Now that the school budget vote is behind us and the selection of a new superintendent of schools has not yet been made, it seems an appropriate time to share this information.
Peter Meyer is working on story about the Hudson City School District for a national publication. Meyer is not only a journalist who writes about education, a former news editor for Life Magazine, and the author of numerous nonfiction books, he is also the father of an HCSD graduate (who went on to the University of Chicago), a former member of the HCSD Board of Education, and the creator of a successful student journalism program at HCSD which was discontinued in 2024 by former superintendent of schools Dr. Juliette Pennyman.
The story will be published sometime this summer. In the meantime, Meyer invites people who were engaged in the budget struggle or affected by it and/or are involved in some way in the selection of a new superintendent to respond to a survey he has created. The survey can be found here. Completed surveys should be returned to Meyer at the email address provided on the survey.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CAROLE OSTERINK
Thanks Peter M.
ReplyDeletePlease talk to Caitie H., Hannah B., Jonathan S. Mark DePace, and the parents who opted out of HCSD but still use the HCSD buses to transport their kids to private schools.
Did HCSD ever publish how and who lost the $4m?
Seems like a lot of cash to disappear, even for a $60m p.a., $42k per student per year budget.
yawn. why don’t you do something actually positive for the community instead of constantly complaining. you clearly have plenty of free time.
DeleteAsking where the $4 million went is the positive thing, Al.
DeleteAnd why $42,000 per student per year buys a bottom-quartile school.
If you can point us to another corner of Hudson or the County where more money / tax dollars, buys fewer outcomes, do email us.
One of the stories that will probably get into my story is the matronly lady who used to sit in the front row of the nice cozy room where the board of ed met (could seat 70 people and was usually 3/4 full and you could hear perfectly well with any mikes.) She wouldn't talk at the meetings; just scowl and knit. But we would run into each other at Jack & Yvonne's 3d street deli and she would scowl (no knitting needles) and growl, "How's Mr. No." I would say, "Why 'No'? All I do is suggest how to improve the kids' education." I finally figured it out. I'm sure you smart Gossips' readers get it. That's A1 (as it Al or AI?); he/she is part of the ruling class and doesn't really care about "educating" the non-ruling class.
Deletepeter,
Deletethat's a great story, peter. can't wait to read about it. from what i've read about you, it sounds like you come with solutions. i love to hear that.
I don't believe HCS comes from a genuine place of care. i'm sure hugo cares in his own mind, but it's not about the hudson community. it's about "cotswolds and napa valley" as he puts it in his "about us", which i find hilarious as it seems like he's the only person posting. i guess it's easier to hide behind the HCS moniker since his messaging is so obnoxious. i don’t even doubt decent good points are being made by him. i take issue with his incessant need to pepper every single post on this blog with his long winded complaints. it takes the wind right of the sails. i’m just one person though. only one vote.
as i said in my previous comment that you wanted to jump on, let’s see hugo actually make some real effort in engaging with the community and not just pulling a tucker carlson with his “i’m just asking questions” schtick. it’s exhausting and doesn’t get the desired result i imagine he’s looking for.
good luck with your article!
Al, you wrote a paragraph about tone and not one word about the missing $4 million or the $45k per kid per year in Hudson.
DeleteCheck the footnotes in our last piece: there are already a dozen after-school programs that "care", 700 kids, bottom-quartile results.
https://www.hudsoncommonsense.com/frenemiesofyouth
Footnote #2
re: "I don't believe HCS comes from a genuine place of care."
That is like saying the parent who asks why her child cannot read at grade level does not care about education, but the administrator who praises the curriculum does.
Hudson does not need more "caring".
It needs more discipline and courage.
And the "just asking questions" line, from a guy who could not be bothered to ask one, is a tell.
We are asking the questions HCSD does not want answered. You are asking us, and there are many of us, to stop.
The notion that influence requires the approved board, "showing up" in the Community™ approved way is why Hudson is the worst-performing district in the county.
Read the manifesto.
We work for the Working Middle Class, not the Welfare Brokers who benefit from this ongoing mess.
A Google form or Survey Monkey would be more end user friendly. Having to format or print a Word document and email (or even formally mail!!!) will really cut down on the rate of response.
ReplyDeleteAnyone with a valuable opinion about these topics involving the SD should be able write declarative sentences or at least dictate them. Surveys normalize data and this often seem to suck the deeper meaning out, reducing complicated ideas to sound bites. I think Peter’s way is the best way to get depth of perspective.
DeleteThanks Carole. The working title for this story is "How to NOT educate students for $35,000 each." I"m not sure on the subtitle; either, "a horror story" or "a love story." (And I"m not sure about the split infinitive; suggestions welcome.
ReplyDelete