Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Ichabod Crane Board of Education met remotely May 5, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The district confirmed last week its buildings and facilities will remain closed through the end of the school year, pursuant to an executive order issued by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. And the district will conduct the annual board election and budget vote on June 9, with all ballots cast by mail. Superintendent Jason Thomson reported during the meeting that plans for summer school are still up in the air. The district is proposing a $42 million budget for the 2020-21 school year. Business Manager Brennan said there have been no cuts to staff or programs. The district could lose state aid as the state reviews revenues during the pandemic, but Brennan said this year the district should be able to close an aid gap with existing revenues. “It’s the subsequent years that we’re worried about,” Thomson said. Brennan advised the board to plan a vote on the budget proposal in May so that it can be on the June 9 ballot. He also said there should be a budget hearing on June 2. Brennan said the district will send out a mailing to district residents about the budget and the voting process. There is also information on the district website. According to the information at ichabodcrane [dot] org, every qualified voter in the district will receive an absentee ballot and a postage-paid return envelope in the mail. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.