The longtime school superintendent of the Peekskill City School District is retiring.

Judith Johnson made her announcement on the school district's website today. Johnson says she will officially submit her retirement request  to the school board at Tuesday's board meeting.

The Superintendent says after nine and a half years at the helm, she feels her mission has been accomplished and that her legacy to the students there is to "aim high."

Said Johnson, " The expectations that we set for the children of the City of Peekskill are no different  and no lower than the expectations for high-wealth school districts." She added, "There isn't a person in the city that doesn't deny the fact that that has become the absolute mission of this school district, that we will not be crippled by poverty and high crime."

The longtime school superintendent of the Peekskill City School District is retiring.

Judith Johnson made her announcement on the school district's website today. Johnson says she will officially submit her retirement request  to the school board at Tuesday's board meeting.

The Superintendent says after nine and a half years at the helm, she feels her mission has been accomplished and that her legacy to the students there is to "aim high."

School Superintendent Judith Johnson says the Peekskill City School District has successfully negotiated salary concessions with its bargaining units, a move that will save more than 20 teacher jobs from the chopping block and will also lower the tax rate increase for Peekskill residents.
Johnson said, "These timely actions by our teachers and staff have made a tremendous difference to the educational and financial health of our district."

Peekskill residents will have an opportunity Saturday March 20 to weigh in and take a closer look at the school budget for the 2010-2011 school year. The District's Citizens' Budget Advisory Committee, which is comprised of local residents who have been analyzing the budget expenditures and anticipated revenues, is hosting the forum along with School Superintendent Judith Johnson, Members of the Committee and the Board of Education. The session's expected to begin with an overview of the budget challenges facing the district.

Peekskill School Superintendent Judith Johnson says property owners could face a tax increase of 6 percent or more and the possible layoffs of dozens of teachers. Johnson, who is preparing the 2010-2011 school budget, says the district is facing a $5.5 million shortfall in its 75 million dollar budget for 2010-2011. She warns that that number might go higher, depending on additional cutbacks in state aid.