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Sunday, feb 2
Schools
NY Unveils Media Literacy Toolkit For Schools To Combat 'Scourge' Of Misinformation
New York is joining the fight against fake news. Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled the state’s first “Media Literacy” toolkit to help educators teach students how to critically analyze and assess information, particularly online. The initiative, announced Thursday, Jan. 23, follows growing concerns about misinformation, social media influence, and the role of online radicalization in recent violent incidents, including the Buffalo mass shooting, Hochul’s office said. “Whether it’s cell phones and social media or the scourge of misinformation teens encounter each day, I’m taking action to protect …
Schools
Superintendent Suspension: District Names Acting Replacement Amid Controversy In Region
Nearly a week after suspending its superintendent as part of an ongoing investigation and legal proceedings, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education has named her acting replacement. In a meeting on Tuesday night, Jan. 28, the district's Board of Education named Dr. Lisa Boun Acting Superintendent of Schools in a 5-4 vote. Boun's appointment, which will go into effect on Tuesday, Feb. 11, follows the suspension with pay of Superintendent Jackielyn Manning-Campbell on Thursday, Jan. 23. This action followed a recent budget audit alleged…
Schools
BOE Addresses Superintendent's Suspension Amid Ongoing Investigation In Region (
Update
)
The Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education has issued a public statement addressing the recent suspension of Superintendent Jackielyn Manning-Campbell, confirming that the decision was made as part of an ongoing investigation and legal proceedings. In a statement made to Daily Voice on Monday, Jan. 27, Board President Christine Bello emphasized the importance of fairness and confidentiality during this process. "The Board understands the concerns and emotions surrounding this decision," Bello said, adding, "Our priority is to ensure fair and thorough proc…
Schools
School Bus Crash Injures 2 Students In Hudson Valley
Two students were injured in a crash involving a school bus in Sullivan County. It happened in the hamlet of Rock Hill, on Highway 17 near Bridgeville Road, at around 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27. A bus operated by Rolling V Bus Corporation was carrying two Liberty Central School District students, as well as students from other districts, when the bus was involved in a crash, the district said. The two Liberty students were taken to a hospital. The extent of their injuries, their ages, and additional details about the crash were not immediately available. In a statement, the school district th…
Schools
Newburgh Superintendent Suspended, Report Says: BOE Stays Silent
Newburgh Superintendent Jackielyn Manning-Campbell was suspended with pay during a special board meeting of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District on Thursday, Jan. 23, she confirmed to News12. The board voted 5-4 in favor of the action. Board of Education members declined to comment on the matter, referring to Manning-Campbell only by her identification number, 12325, rather than by name. Earlier that day, Manning-Cambpell released a statement regarding a recent budget audit that allegedly found a multi-million dollar surplus. The suspension came days after police responded to th…
Schools
Student Busted With Loaded Gun At College Dorm In Region, Police Say
A college student is facing weapons charges after allegedly bringing a loaded gun to his Capital Region dorm room. Jalen Brown, 20, was arrested at Bryant and Stratton College’s student housing complex on Union Drive in Albany on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 22, according to Albany Police. Officers responded to the University Heights College Suites at around 5 p.m. after campus security reported a student with a handgun in their dorm room. Investigators located Brown as he returned to his room and found a loaded 9mm handgun, police said. “Through investigation, it was determined that there…
Schools
Dialing It Back: NY Students Would Be Barred From Using Phones During School Day Under Proposal
Students could soon go from scrolling to schooling. A bold initiative unveiled by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday, Jan. 22, would restrict smartphone use in all K-12 schools during the entire school day, including lunch time. The proposal, introduced as part of the governor’s 2026 Executive Budget, aims to prioritize student learning and mental health, Hochul’s office said. “From parents and teachers, to social justice and law enforcement leaders, New Yorkers agree that our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling,” Hochul said. Under the…
Schools
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline. This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue. As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…
Schools
Victim Stabbed During Student-Involved Fight Outside Hudson Valley HS
At least one person was injured during a student-involved fight and stabbing mere steps from a Hudson Valley high school. The Sullivan County incident happened in the town of Liberty, just outside Liberty High School, at the end of the school day on Thursday, Dec. 12. A fight broke out between a group of Liberty students and others who are not students, and at some point one of the non-students was stabbed, the Liberty Central School District said in a letter to parents. The victim ran to the campus and sought medical attention, and a medevac helicopter landed on the school’s football fiel…
Schools
Hudson Valley West Point Grad Awarded Rhodes Scholarship
A West Point grad from the region is one of only 32 students nationwide to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford in the fall of 2025. Orange County resident Shepherd Dzina of Tuxedo Park and three other cadets were awarded the scholarship on Saturday, Nov. 16. Dzina is an economics major currently serving as the Brigade Executive Officer at West Point, managing logistics and operations for over 4,400 cadets. He also leads the Finance Club and conducts research with the Army’s Office of Economics and Manpower Analysis. He has interned with the US International Develop…
Schools
Online Threat Leads To Increased Security At School In Hudson Valley
Parents and students can expect to see extra police on the campus of a middle school in the region after a threat of violence was made over social media. Enlarged City School District of Middletown Superintendent Amy Creeden said the threat was received late Monday, Nov. 11, in Orange County at Monhagen Middle School in the town of Wallkill. The threat, which Wallkill Police are actively investigating, was made on social media by an unidentified user who created a fake, well-known username in an attempt to gain attention. Creeden said the threat has been shared rapidly by and among students…
Schools
Meeting Explains New Electric School Buses Coming To Hudson Valley School District
Residents will have a chance to ask questions during an upcoming meeting when they will be asked to approve spending $2.27 million on electric school buses in a school district in the region. The meeting is in Dutchess County from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School at 156 S Cross Road in Staatsburg. Hyde Park Central School District officials said attendees will learn everything about implementing electric buses during the panel discussion. Representatives from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Leonard Bus Sales …
Schools
Athletic Director At School District In Hudson Valley Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen
This story has been updated. An athletic director at a school district in Westchester County has been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly extorting a teenager to send sexually explicit images and videos. Thomas James Puccini, 28 years old and employed as the Interim Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics by the Eastchester Union Free School District, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1. He was charged with felony grand larceny in the fourth degree and was arraigned in White Plains City Court by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Puccini has been pla…
Schools
Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Released Of NY Schools That Received Products
A preliminary list has been released of schools that received items that were part of a nationwide recall of millions of pounds of meat and poultry products over fears they may be contaminated with Listeria. The initial recall involving the manufacturer, Bruce Pac, was for 9,986,245 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) products sold at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Trader Joe's, 7-Eleven, Aldi, and other stores. It was announced on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Earlier this week, the recall was expanded to include 11,765,285 pounds of products, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspectio…
Schools
Hudson Valley Well-Represented In Brand-New Best High School Rankings
New York is well-represented in brand-new rankings of the best high schools in New York. The first four in Niche's 2025 selections are all from New York City: Stuyvesant in Manhattan, the Bronx High School of Science, Staten Island Technical High School, and Townsend Harris High School in Queens. Checking in at No. 5 and the first Westchester County selection is Scarsdale High School. The first Long Island school picked is No. 7 Half Hollow Hills West in Dix Hills. Long Island schools also make up spots 10 through 13: They are Jericho, Syosset, and Great Neck South high schools. Four mor…
Schools
Hudson Valley's West Point Ranked As Top 10 National Public College
The US Military Academy at West Point moved up one in the Top Public Schools category to No. 2 in the 2025 Best Colleges Rankings by US News & World Report. The rankings, released this week, showed the Orange County college in the town of Highlands also ranked as No. 8 in Best National Liberal Arts College, the magazine said. The rankings were based on statistics, the top-ranked schools provided ample classroom resources for students and faculty; conferred bachelor's degrees at high rates; and produced graduates who entered the workforce with manageable debt and worthwhile starting sala…
Schools
Leader Of Hudson Valley School District Named NYS Superintendent Of Year
The head of a Westchester County school district has been awarded a top honor for superintendents in New York State. Tarrytown Union Free School District Superintendent Raymond Sanchez was named the Superintendent of the Year for 2025 by the New York State Council of School Superintendents, the organization announced on Monday, Sept. 23. Council President Lars Clemensen, the superintendent of the Hampton Bays School District on Long Island, explained the reasons why Sanchez was chosen: "Ray’s recognition as the New York State Superintendent of the Year is a testa…
Schools
New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In Schools
With the new school year comes renewed debate over the use of cell phones in the classroom. Among New York parents of school-age children, 77-percent support barring cell phone use in schools during the day, a Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” poll found. Most parents, 72-percent, said they still want their child to have their phone on them in case of an emergency, the poll found. Earlier Report: Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children The poll was conducted by 600 parents with at least one child under the age of 18 in New York Cit…
Schools
New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY
There will soon be a student on every school board in New York.A new law requiring all state boards of education to have at least one student member will take effect on July 1, 2025. The students will attend public meetings, but not executive sessions, and won't be allowed to vote. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the bill on Thursday, Sept. 5. It will also remove the current law requirement that a student member seat be authorized by referendum of the voters of the district. The bill would also remove the requirement that a student member be a senior at the school and instead require only …
Schools
County In Region Equips School Buses With Stop-Arm Cameras
A Hudson Valley county is ensuring drivers are fined for not stopping for a stopped school bus by installing new stop-arm cameras. Rockland County Executive Ed Day announced on Tuesday, Aug. 27, that stop-arm cameras have been installed on nearly all school buses countywide in time for the 2024 school year. “These cameras will automatically record any vehicle that illegally passes a stopped school bus, capturing crucial evidence that will be used to enforce traffic laws and hold offenders accountable,” explained Day. “But this program is not about enforcement; it’s about saving lives, and n…
Schools
This Hudson Valley School District Latest To Ban Students' Cell Phones: Here's Where
Students in another Hudson Valley school district will be forced to look up from their phone screens, as officials will be requiring them to lock up their devices for the entire day. In its end-of-summer newsletter, the Garrison Union Free School District in Putnam County announced that it will no longer allow cell phone use during the instructional day between 8:25 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. During this time, students will have to store their devices in lockers and keep them powered down or in silent mode. More information about the policy will be contained in the district's updated&nb…
Schools
Students' Cell Phones Will Be Locked Up At This Middle School In Region
A funny thing happened at a Hudson Valley high school last year when students were required to lock up their cell phones during the day—it worked, and now the middle school is joining the club. Poughkeepsie Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Rosser said the Yondr pouch program was launched in Dutchess County at Poughkeepsie High School in April. Rosser wrote in his school newsletter that the program has changed its culture and improved attendance and engagement since its inception. This fall, district officials are expanding the program to Poughkeepsie Middle School. “The su…
Schools
School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War
Elected officials and community members are calling for a Hudson Valley school board member to step down following alleged antisemitic remarks made at a board meeting. The outrage was prompted following a school board meeting in Putnam County on Tuesday, July 9, when Carmel Central School District Trustee Jim Wise allegedly controversy within the town over a comment on the Israel-Hamas war. The statement in question, "From the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free," was defended by Wise in a post on social media on Wednesday, Aug. 7. "I also reject absolutely the idea that …
Schools
Pair Of New Principals Named At School District In Hudson Valley
Two new principals will soon take the lead at two Hudson Valley schools. In an announcement on Thursday, July 25, the Carmel Central School District in Putnam County revealed that new principals were hired for both Kent Primary School and Kent Elementary School. Vincent Fino, the former Assistant Principal at Carmel High School, will take over at Kent Primary School. He replaces Dan Brown, who retired at the end of the 2023-24 school year, the district said. Meanwhile, John Fratto will be the next principal at Kent Elementary School and replace Michael Setaro, who will begin a new ro…
Schools
Superintendent Put On Administrative Leave In Northern Westchester
A Northern Westchester school district has appointed a new acting superintendent after putting its previous leader on administrative leave. The North Salem Central School District announced on Wednesday, July 24, that Superintendent Duncan Wilson had been placed on administrative leave. In his place, Adam VanDerStuyf was named Acting Superintendent on Monday, July 22, according to the school board. VanDerStuyf, who has been with the district since 2015, has held roles such as Director of Pupil Personnel Services and Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Se…
Schools
Beloved Principal ID'd As Victim Killed In Capital Region Crash: 'He Was The Heart And Soul'
Students and colleagues are mourning the sudden loss of a beloved elementary school principal following his death in a car crash. The Saratoga County wreck happened at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday, July 20, in the town of Charlton on State Road. New York State Police said Nicholas Criscone, age 50, of Charlton, was driving southbound on Stage Road when his vehicle left the roadway, struck a tree, and caught on fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Criscone’s death was further confirmed by the Scotia-Glenville Central School District in Schenectady County, where he was the principal of G…
Schools
Cyberattack Hits School District In Hudson Valley
A school district in the Hudson Valley was the target of a cyberattack that disabled computer services and access to phones and email. In Orange County, the Goshen Central School District announced on Thursday, July 11, that it was the subject of the ransomware incident. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kurtis Kotes said the district notified law enforcement and is working with cyber security experts to determine the source of the attack and take the necessary steps to repair the problems as quickly as possible. In an update late Friday afternoon, July 12, Kotes said: "The disaster reco…
Schools
New Superintendent Takes Command At One Of Hudson Valley's Largest School Districts
An educator with decades of experience is following in the footsteps of her father and stepping up to lead a large Hudson Valley school district. On Monday, July 1, Erin Meehan-Fairben officially began her position as superintendent of Putnam County's Carmel Central School District, to which she holds deeply personal ties. A native of the area, Fairben was born in Putnam County Hospital and was raised within the Carmel community until she was around 5 years old. As a child, she used to play on the steps of Carmel's one-room schoolhouse as her father, Richard R. Meehan,…
Schools
Kindergarten Teacher, Mom Of 2 From Capital Region Gets 'Fairy Tale Ending' Before Cancer Death
On the last night of her life, Sara Maldonado’s neighbors surprised her family by lining their driveway and sidewalk with dozens of candlelit luminarias. It was a fitting sendoff for the beloved kindergarten teacher, wife, mother of two, and Disney fanatic who died Wednesday, June 26, at the age of 34 following a two-year battle with breast cancer, according to her obituary. “They did something for our family that will never be forgotten. It’s the fairy tale ending she would want,” her brother, Ben Olsen, said on Facebook. “‘Tangled’ is her most favorite movie and they gave her a fairy tale…
Schools
New Superintendent Named At Northern Westchester School District
A Northern Westchester superintendent will soon transition to leading another nearby district in the county. In an announcement on Friday, June 14, the Katonah-Lewisboro School District revealed its next superintendent would be Raymond Blanch, who will be formally appointed in the role by the Board of Education on Thursday, June 20. Blanch, who has served as superintendent of the Somers Central School District since July 2010, will officially begin in his new role on Monday, July 15. Blanch's selection follows multiple rounds of interviews conducted by the school board in an ef…
Schools
Hudson Valley School To Close For Year
Delays from the state Department of Education have forced a Hudson Valley school district to close an elementary school for a year. The school, Fort Montgomery Elementary School, is located in Orange County. According to Superintendent of Schools Michael McElduff, the district submitted all required documentation for the extensive project review to the State Education Department. On Thursday, May 30, the district had not heard back from the state on the proposed improvement and much-needed upgrades for the school. "The district has been proactive in communicating with SED and h…
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