Estate of Johanna Hughes

CHATEAUGAY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  RESOLUTION APPROVING ACCEPTANCE  OF THE ESTATE OF JOHANNA A. HUGHES GIFT DONATION 

WHEREAS, Johanna Ornstedt Hughes was born in 1928 and grew up in Malone. A 1946 graduate of Franklin Academy, she married James Charles Hughes, III (Jim) in 1949. Jim was born in 1925 and grew up in Chateaugay at the corner of Depot and Church Streets; and 

WHEREAS, Jim graduated from Chateaugay High School in 1944 as Valedictorian of his class. He attended the Navy V-12 program at Middlebury College and in 1949 graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. In 1950 he completed naval flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola and was assigned to Squadron VF-821 operating from the aircraft carrier Princeton during the Korean War. He was killed on Aug 9, 1951 when his plane was shot down over North Korea; and 

WHEREAS, Jim and his wife Johanna had one son, James C. Hughes IV, (Jimmy) born September 16, 1950. Jimmy graduated from Chateaugay High School in 1968. He was awarded a New York State Regents Scholarship and a scholarship from Niagara Mohawk for his academic achievements. Jimmy was a lifelong learner and had a great love of nature and the outdoors. He had a keen intellect and his interests were wide and varied; and 

WHEREAS, Jimmy passed away in 2008 and Johanna passed away in 2022. It was Johanna's wish to honor and memorialize both her husband and son by providing scholarships for graduates of the Chateaugay Central School District. To do so, she established James Charles Hughes, III and James Charles Hughes, IV Memorial Scholarships; and

WHEREAS, Johanna A. Hughes scholarship, to be known as the "James Charles Hughes, III and James Charles Hughes, IV Memorial Scholarship" through her Last Will and Testament did give, devise, and bequeath 50% of her residuary estate, in the amount of Two Hundred Seventy-Six Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars and Two Cents ($276,750.02), to the Trustees of the Chateaugay Central School, in Trust; and 

WHEREAS, Johanna A. Hughes did so with the intent a Charitable Trust would be created for the establishment of a scholarship known as the "James Charles Hughes, III and James Charles Hughes, IV Memorial Scholarship"; and 

WHEREAS, One Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Five Dollars and One Cent ($138,375.01) of the gift will be held in trust and used for graduates of Chateaugay Central School intending to pursue a further education or any field involving aeronautics; and 

WHEREAS, One Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Five Dollars and One Cent ($138,375.01) of the gift will be held in trust and used for graduates of Chateaugay Central School intending to pursue a further education or career as a Librarian; and 

WHEREAS, the Superintendent shall possess authority to execute all necessary documents in connection with the Trust; and 

WHEREAS, Section 1709 of the New York Education Law authorizes a Board of Education to accept gifts and donations; and 

WHEREAS, the Board of Education has received and evaluated the proposal submitted by the Trustee and has sought and received input and advice from the District's administration and school legal counsel with respect to all aspects of the proposed gift and to seek to ensure that the interests of the District are appropriately protected in addressing the proposed acceptance of the gift; and 

NOW, THEREFORE, as follows: 

1. After careful consideration, and in accordance with its authority under the Education Law as well as District Policy, the Board of Education hereby RESOLVES to accept the proposed gift from the Estate of Johanna A. Hughes in the amount of Two Hundred Seventy-Six Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars and Two Cents ($276,750.02) with One Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand Six Three Hundred Seventy Five Dollars and One Cent ($138,375.01) to be held in trust and used for graduates of Chateaugay Central School intending to pursue a further education or any field involving aeronautics, and One Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand Six Three Hundred Seventy Five Dollars and One Cent ($138,375.01) to be held in trust and used for graduates of Chateaugay Central School intending to pursue a further education or career as a Librarian. The scholarships provided to those graduates furthering an education or career in aeronautics will be funded by 4% of the trust annually. The scholarships provided to those graduates furthering an education or career as a Librarian will be funded by 4% of the trust annually. 

2. The Board of Education grants the Superintendent of Schools the necessary authority  to execute all documents necessary to effectuate the donation's purpose; and  3. This resolution shall be effective immediately. 

District Clerk 

Chateaugay Central School District