Hudson Valley Well-Represented In Brand-New Best High School Rankings Hudson Valley Well-Represented In Brand-New Best High School Rankings
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…
Hudson Valley's West Point Ranked As Top 10 National Public College Hudson Valley's West Point Ranked As Top 10 National Public College
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…
Leader Of Hudson Valley School District Named NYS Superintendent Of Year Leader Of Hudson Valley School District Named NYS Superintendent Of Year
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…
New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In Schools New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In 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…
New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY
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 …
County Equips School Buses With Stop-Arm Cameras In Hudson Valley County Equips School Buses With Stop-Arm Cameras In Hudson Valley
County Equips School Buses With Stop-Arm Cameras In Hudson Valley 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…
This Hudson Valley School District Latest To Ban Students' Cell Phones: Here's Where This Hudson Valley School District Latest To Ban Students' Cell Phones: Here's Where
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…
Students' Cell Phones Will Be Locked Up At This Dutchess County Middle School Students' Cell Phones Will Be Locked Up At This Dutchess County Middle School
Students' Cell Phones Will Be Locked Up At This Dutchess County Middle School 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…
School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War
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 …
Pair Of New Principals Named At School District In Hudson Valley Pair Of New Principals Named At School District In Hudson Valley
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…
Superintendent Put On Administrative Leave In Northern Westchester Superintendent Put On Administrative Leave In Northern Westchester
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…
Beloved Principal ID'd As Victim Killed In Capital Region Crash: 'He Was The Heart And Soul' Beloved Principal ID'd As Victim Killed In Capital Region Crash: 'He Was The Heart And Soul'
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…
Cyberattack Hits School District In Hudson Valley Cyberattack Hits School District In Hudson Valley
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…
New Superintendent Takes Command At One Of Hudson Valley's Largest School Districts New Superintendent Takes Command At One Of Hudson Valley's Largest School Districts
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,…
Kindergarten Teacher, Mom Of 2 From Capital Region Gets 'Fairy Tale Ending' Before Cancer Death Kindergarten Teacher, Mom Of 2 From Capital Region Gets 'Fairy Tale Ending' Before Cancer Death
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…
New Superintendent Named At Northern Westchester School District New Superintendent Named At Northern Westchester School District
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…
Hudson Valley School To Close For Year Hudson Valley School To Close For Year
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…
Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President
Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President The president of Long Island’s Stony Brook University has been selected to first permanent female president of Yale University. Maurie McInnis was named Yale’s 24th president in an announcement by the school. The 58-year-old cultural historian, currently serving as the president of Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, graduated from Yale with a Ph.D in art history in 1996. In the years since her graduation, McInnis has served in senior positions at the University of Virginia and the University of Texas at Austin before moving to Stony Brook University in 2020. She became a Yale trus…
$12M For Electric School Buses Awarded To 6 Capital Region Districts $12M For Electric School Buses Awarded To 6 Capital Region Districts
$12M For Electric School Buses Awarded To 6 Capital Region Districts A half dozen school districts in the region will receive over $12 million in federal funding to pay for electric school buses. Six districts, located in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Montgomery, and Warren counties, were awarded nearly $12,080,000 in federal rebate funding through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Clean School Bus Program. The program is meant to help underserved districts transition to low or no emission buses without overburdening local taxpayers, Sen. Chuck Schumer’s office said. “This $12+ million federal boost will help power schools in the Capital Regio…
New Details: District Employee Punched Capital Region Assistant Superintendent, Police Say New Details: District Employee Punched Capital Region Assistant Superintendent, Police Say
New Details: District Employee Punched Capital Region Assistant Superintendent, Police Say This story has been updated. An assistant school superintendent in the region is abruptly resigning after claiming that a colleague physically assaulted him on school grounds. In Albany County, Cohoes Police responded to Page Avenue Elementary School for a reported assault at around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16. According to the incident report obtained by Daily Voice, Cohoes City School District Assistant Superintendent Daniel Martinelli told officers that he got into a heated argument with James Stapleton, the district's facilities director. As the argument escalated, Staple…
12-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening 'Mass Harm' At Capital Region School 12-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening 'Mass Harm' At Capital Region School
12-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening 'Mass Harm' At Capital Region School A 12-year-old boy is accused of making threats against a middle school in the region. Saratoga County Sheriff’s deputies were called just before 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 29, after a social media threat was discovered against O’Rourke Middle School in Burnt Hills. Deputies did not elaborate on the nature of the threat but determined that it was not credible. There was no disruption to school activities. The 12-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of making a threat of mass harm, a misdemeanor. “Once again, the partnerships we’ve developed with the schools and the students led to a qui…
How Sweet: NY Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl How Sweet: NY Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl
How Sweet: NY Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl Forget the apple; this distinguished New York teacher is getting a cookie party. Just in time for National Teacher Appreciation Day, cookie chain Crumbl announced the winners of its “Teacher of the Year” awards, given to educators “for their extraordinary commitment to their classrooms.” In New York, the honor went to Monroe County teacher Dan Graf at State Road Elementary School in Webster. Recipients were selected from a pool of over 6,000 nominations that included testimonials from parents, students, colleagues, and friends. They were chosen from each state, the District of Columbi…
US Presidential Scholars: 6 NY High School Seniors Awarded Top Honor US Presidential Scholars: 6 NY High School Seniors Awarded Top Honor
US Presidential Scholars: 6 NY High School Seniors Awarded Top Honor These students have a date with the president. Six graduating seniors from New York were among just 161 high school students across the country to be selected as a US Presidential Scholar, one of the nation’s highest honors for students. Established in 1964, the award recognizes distinguished seniors who have shown exceptional accomplishments in areas like academics, leadership, and service to their school and communities. The program was later expanded to include students in the visual, creative, and performing arts, and in career and technical education fields. In the Empire State, the…
Mom 'Disgusted, Angry' After Teen Suffers Broken Nose In Capital Region Bus Attack Mom 'Disgusted, Angry' After Teen Suffers Broken Nose In Capital Region Bus Attack
Mom 'Disgusted, Angry' After Teen Suffers Broken Nose In Capital Region Bus Attack A mother is demanding accountability after her teen daughter was left bloodied with a broken nose following an assault aboard a school bus in the region. The Saratoga County incident happened aboard a South Glens Falls High School bus that was transporting students home on Friday afternoon, May 10. Britney Shaffer said her 15-year-old daughter, Bella, was riding on the bus with her boyfriend when a 16-year-old girl became “enraged” that a student’s feet were in the aisle as she was trying to exit. Angered, the 16-year-old reportedly used her 32-ounce, stainless steel Stanley cup to first h…
16-Year-Old Sets Fire To School In Capital Region, Police Say 16-Year-Old Sets Fire To School In Capital Region, Police Say
16-Year-Old Sets Fire To School In Capital Region, Police Say Classes were in session when a 16-year-old allegedly set fire to a high school in the region. The Albany County incident happened Tuesday, April 23, at Bethlehem High School. According to Bethlehem Police, the juvenile suspect intentionally started a fire in a school bathroom in the C wing.  No students or staff were injured, but the incident forced an evacuation of the building that lasted nearly an hour. The alleged culprit is a student at the school, according to Superintendent Jody Monroe, who said the district is cooperating with police and is conducting its own investigation. …
School In Westchester To Close: 'Sad Day,' Superintendent Says School In Westchester To Close: 'Sad Day,' Superintendent Says
School In Westchester To Close: 'Sad Day,' Superintendent Says A school in Westchester County has announced it will cease operations at the end of the academic year.  In an announcement on Wednesday, May 1, the Office of the Superintendent of Schools of the Archdiocese of New York revealed the Transfiguration School in Tarrytown would close at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.  Officials attributed the decision to close the Catholic school to shifting demographics and lower enrollment, which have "significantly impacted" its ability to continue operating.  The St. Simon Stock School in the Bronx will also close for similar reas…
School Superintendent In Hudson Valley Accepts Post In Nearby District School Superintendent In Hudson Valley Accepts Post In Nearby District
School Superintendent In Hudson Valley Accepts Post In Nearby District After six years, a Hudson Valley superintendent has announced his upcoming move to a nearby district to remain closer to his family. Superintendent Phil Benante of Putnam County's Haldane Central School District announced on Tuesday, April 30 that he was appointed head of the Arlington Central School District in Dutchess County, according to a letter written to the district community.  In his letter, Benante wrote that he chose to move to the Arlington district because it would allow him to work closer to his family.  The Arlington district includes parts of Beekman, La Gran…
Girl's 'Uncomfortable' Interaction With Man Near Capital Region School Under Investigation Girl's 'Uncomfortable' Interaction With Man Near Capital Region School Under Investigation
Girl's 'Uncomfortable' Interaction With Man Near Capital Region School Under Investigation Police are investigating after a girl said a male driver approached her near an elementary school in the region and made her feel “uncomfortable.” The Schenectady incident happened at around 7:45 a.m. Thursday, April 25, outside Van Corlaer Elementary School on Guilderland Avenue.  Schenectady Police said the girl told school staff that she was walking in the area when a man approached her in a vehicle and began asking her questions that she wasn’t comfortable with. School staff immediately contacted police and detectives with the department’s Youth Aid Bureau located the man a short …
Best High Schools: Westchester Well-Represented In Brand-New Rankings Best High Schools: Westchester Well-Represented In Brand-New Rankings
Best High Schools: Westchester Well-Represented In Brand-New Rankings New York is well-represented on U.S. News & World Report's latest rankings of the nation's best high schools. The brand-new rankings were released Tuesday morning, April 23, and determined by performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare students for college. The highest-ranked school outside New York City is on Long Island: Jericho, at No. 13 statewide and 104th nationally. The top-rated high school in Westchester County is Edgemont at No. 14 in the state and 128th in the nation, with Bronxville, at No. 16 in the state and 151st nationally. Another W…
Janitor Put Hidden Camera In Elementary School Bathroom In Capital Region, Police Say Janitor Put Hidden Camera In Elementary School Bathroom In Capital Region, Police Say
Janitor Put Hidden Camera In Elementary School Bathroom In Capital Region, Police Say This story has been updated. A janitor at an elementary school in the region is accused of secretly recording colleagues in a staff bathroom. Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said an employee at Voorheesville Elementary School discovered a cell phone that was recording people in a staff bathroom on Tuesday, April 9. Investigators determined that David Ague, a custodian at the school, had placed the phone there, Voorheesville Central School District Superintendent Frank Macri said in a letter to parents. "The district immediately contacted the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, which ha…
Hudson Valley School District Taps New Superintendent Hudson Valley School District Taps New Superintendent
Hudson Valley School District Taps New Superintendent After an intense vetting process, a Hudson Valley school district has selected a new superintendent with more than two decades of leadership experience.  In an announcement on Tuesday, April 9, the Garrison Union Free School District in Putnam County revealed that Gregory Stowell was offered the position of superintendent.  Stowell is expected to be officially appointed to the role at the next Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, April 10 at 7 p.m.  Once he takes the district's helm, Stowell will replace Carl Albano, who officially retired from the role in September…