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At the Hermon-Dekalb Board of Education meeting on Monday, December 2nd, Board Member Mr. Jordan Deleel submitted his letter of resignation. Mr. Deleel has served on the Board of Education since 2020, offering thoughtful leadership and valuable insight that guided the Board’s decisions. The Hermon-Dekalb CSD extends its sincere gratitude for Mr. Deleel’s dedication and service.
“We appreciate the service Mr. Deleel provided to the Board of Education during his time on the board. His commitment to improving education and advocating for the students and families in our community has made an impact. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and thank him for his contributions,” said Ronald Smith, Hermon-Dekalb Board of Education President.
The seat previously held by Mr. Deleel is now vacant. Following the acceptance of the resignation letter, the Board decided to begin the process of filling the position with an interim member. The district is now accepting letters of interest from eligible candidates. Applicants should include a brief overview of their professional background, the reasons for applying, and their involvement with the district. All letters must be submitted to District Clerk Donna Anson by noon on December 20th. Submissions can be dropped off at the Main Office from 8am - 3:30pm daily at the Hermon-DeKalb Central School located at 709 E De Kalb Rd, De Kalb Junction. Applicants are welcome to call the school at 315-347-3442.
The submitted letters will be reviewed by the current Board members, who will then interview candidates during the Board of Education meeting on January 6th. Following the interviews, the Board will appoint an interim member. The appointed interim member will serve as a voting member until the School Budget and BOE Election in May, during which the community will elect a new member to serve a full term.
A local Board of Education is an agency of New York State that is governed by State law and the regulations of the Commissioner of Education. The Hermon-Dekalb CSD Board is composed of nine members. The Board of Education establishes policy, has the fiscal responsibility to provide a budget, and directly hires the superintendent of schools. As your representatives, the Board exercises the community’s rights of citizen control over public education.
The Hermon-DeKalb Drama Department is excited to present Disney's Moana Jr. this December with two performances: one on December 13th at 7:00 PM and another on December 14th at 2:00 PM. Tickets will be available for presale starting next week and can also be purchased at the door before the show. Adult tickets are $10, while students and children can attend for $5. Additionally, refreshments and flowers will be sold at the door, with all proceeds benefiting the Drama Department. We hope to see you there!
Looking for last-minute Christmas gifts? We’ve got you covered! The Hermon Dekalb Booster Club is hosting a Pop-Up Shop during our basketball games next week! The shop will feature Hermon Dekalb apparel, perfect for holiday gifts or showing your school spirit. Please note, payments must be made in cash. Come support our teams and gear up in style!
The Pop-Up Shop will be open in the school lobby at the following times
- Monday, December 9th: 6:00–7:00 PM
- Wednesday, December 11th: 5:00–6:00 PM
UPDATE: The pop-up shop time slot for Tuesday 12/10 has been canceled as the game that night has been rescheduled to a later date.
Don’t miss your chance to order this year’s Hermon-DeKalb Central School Yearbook—a keepsake that lasts a lifetime! It’s the perfect gift for students of all grades.
Pricing
- Hardcover Yearbook: $20
- Yearbook with Nameplate: $25 (Add a personal touch with an engravable nameplate for just $5 more)
If you’re ordering a nameplate, please write the name exactly as you’d like it to appear on the order form.
Order Deadline: April 1, 2025
(Yearbooks will arrive in early June.)
Fill out and print the order form
How to Pay
Make checks payable to HDCS Yearbook. Payment plans are available—contact Senior Account Clerk Kevin Gilbert at kgilbert@hdcsk12.org for details.
Dear Hermon-DeKalb Families and Community Members:
Believe it or not, another exciting school year is upon us! I hope you all have enjoyed the fun, relaxation and time with family and friends that summer brings. We are eager to welcome our smiling students back to HDCS on Thursday, Sept. 5.
You are also invited to join us a few days early on Tuesday, Sept. 3, for our annual Back-to-School Picnic right here at Hermon-DeKalb Central School. From 5:30 to 7 p.m., you can enjoy dinner, pick up free school supplies, meet with outside agencies to learn about community resources and reconnect with friends you haven’t seen all summer. Of course, kids can also enjoy the always-popular bounce houses! You won’t want to miss it.
New Administration
I am thrilled to begin this school year as your new superintendent. Over the past nine years, I have had the pleasure of serving as principal, and I am now ready to continue living out the mission and values of Hermon-DeKalb in this new role.
Rebecca Hocking has stepped into the role of pre-K-12 principal as of July 1. Formerly the HDCS assistant principal, Rebecca is looking forward to supporting students, staff and families in this new capacity.
Please also welcome Margaret (Maggie) Munger as she takes on the role of assistant pre-K-12 principal. Maggie is a native to Northern New York. She graduated from the Indian River Central School District, and has spent the last 10 years there as a third grade teacher. She earned her teaching degrees through Jefferson Community College and SUNY Potsdam, then obtained her administrative degree through SUNY Oswego. Maggie lives on a hobby farm with her husband, two kids, two dogs, goats, turkeys and chickens. She enjoys many outdoor activities, including gardening, hunting, fishing and family rides on their side-by-side. Maggie is looking forward to building strong, productive partnerships with the HDCS community!
New Faculty
We also have two new teachers joining us for the 2024-25 school year.
Deanna Hughes - Middle & High School Math Teacher
Deanna Hughes has been teaching for 18 years and is from Antwerp in Jefferson County. She is married to her husband, Phillip, and they have two daughters. Deanna served in the Army National Guard. She iscurrently an EMT in Gouverneur and also volunteers at Friends 4 Pound Paws Inc. Rescue. She enjoys scuba diving. Deanna says her favoritething about math is, even though there is always one answer, there aremany different ways to get to that answer.
McKenzie Whitmore - Special Education Teacher
McKenzie Whitmore is dual certified in Literacy Birth-6th Grade and Special Education Grades K-12. She comes to us from Antwerp in Jefferson County and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. McKenzie enjoys traveling, reading and going to concerts. She is excited to help students reach their full potential.
School and Community Communication
Keeping our greater community informed is also a priority. Please visit our district website, www.hdcsk12.org, for the latest news, events, and other information. We encourage you to follow us on Facebook to stay updated on all the great things happening at school.
Supporting our Students
Open dialogue between home and school is key to academic excellence. I am genuinely excited about all the new opportunities this school year will bring! I look forward to working with you to ensure our students have another wonderful school experience.
My door is always open. If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns, please email me at mfoster@hdcsk12.org, send me a message through ParentSquare, or call me at 315-347-3442, ext. 1.
Warmest regards,
Megan Foster
Superintendent