Press Releases 2022-2023

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May 18, 2023
DeWitt Middle School Orchestra Takes the Stage with Stephen Spottswood and DJ Ramsey in the School’s First Hip Hop Performance

DeWitt Middle School will present its Orchestra Hip Hop Concert on Friday, May 26, at 7 p.m. in Kulp Auditorium at Ithaca High School. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade orchestras will perform with guest violinist Stephen Spottswood and DJ Ramsey on the turntable.

“We are so excited to be jumping into a different type of music than we have done in the past,” Aaron Buck, DeWitt Middle Orchestra Director, said. “It is fantastic to be able to collaborate with so many talented people with this project. It definitely shows the power that music has to bring people together. The orchestra students and I are so excited to put on this concert for all to see!” 

The entire Ithaca City School District (ICSD) community is invited to gather for the concert at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. 

This hip hop concert comes after many months of preparation and rehearsals. The orchestra has worked hard to regain student interest after many did not return to playing following the pandemic. The middle school students have visited elementary schools, encouraging younger students to continue to play, hosted team-building activities, and worked hard to rebuild a sense of community they felt was lost during the pandemic. 

The performance will also help highlight an upcoming trip to Pittsburgh that the DeWitt orchestra is planning. The trip will give students the opportunity to take a master class with a professional conductor, attend a concert by the Pittsburgh Symphony, and sightsee. Donations to help fund the trip can be made here. 

The ICSD’s Fine and Performing Arts Department recognizes that the study of music, art, and theater inspires learning, critical thinking, identity development, and strong communities. We celebrate the authentic selves of all students and work to cultivate loving relationships through anti-racist, inclusive, and culturally responsive practices. Students explore their artistic voices and hone their skills in music, art, and theater through authentic performance opportunities in school and in the community.

Learn more at ithacacityschools.org/arts and follow the ICSD on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

May 17, 2023
Official Results: ICSD Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election 2023

The results of the 2023 Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Budget Vote and School Board Election listed below have been certified and adopted by the ICSD Board of Education.

Proposition No. 1    Proposed 2023-2024 Annual District Budget

May 16, 2023
Preliminary Results: ICSD Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election 2023

The preliminary results from the 2023 Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Budget Vote and School Board Election, as of 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, are listed below. These results are subject to verification. The ICSD Board of Education will meet to certify the results on Wednesday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m.

Proposition No. 1    Proposed 2023-2024 Annual District Budget

March 31, 2023
Ithaca High School Drama Club Presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid

The Ithaca High School (IHS) Drama Club’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid is this weekend. Performances are Friday, March 31, at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 1, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 2, at 2 p.m.

The IHS musical is the culmination of opportunities students have to further their mastery and emerging identities in music, art, dance, and theater tech through community building and performance. Students engage in every part of bringing this musical story to life, from the stage to the orchestra pit, including theatrical design, scenery, costumes, lighting, sound, and stage management. The work is produced by the student-run drama and theater tech clubs, in collaboration with the IHS musical creative team and mentors.

Tickets are $5 for kids 10 and under, $10 for students, $12 for adults, and free for Ithaca City School District (ICSD) staff. All proceeds benefit the IHS Drama Club.

The ICSD’s Fine and Performing Arts Department recognizes that the study of music, art, and theater inspires learning, critical thinking, identity development, and strong communities. We celebrate the authentic selves of all students and work to cultivate loving relationships through anti-racist, inclusive, culturally-responsive practices. Students explore their artistic voices and hone their skills in music, art, and theater through authentic performance opportunities in school and the community.

Learn more at ithacacityschools.org/arts and follow the ICSD on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

March 15, 2023
Two-Hour Delay in Effect for the Ithaca City School District March 15, 2023

A two-hour delay is in effect for the Ithaca City School District for today, March 15, 2023, due to inclement weather. 

For more information on emergency closings, including the district’s two-hour delay procedures, please visit our website: ithacacityschools.org/closings.

March 13, 2023
Ithaca City School District Closed March 14, 2023

The Ithaca City School District (ICSD) will be closed tomorrow, March 14, 2023, due to inclement weather. All district-sponsored after-school and evening activities scheduled for tomorrow, including the ICSD Board of Education voting meeting, are also canceled.

After vigilant monitoring throughout the day, the decision to cancel is made out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our students and staff. This decision is made in consultation with our Transportation Department, local highway department officials, and the National Weather Service.

For more information on emergency closings, please visit our website: ithacacityschools.org/closings.

March 13, 2023
Ithaca City School District After-School and Evening Activities Canceled

All Ithaca City School District-sponsored after-school and evening activities are canceled for today, March 13, 2023, due to inclement weather. There will be no late bus transportation.

January 25, 2023
Lehman Alternative Community School Proudly Presents The Addams Family This Weekend!

The Addams Family, A New Musical, will hit the stage at Lehman Alternative Community School this weekend! Performances are Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, January 29, at 2 p.m. in the LACS Gym, 111 Chestnut Street. 

Admission to the performances are FREE, but donations are appreciated. Don’t miss the hilariously quirky look into the lives of your favorite Addams characters as they navigate love, heartbreak, and Wednesday growing up. Will love triumph? Will Wednesday get her happily ever after?

The Addams Family is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY. The musical is based on the book written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. Music and lyrics by Andrew Orchestrations and Larry Hochman, and based on the characters created by Charles Addams.

The ICSD’s Fine and Performing Arts Department recognizes that the study of music, art, and theater inspires learning, critical thinking, identity development, and strong communities. We celebrate the authentic selves of all students and work to cultivate loving relationships through anti-racist, inclusive, culturally-responsive practices. Students explore their artistic voices and hone their skills in music, art, and theater through authentic performance opportunities in school and the community.

Learn more at ithacacityschools.org/arts and follow the ICSD on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

January 25, 2023
Ithaca City School District Closed JANUARY 25, 2023

The Ithaca City School District will be closed today, JANUARY 25, 2023, due to the inclement weather forecast. This decision is being made out of an abundance of caution for the safety of all students and staff. All school-sponsored after-school and evening activities are also canceled. 

January 23, 2023
Two-Hour Delay in Effect for the Ithaca City School District JANUARY 23, 2023

A two-hour delay is in effect for the Ithaca City School District for TODAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 due to inclement weather. 

December 22, 2022
Ithaca City School District Closed December 23, 2022

The Ithaca City School District will be closed tomorrow, December 23, 2022, due to inclement weather. All school-sponsored after-school and evening activities are also canceled. 

After vigilant monitoring throughout the day, the decision to cancel is made out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our students and staff. This decision is made in consultation with our transportation department, local highway department officials, and the National Weather Service.

For more information and instructions for emergency closings, please visit our website.  

December 15, 2022
Ithaca City School District Calls First Snow Day of ‘22-’23 School Year

The Ithaca City School District will be closed tomorrow, December 16, 2022, due to inclement weather. All school-sponsored after-school and evening activities are also canceled. 

December 15, 2022
Emergency Closing - Secondary Schools Will Close Today, December 15, 2022 at 12 p.m. Elementary dismissal on time. All after school activities are canceled.

All Ithaca City School District secondary schools will close today, December 15, 2022 at 12 p.m. due to pending inclement weather. Elementary schools will dismiss on time. All after school and evening activities will be canceled. There will be no late bus transportation. 

For updates, visit the ICSD website at ithacacityschools.org, or follow us on Twitter (@IthacaNYSchools) or Facebook (@IthacaCitySchools). 

November 15, 2022
The Ithaca High School Drama Club’s Production of Alice in Wonderland Hits the Stage November 18, 19, 20

The Ithaca High School (IHS) Drama Club, supported by the IHS Theater Tech Club, will tumble down the rabbit hole to Wonderland in an adaptation of the famous story Alice in Wonderland. Performances are Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, November 20, at 2 p.m. in Kulp Auditorium, Ithaca High School, 1401 North Cayuga Street.  

“To me, the story of Alice is truly one of mental health,” Director David Pepe said. “Here is a character who has to take on an unimaginable amount of conflict, criticism, and questioning. Perhaps it is real or perhaps it is in the mind. The ultimate question becomes: How does one come out the other side of the rabbit hole? Luckily, we have an incredible, funny, and imaginative cast and crew that have helped make answering this question a delight.”

Alice in Wonderland is adapted by Charlotte Chorpenning from Lewis Carroll and directed by David Pepe. Advanced tickets can be purchased online or at IHS. Tickets are $10 for students and $12 for general admission until November 17. Tickets purchased after November 17 or at the door will be $12 for students and $14 for general admission. 

The ICSD’s Fine and Performing Arts Department recognizes that the study of music, art, and theater inspires learning, critical thinking, identity development, and strong communities. We celebrate the authentic selves of all students and work to cultivate loving relationships through anti-racist, inclusive, culturally-responsive practices. Students explore their artistic voices and hone their skills in music, art, and theater through authentic performance opportunities in school and the community.

Learn more at ithacacityschools.org/arts and follow the ICSD on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

October 24, 2022
The Ithaca High School Music Department Presents Collage VIII: Going Places 

The Ithaca High School Music Department will present Collage VIII: Going Places on Wednesday, October 26 at 7:30 PM in Kulp Auditorium. The event will feature the bands, choirs, and orchestras of IHS, in addition to student artwork from the IHS Art Department. 

The Ithaca City School District’s (ICSD) Fine and Performing Arts Department is proud to bring Collage VIII: Going Places back to Kulp Auditorium for the first time since 2019. Going Places will truly be a celebration of how the arts inspire growth by fostering strong communities. 

The entire ICSD community is invited to gather for the concert at 7:30 PM. The event will also be live streamed for those who cannot join in person. Details to attend virtually can be found on the Fine and Performing Arts webpage. 

The ICSD’s Fine and Performing Arts Department recognizes that the study of music, art, and theater inspires learning, critical thinking, identity development, and strong communities. We celebrate celebrate the authentic selves of all students and work to cultivate loving relationships through anti-racist, inclusive, culturally responsive practices. Students explore their artistic voices and hone their skills in music, art, and theater through authentic performance opportunities in school and in the community.

Learn more at ithacacityschools.org/arts and follow the ICSD on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.