Our elementary school will be open on Friday, November 13, 2026. We are hopeful to be able to open our middle and high schools on Monday, November 16, 2026, so that we can focus on the work we are all here to do – serving students, families, and our community. I understand the frustration of our teachers and staff, but the reality is more hard work lies ahead, as we will continue to identify ways to address our deficit of more than $1.5 million this year so we can regain stable financial footing. 

The fiscal challenges we face today date back to at least 2024, two years before I started as CEO. Irvington Community Schools grew its staff with funding from federal COVID relief dollars – Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds – and we continued at that level of staffing even as those dollars ran out. At the same time, our enrollment declined, diminishing our revenue further, and additional spending also continued. No major adjustments in spending were made until January 2026, but even those adjustments have not been enough.  

We have the opportunity to correct the course before it is too late. Solving these financial challenges will not be easy, but we are committed to finding a path forward so we can continue the important work of educating our students and serving as an anchor in the Irvington community.