Superintendent Weekly Update April 25, 2025

Budget Update

Here is the link to the latest budget presentations from the April 7 and April 22 board meetings: https://www.beaconk12.org/domain/702

You can access just the slides or videos of the presentations.

The Budget Hearing is at the beginning of the Board meeting on Tuesday, May 6, at 7:00 at BHS.  We will also host a budget Zoom webinar on Thursday, May 8th, at 6:00 and that will be recorded.  I will send out the link when we get closer to the date.  I will add another budget event or two in a future update.  Speaking about the budget with the four elementary PTAs before spring break was great.  Thank you for hosting me!

The vote on the budget is Tuesday, May 20th.

The budget adopted by the board supports the many gains we have made in the past several years with the expansion of pre-k, reduction of class sizes, increase of extracurriculars,  expanded mental health supports, and more course offerings at BHS.  

Some additional items in this budget are mental health supports with the bryt program at BHS and a mental health clinic at RMS, academic intervention supports, a half-time speech teacher, some summer workshops for BHS students, and increased professional development.

If you have any questions about the budget, please let me know at landahl.m@beaconk12.org

This weekend, check out Beacon Players!

This weekend, check out the Ree Play Sale!

Upcoming Home Athletic Events:

Sunday, April 27

Varsity Baseball Tournament 1:30-4:30 BHS and Memorial

Monday, April 28

Varsity Baseball BHS 4:15

Modified Baseball Memorial 4:30

Modified Softball Memorial 4:30

JV Boys Tennis BHS 4:30

Tuesday, April 29

Varsity Girls Golf- 3:30

Modified Softball Memorial 4:30

Modified Baseball Memorial 4:30

Varsity Softball BHS 4:30

Varsity Boys Tennis BHS 4:30

JV Girls Lacrosse BHS 5:30

Wednesday, April 30

Varsity Boys Golf 3:00

Boys Varsity Tennis BHS 4:30

Girls and Boys Track and Field BHS 4:30

Thursday, May 1

Girls Varsity Golf 3:30

Have a great weekend!

Matt Landahl

Superintendent Weekly Update April 11, 2025

Have a great Spring Break!  See everyone back on Wednesday, April 23.

Huge Thank You!  I want to take a moment to thank our Transportation Department and bus drivers for helping us this week.  We had a huge elementary field trip to Manhattan earlier this week, and we had a last-minute issue with the charter bus company.  The Transportation Department immediately jumped in to figure it out, and several drivers were willing to step in and get our kids to the museum!  Thank you so much for saving this trip for our students!  Also, thanks to the Foundation for Beacon Schools for helping to fund this trip!

Budget Update

We presented some updated budget information to the Board of Education this past Monday.  In the budget this year, we will be able to:

• Add academic intervention teachers to the elementary level (2 reading, 1 math)
• Add a half-time speech teacher
• Add a mental health clinic at Rombout Middle School in partnership with Astor Services
• Add the bryt mental health support program at Beacon High School
• Summer workshops for some Beacon High School students
• Extensive professional development in reading instruction

The one caveat I need to share is that if there is a reduction in federal funds, our budget will change.  Federal funding provides about 2% of our budget and funds the four elementary reading teachers we currently have.

Beacon has one of the lower school tax rates in Dutchess County and the region.  We compared our tax rates with other neighboring districts.  A median priced house in Beacon would pay an estimated $3127 a year.  That same priced house in Hyde Park would pay $5011, in Arlington would pay $4941, in Spackenkill would pay $4720, and in Wappingers would pay $3656.

On April 22, the Board of Education will meet to adopt the budget.  The public hearing on the budget is on May 6.  The budget vote is May 20.

I am attaching the slides we used this week to this update. Please check them out and let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks to the elementary PTOs for hosting me this past week to discuss the budget.  I will keep you posted when I schedule some other budget events.

Film Fest Reminders

 

Get Your Beacon Players Tickets!

Trades Fair

 

Upcoming Home Athletic Events

Monday April 14

Varsity Baseball BHS 10:00am

JV Baseball Memorial 10:00 am

Tuesday, April 15

Boys Golf Southern Dutchess 3:30

Wednesday, April 16

Varsity Baseball  BHS 10:00 am

JV Baseball Memorial 10:00 am

Thursday, April 17

Varsity Baseball BHS 10:00 am

JV Baseball Memorial 10:00 am

Varsity Softball BHS 10:00 am

Thrift Sale!

Have a great break!

Matt Landahl

Attachments:
 Budget_Presentation_%283%29.pdf (6.2 MB)

Superintendent Weekly Update April 4, 2025

We are working on putting the final touches on our budget preparation.  I will share additional budget information after the board meeting.

RMS Star Student

 6th Grader Makenzie Kiernan

Makenzie is a 6th Grader at Rombout Middle School and is a kind-hearted, conscientious, and respectful student.  She is always spreading positivity to anyone she meets, staff and students included. Her ELA Teacher, Ms. Alzate, said, "Makenzie is an inspiration to the students around her. She is such a wonderful student to have in class.  She gets other students to participate in class as well. She is the perfect example of what a Star Student should be." Also, her Science Teacher, Ms. Benson, said, "Makenzie is a hardworking student who values academics and strives to do well. She is always eager to learn and participate, and she brings a positive energy to the classroom each day." Outside of school, Makenzie is very dedicated to competitive dance! Congrats, Makenzie!

 

Beacon Players- Get Your Tickets!

 

Lines of Demarcation- This Weekend!

 

Home Athletic Schedule

Monday, April 7

Boys Varsity Tennis 4:30 BHS

Tuesday, April 8

Girls Varsity Golf- Southern Dutchess Country Club 3:30

Boys JV Baseball BHS 4:15

Wednesday, April 9

Boys JV Baseball Heritage Financial 4:15

Girls Varsity Softball BHS 4:30

Boys JV Tennis BHS 4:30

Boys and Girls Varsity Track BHS 4:30

Thursday, April 10

Boys Varsity Golf Southern Dutchess 3:30

 

Have a great weekend!

Matt Landahl