The Haldane Central School District Board of Education held a public hearing on the Energy Performance Contract. Speaking before the Board were John D’Angelo, Fuller & D’Angelo and John Cain, ConEdison Solutions. Click here to view the presentation which highlights the elements of the proposed project. A follow up hearing will be held to finalize follow up plans at 7:30 on September 7, 2010.
Information on school tax bills. We receive phone calls at this time of the year asking "when will I receive my school tax bill?" We anticipate mailing tax bills the last week of August. Two things need to occur before bills are mailed – the Board of Education approves the final tax rate and the County Assessors need to release final assessment information. Last night the Haldane Board of Education approved the final tax rate. Philipstown residents’ school tax bills will increase by .95 % or less than 1%. If for any reason you do not receive your school tax bill by September 6 you may call the tax collector, Jessie DesMarais at 265 – 9254 x 111.
September is just around the corner! Click below to read a letter from Dr. Villanti highlighting summer news (this letter was also sent in e-mail form).
supt letter 810.pdf
The New York State Education Department (SED) will release this week Grades 3 – 8 ELA and math testing results. Commissioner Steiner has been quoted by the media in the last two weeks commenting that NYS has experienced test inflation. The Commissioner has suggested that testing data has artificially increased during the last few years and as a result he has directed testing authorities at SED to change “cut points”. This means that the great majority of NYS school districts will experience declining results in English language arts and mathematics in grades 3 – 8 this year (fewer 3s and 4s and increases in 1s and 2s). Haldane students and parents will be receiving individual testing reports as soon as the District receives student report information.
The Haldane Central School District received notice from the Town of Fishkill that an application has been received to rezone and create a Mobile Home Park (Highland Valley) off of Route 9. This site (AKA the Montfort Mine) is located in the Haldane Central School District. If approved this project could create 210 housing units.
This project (Highland Valley) is being considered for rezoning from their current zoning designations of GB and R-4 zone to a RMF-5 zone and the development impacts associated with the development of the site. This DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) will analyze any potential impacts of the Highland Valley project which is the maximum development potential of the site.
Click here to see the 4/10/10 draft of the DEIS.
The Haldane Central School District has been named an interested party because if the project is approved any school age children will be eligible to attend district schools. The district is preparing a written response to the proposal because this project as proposed would have a dramatic impact on space, transportation, total costs of education and result in significant, school tax rate increases. Reasonable estimates of the number of new school children eligible to attend the Haldane Central School District are 140+ additional pupils.
The Fishkill Town Planning Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Meeting Room, 807 Route 52, Fishkill, New York. On the agenda is a review of Notice of Intent for the Fishkill Town Board to Serve as Lead Agency for the Highland Valley DEIS.
Since this proposal is of great interest to the Haldane School Community we will post updated information as received.