plan and maintain its budget in a way that allows them to continue [their work].
“The public voted on us to have a capital funding foundation so that we can plan for a capital project in the future,” Simpkins said. “The money is stored away for emergencies and [other expenses]. The money is there because we’ve been good custodians of public money.”
Simpkins said it was important to keep the district’s “Peekskill Promise,” as well as keep funding the arts.
“[It was] important in maintaining our LEAP programs, maintaining our art programs, which are the first thing they go at,” Simpkins said. “That’s the first thing they think about cutting.”
The LEAP Program is an initiative to help students with academic and enrichment activities that was funded by a $1.2 million, five-year grant. Program Director Maria Olivier-Flores previously said a sustainability plan was being worked on to strategize how to extend the grant after it expires in two years.
Simpkins commended district staff who have identified children’s needs and have been able to submit grants to meet those needs.
“They’re always writing and soliciting and thinking about what our kids need and what grants are out there,” Simpkins said. “You got to know what grants are out there in order to apply to supplement what’s coming down the road. And our staff was able to do that.”
Voting information: Annual budget and three open Board of Ed seats
The vote on the annual 2025-26 budget will take place on Tuesday, May 20. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Peekskill High School, 1072 Elm Street.
All individuals must be qualified to vote, which requires being a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and a resident of the school district for at least 30 days prior to the vote.
For more information about the vote, including early mail-in ballots and absentee ballots, click here.
Three seats on the Board of Education, each carrying three-year terms, are up for election.
Candidates for the three open Board of Ed seats are Jillian Villon (incumbent), Frank Robinson Jr., Mary Angel Flores, Hilda Kinga Portik-Gumbs. Board president Michael Simpkins and trustee Eric Rekeda are not running for re-election.
For the full budget and educational plan, click here.