We're on the move to academic excellence

James P. Dexter
Superintendent

Maureen Van Deusen
Assistant Superintendent
for Instruction

Gregory Giammarco
Business Administrator

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT -
JAMES P. DEXTER

The winter months tend to be very busy time for our students and families. This is also the time that the District will begin to plan for the 2010-2011 school year.  During the next few months, teachers, guidance counselors, and principals will be working with students and parents to schedule classes for the next school year.  Once again, we have increased our curricular offerings.  I encourage High School students to take a rigorous full schedule, and to take advantage of the many outstanding courses that have been developed by our High School staff.  Middle School and High School parents should encourage their child(ren) to work towards a Regents Diploma with an advanced designation. In today’s competitive college environment and economy, a Regents Diploma is not always enough. Also, I recommend that seniors take a fourth year of science and/or math.  Seniors who take a full and rigorous schedule are more prepared to achieve in college and in the workplace.  Parents can contact the Guidance and Counseling Department for information about diploma requirements.
 
The Board of Education has begun the process of developing the 2010-2011 budget.   As you know, given the state of the economy, schools will certainly face a number of difficult challenges and decisions in developing a budget that is fiscally responsible, yet mindful of the needs of the children.  Please take note of the budget development calendar and check this site for addition information throughout the budget development process.
 

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ICHABOD CRANE ART DEPARTMENT SPONSORS
SECOND ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS SUPPER

Thanks to all who supported the Empty Bowls Project sponsored by the ICHS Art Club and Art Dept.

Ichabod Crane High School art students create ceramic bowls for Empty Bowls Supper to benefit the Valatie Food Pantry

The bowl serves as a visible reminder
that people go to bed hungry each night.

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ICHABOD CRANE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
COMPETE IN FUTURE CITIES EXHIBITION AT HVCC

On Sat., Jan. 16, the Ichabod Crane Middle School Future Cities Club competed against 17 local middle schools in the regional Future Cities competition hosted by Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.  The Future Cities competition is held throughout the United States as part of National Engineers Week and is designed to introduce middle school students to the engineering profession in a fun and educational format.  Teams of seventh and eighth grade students completed a challenging multi-piece project based on this year’s theme:  providing affordable and renewable housing to those affected by a natural or financial disaster.  In addition to creating a unique Future City concept and design, students worked on a SimCity model, wrote a 800-1,000 word essay, completed a city abstract, created a physical model of their city, and performed a brief presentation for the Future City judges. 

The Ichabod Crane Middle School Future Cities Club consisted of 15 students, working under the guidance of teacher advisor, Jason Brewer, and engineer mentor, Paul Greene. Mr. Green assisted the students by offering advice and insights into the engineering profession.  Ichabod Crane won two awards at this year’s competition for their city, the "Excellence in the Design of a City" and "Excellence in Low Impact Energy Generation and Use” awards.

Ichabod Crane Middle School students compete in Future Cities exhibition

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ICHABOD CRANE TO JOIN COLONIAL ATHLETIC COUNCIL

The Ichabod Crane Central School District has been informed of its acceptance into the Colonial Athletic Council, effective in the 2010-2011 school year.  After many years in the Patroon Conference, the district applied to the Colonial Conference based on an official recommendation by the district’s Ad-Hoc Athletic Advisory Committee, composed of parents, coaches, administrators, and students.
 After careful research, the committee made the initial recommendation for the change to the Ichabod Crane Board of Education, which after deliberation approved the committee’s recommendation.  The Colonial Council held a moratorium on the admittance of new districts, which was recently lifted, allowing the admittance of Ichabod Crane to the Council.

James P. Dexter, Ichabod Crane Superintendent of Schools, stated: “We are most honored by our selection into this prestigious council, and we believe that this change is in the best interest of our student athletes.  As a part of the Colonial Council, we will have consistent opportunities to compete against schools of similar size.   Given our long-standing history with the Patroon Conference, this was not an easy decision; however, we look forward to maintaining many of those long-term rivalries within the Patroon Conference via non-conference games, as the schedules allow.”

As part of the Colonial Council, Ichabod Crane will compete against the following schools: Academy of Holy Names, The Albany Academies, Cobleskill-Richmondville C.S.D., Cohoes City S. D., Lansingburgh C.S.D., Mechanicville City S.D., Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk C.S.D., Schalmont C.S.D., Voorheesville C.S.D., and Watervliet City S.D.

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ICHABOD CRANE LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
Demographic/Enrollment Study to Help Identify Trends

The Ichabod Crane Central School Board of Education reviewed the report of a long-term enrollment study conducted by Dr. Paul Seversky at its meeting on October 6, 2009. The study contains information about future enrollment trends and is designed to assist the District with long-term planning for instruction, facilities and finances.

The study reviewed demographic data, including recent birth statistics and other information about the Ichabod Crane community to develop the estimated enrollment patterns for the next 10 years.

 “This study will provide the District with the information necessary to plan for the future,” stated James Dexter, Superintendent of the Ichabod Crane Central School District. “I look forward to sharing the information in the study with parents, staff, the community and municipalities.”

In the near future, the Board of Education will begin to determine how best to use the information in the study. For more information about the completed study, contact James Dexter at 758-7575, Ext. 3002.
DEMOGRAPHIC/ ENROLLMENT PROJECTION STUDY
October 2009
BUILDING CAPACITY STUDY  
December 2009   

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(Jan. 12, 2010 ) Required Announcement of Review by the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of Vocation and Education Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)

The New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of Vocation and Education Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) initiated a Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA) Transition Compliance Review in the Ichabod Crane Central School District during the 2009 – 2010 school year. The purpose of this review is to assess the District’s compliance with selected federal and state law and regulation governing the education of students with disabilities.
The review will be conducted by VESID’s SEQA office and will include representatives from the school district. The review will involve a review of school records of selected students with disabilities, classroom visitations and staff interviews. In addition, meetings of the Committee on Special Education will be observed. Further information may be obtained by contacting VESID’s Special Education Quality Assurance office in your region and/or by contacting the school district.

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