Peekskill Closer To School Orchestra With 2019-20 Budget Plan

PEEKSKILL, NY — Voters in the Peekskill school district will be going to the polls May 21 to have their say on the budget for the 2019-20 school year. One highlight of the spending plan is two more full-day pre-kindergarten classes at Uriah Hill School.

The proposed spending package is $96,692,000, up 3.98% from the current year. The tax levy increase is 2%, below the state's property tax cap.

Other highlights include:

• The continued expansion of the music program introducing violins, bass, and cellos,beginning at Grade 3. Students are added to the program each year as the third graders move up. The strings program will be in grade seven this coming year, which means the district is a year closer to its goal of a middle-school and high-school orchestra.
• New or enhanced courses will be offered in Engineering, Computer Science, Math, Art, Music and Science at Peekskill HIgh School.
• Partnership with PNW BOCES for Culinary Arts, Consumer Math, and increased access to Robotics and Career and Technical courses.

In addition, three incumbents are uncontested for re-election to the Board of Education. You can read their profiles on the district website:

• Michael Simpkins
• Maria Pereira
• Jillian Villion

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Peekskill High School.

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