With the school district election just five days away, Hudson Common Sense has an editorial about the vote: "Hudson's School Vote Has Been Captured." It is recommended reading as voter prep.
RodgerDodgerMay 14, 2026 at 5:03 PM Can the Board answer why they are cutting so many teachers but the salaries of athletic coaches are increasing by $62,788?
1/3 - If we’re going to take seriously the view of someone who, as far as I can tell, has never spent time working in, nor particularly cares for, public schools, I hope we can also take a moment to consider the view of those who have and do:
If our “voter prep” includes the views of someone who seems unable to conceive of public schools as anything other than a scam, then I hope we can also consider the views of someone who believes public schools are a moral, social, and economic good. So:
Most of the “vote no on the HCSD budget” arguments I’ve seen go something like this: “HCSD spends a lot of money and they’re not getting results, so we should vote against the budget to teach them a lesson.” Let’s break that down.
First: How do we know HCSD spends a lot of money? Because $40,000 per student is more than tuition at some private schools, and other districts spend less. That is definitely a lot of money, and we should absolutely be intentional about where and how it’s spent. But we shouldn’t confuse ourselves by comparing that number to things that are not comparable: Private schools, for instance, hardly ever provide transportation or a full spectrum of support services for all students (let alone admit those students in the first place); charter and independent schools regularly supplement with private donations and foundation aid; and districts with a smaller proportion of students living in poverty (compared to Hudson’s 67%) don’t need to spend as much to support student needs.
The HCSD budget also includes all of the general costs associated with running a school district, many of which are outside the district’s control, and most of which have risen significantly in the last year. Transportation costs and the district’s healthcare pharmacy plan, for example, have both risen by 26%. (Unlike the royal we of “Hudson Common Sense”, I do want public school employees to have health insurance. I want that for everyone.) At the same time, state aid (which funds 50% of the HCSD budget - the other roughly half comes from property taxes) has remained flat. That’s why a 5.8% tax increase this year translates to a 1% higher budget with many cuts to central administration, student services, and instructional staff. Yeah, we spend a lot of money. There’s also a lot to pay for.
2/3 - Second, how do we know HCSD isn’t producing good results? Well, according to the most recent statewide assessment data, only about 30% of HCSD students scored proficient in their reading and math exams, putting Hudson in the bottom 10% of districts in New York State. That is absolutely a problem, but it’s one that’s worth putting in perspective. First, if our district takes the blame, we also need to take the credit. This year HCSD is graduating seniors to some of the most selective colleges and universities in the country, including Cornell, Howard, U Chicago, Wesleyan, Wellesley, and Vassar. Second, HCSD also has a significant proportion of students coming from economically disadvantaged homes (67%), with all of the attendant challenges of poverty and chronic absenteeism (20-30%). Students can’t learn if their basic needs aren’t being met, and students can’t learn if they’re not consistently in school. These numbers don’t excuse the emergency of student achievement at HCSD, but they do provide a more accurate context for discussion.
(Additionally, it’s really important to say: just because test scores are one of the easiest metrics with which to track and compare students does not mean they are the only important thing, or even the most important. Ask any parent what the point of education is, and I’ll bet most will choose imparting a love of learning, a sense of self-efficacy, kindness, collaboration, and perseverance, over “being really good at tests”. Obviously the choice is not either/or, but it’s worth saying out loud.)
HCSD should be doing everything we can to help all students succeed. And the good news is that as severe as these challenges are, we also know what works: Highly engaging, differentiated instruction; progress monitoring; multi-tiered systems of support; restorative support systems; embedded school counseling and mental health services; robust family engagement; supportive and accountable attendance procedures; after-school, Saturday, and Summer school tutoring; consistent school leadership… The list goes on. The bad news is that just because the solutions are known, doesn’t mean they’re easy to implement, and it doesn’t mean they’re cheap. That’s why “school turnarounds” typically happen on a 3-5 year timeline.
3/3 - For my part, I believe HCSD is now on that path to excellence and achievement for all students, which is why a “no” vote would have such a devastating impact on our students. The proposed budget has already cut three central administrative positions and 23 instructional and support positions, in addition to more cuts in transportation, software, and other services. Withholding funding now until test scores improve might feel like advocacy, but it isn’t a recipe for school success. Remember that list above? It all costs something.
As frustrating as it might be, we can’t prevent the cost of public education from rising any more than we can prevent the cost of our gas, groceries, and healthcare from rising. Refusing to pay more to fund our schools is like refusing to pay more for gas at the pump: we can, but it means we’re not going to be driving as much or as far.
I believe our students deserve high quality instruction, mental health supports, art, sports, and extra-curriculars, but not at the expense of our community members going hungry or unhoused. So if that’s what the 5.8% tax increase would mean for you and your family, then by all means, vote no. But if you can find a way to get by with the tax, in the same way you already find a way to get by with higher bills at the pump and for groceries, then please vote yes. And then join me in continuing to advocate for excellence for young people, and also for an economic system that works for everyone, that doesn’t ask communities to choose between healthcare, rent, groceries, and basic educational opportunities for our kids.
ReplyDeleteRodgerDodgerMay 14, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Can the Board answer why they are cutting so many teachers but the salaries of athletic coaches are increasing by $62,788?
1/3 - If we’re going to take seriously the view of someone who, as far as I can tell, has never spent time working in, nor particularly cares for, public schools, I hope we can also take a moment to consider the view of those who have and do:
ReplyDeleteIf our “voter prep” includes the views of someone who seems unable to conceive of public schools as anything other than a scam, then I hope we can also consider the views of someone who believes public schools are a moral, social, and economic good. So:
Most of the “vote no on the HCSD budget” arguments I’ve seen go something like this: “HCSD spends a lot of money and they’re not getting results, so we should vote against the budget to teach them a lesson.” Let’s break that down.
First: How do we know HCSD spends a lot of money? Because $40,000 per student is more than tuition at some private schools, and other districts spend less. That is definitely a lot of money, and we should absolutely be intentional about where and how it’s spent. But we shouldn’t confuse ourselves by comparing that number to things that are not comparable: Private schools, for instance, hardly ever provide transportation or a full spectrum of support services for all students (let alone admit those students in the first place); charter and independent schools regularly supplement with private donations and foundation aid; and districts with a smaller proportion of students living in poverty (compared to Hudson’s 67%) don’t need to spend as much to support student needs.
The HCSD budget also includes all of the general costs associated with running a school district, many of which are outside the district’s control, and most of which have risen significantly in the last year. Transportation costs and the district’s healthcare pharmacy plan, for example, have both risen by 26%. (Unlike the royal we of “Hudson Common Sense”, I do want public school employees to have health insurance. I want that for everyone.) At the same time, state aid (which funds 50% of the HCSD budget - the other roughly half comes from property taxes) has remained flat. That’s why a 5.8% tax increase this year translates to a 1% higher budget with many cuts to central administration, student services, and instructional staff. Yeah, we spend a lot of money. There’s also a lot to pay for.
2/3 - Second, how do we know HCSD isn’t producing good results? Well, according to the most recent statewide assessment data, only about 30% of HCSD students scored proficient in their reading and math exams, putting Hudson in the bottom 10% of districts in New York State. That is absolutely a problem, but it’s one that’s worth putting in perspective. First, if our district takes the blame, we also need to take the credit. This year HCSD is graduating seniors to some of the most selective colleges and universities in the country, including Cornell, Howard, U Chicago, Wesleyan, Wellesley, and Vassar. Second, HCSD also has a significant proportion of students coming from economically disadvantaged homes (67%), with all of the attendant challenges of poverty and chronic absenteeism (20-30%). Students can’t learn if their basic needs aren’t being met, and students can’t learn if they’re not consistently in school. These numbers don’t excuse the emergency of student achievement at HCSD, but they do provide a more accurate context for discussion.
ReplyDelete(Additionally, it’s really important to say: just because test scores are one of the easiest metrics with which to track and compare students does not mean they are the only important thing, or even the most important. Ask any parent what the point of education is, and I’ll bet most will choose imparting a love of learning, a sense of self-efficacy, kindness, collaboration, and perseverance, over “being really good at tests”. Obviously the choice is not either/or, but it’s worth saying out loud.)
HCSD should be doing everything we can to help all students succeed. And the good news is that as severe as these challenges are, we also know what works: Highly engaging, differentiated instruction; progress monitoring; multi-tiered systems of support; restorative support systems; embedded school counseling and mental health services; robust family engagement; supportive and accountable attendance procedures; after-school, Saturday, and Summer school tutoring; consistent school leadership… The list goes on. The bad news is that just because the solutions are known, doesn’t mean they’re easy to implement, and it doesn’t mean they’re cheap. That’s why “school turnarounds” typically happen on a 3-5 year timeline.
3/3 - For my part, I believe HCSD is now on that path to excellence and achievement for all students, which is why a “no” vote would have such a devastating impact on our students. The proposed budget has already cut three central administrative positions and 23 instructional and support positions, in addition to more cuts in transportation, software, and other services. Withholding funding now until test scores improve might feel like advocacy, but it isn’t a recipe for school success. Remember that list above? It all costs something.
ReplyDeleteAs frustrating as it might be, we can’t prevent the cost of public education from rising any more than we can prevent the cost of our gas, groceries, and healthcare from rising. Refusing to pay more to fund our schools is like refusing to pay more for gas at the pump: we can, but it means we’re not going to be driving as much or as far.
I believe our students deserve high quality instruction, mental health supports, art, sports, and extra-curriculars, but not at the expense of our community members going hungry or unhoused. So if that’s what the 5.8% tax increase would mean for you and your family, then by all means, vote no. But if you can find a way to get by with the tax, in the same way you already find a way to get by with higher bills at the pump and for groceries, then please vote yes. And then join me in continuing to advocate for excellence for young people, and also for an economic system that works for everyone, that doesn’t ask communities to choose between healthcare, rent, groceries, and basic educational opportunities for our kids.