WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS  News & Commentary By John F. Bailey. January 22, 2007: Mr. and Mrs. And Ms. White Plains have just five days to complete the Looking to the Future Survey issued by the City School District that seeks WP residents’ views “about our past performance and our future challenges,” that will be “shared with the team developing our plan for the future.” The survey is available online at www.whiteplainspublicschools.org and your answers may be submitted on that website. The District also reports the members of the Core Strategic Planning Group have not as yet, been determined. Availabilities of candidates are now being sought by the district.

 

WPCNR has learned the survey was only made available online, and is not translated in Spanish on the website. The content is troubling.

The survey was developed by Transformation Systems, Ltd., a strategic planning consultant to the school district. TSL was commissioned to guide the district and help it develop a strategic plan development for the next 5 to 10 years at a cost of $70,000. (Approximately $35-$40,000 of that fee will be refunded to the district by BOCES.  Transformation Systems handles strategic planning for school districts and countries all over the world.)

 

Distribition Limited.

 

The survey has been made available online only, and not mailed to residents of the city. It was not publicized in the  December About Our Schools Newsletter about its availability on line. The only copy is available electronically on the www.whiteplainspublicschools.org website. But it is not translated into Spanish. Residents have until Friday of this week to online their answers.

 

Residents without a computer to voice their opinions, have to descend en masse to the White Plains High School Wednesday evening to make known issues they feel the district should deal with over the next ten years

 

However, in this reporter’s opinion, the survey will not expose problems, but earn  a pat on the back from citizens for “a job well done.”

 

No Depth.

 

When I punched it up on the website, I plunged right in only to have my jaw drop on my keyboard  when I discovered it was five statements long. This reporter can name 21 issues this school district needs to probe and mull and address off the top of my head.

 

It’s how the survey is designed that is disturbing.

 

There are five statements, phrased in the term of absolute statements. You’re asked to “Strongly Agree,” “Agree,” “Disagree,” “Strongly Disagree.” The statements highlight areas planners perhaps can ask questions about during the World Café meeting Wednesday.

 

I would hope so, because who in their right mind would “Strongly Disagree” with these statements:

 

1. Classes are small and allow individual attention to students.
   
2. School facilities are an asset.
   
3. Our curriculum encourages critical thinking and provides a solid academic program.
   
4. Our extra-curricular and athletic programs provide enrichment opportunities for students.
   
5. Overall, White Plains Schools’ services and programs are high quality and well managed.
   
6. For any statement with which you disagreed, please give specific reasons so we can work to improve.

 

 

The first five  force the White Plains parent or resident to be negative to highlight a concern.  Notice of the survey was telephoned to parents of school attendees in a tape-recorded telephone call last week via the school district call-out notification system. All residents of the city were not telephoned.

 

Looking for Positive Reinforcement

 

Who would not want to have small classes? Who would not agree  that school facilities are an asset that our curriculum is solid, or say they are against extra-curricular activities and sports, that the services and programs are not high quality and well-managed? Who would know if you were not a parent?  

 

Many will simply check agree and send in the survey with some comments. You have to be really in tune with what is going on in the district to not agree to these rosy scenario statements.

  

Now, suppose you do disagree. Well you are asked to write up your concern. It will be interesting to see how many comments are generated. However, what most likely will happen is the consultant will report something like this: 

 

Endorsing the past as the future

 

“Of Over 500 persons responding to the survey,  80% of persons completing the survey strongly agreed that “facilities are an asset,” (obliquely justifying building new facilities) or “90% agreed that services and programs are well-managed,” (implying they do not have to be examined and we should add more) and “95% agreed that classes are small and allow individual attention to students,” (endorsing maintaining small classes instead of expanding class size to trim faculty and support staff).” (NOTE THIS IS AN EXAMPLE, NOT FACT)

 

The survey is programmed to return an endorsement of the status quo. It subtly justifies where present management has gotten the district and produces a “public community wide” endorsement for more of the same. It is up to the public to think this one out and come out and voice concerns Wednesday evening.

 

Limits Universe

Proselytizes

 

Most distributing,  this survey was not sent to every resident of the district and it frames discussion in terms of outcomes the district wants and has now (in their opinion).  The issue of what the true position of the school district is in the eyes of the public is not sought.

 

When I saw this survey I was shocked, considering what Dr. Steven Barone of Transformation Systems said in his address to the Board of Education this month about involving critics of the district and identifying negatives. The questions above in Dr. Barone’s company survey do not identify negatives.

 

It asks condescendingly, do you think small classes, buildings (instead of tents supposedly) to go to school in, challenging academics, extra-curricular acitivies, and programs are well managed  are good??????

 

No Demographic Profile Asked

 

There is no effort on the website  to get a demographic profile of the respondent, so the results are meaningless.  You have to wonder the demographics of the persons taking the survey. Respondents might be 95% white and 95% well over the median income,  an effort should be made to survey the minority and lower income segments of the population – with a section identifying your race, income level and what part of town you live.

 

21 Issues Facing the School District

 

 

In case Dr. Barone and his staff have been talking to the client instead of the people,  here are just 21 odd issues any planner should take into account in devising a strategic plan for this district:

 

1. Tax Base and Rising School Tax Sensitivity of the Populace—employed and retired.
   
2. Administration cost oversight
   
3. Projected budget growth of the district and tax impact over next 15 years.
   
4. Demographics of the School Population, addressing bilingual issues.
   
5. Neighborhood Schools—Eliminate busing or retain.
   
6. Structure of the School Day – Longer Hours? Summer Program
   
7. Future of the existing buildings: Build New, Repair?
   
8. Selling of District property, Acquiring New Property.
   
9. Partnering with local businesses on academic subjects.
   
10. Closing Minority Achievement Gap; Succeeding or Not?
    
11. District Maintenance: Outsource or Keep In House
    
12. Testing Policies: Balanced, Remedially Effective?
    
13. Advanced Placement Courses: Enough? Not enough?
    
14. Security Facilities Policies: Adequate or In need of improvement
    
15. Student Conduct, Supervision: Dealt With Fairly, Effective Discipline?
    
16. Universal Pre-Kindergarten Programs for all.
    
17. Expansion of class size
    
18. Communication with residents, parents and non-parents.
    
19. Representating district concerns to city, county, state government representatives  (lobbying)
    
20. Income generating opportunities for the School District through its facilities.
    
21. Where should School District allocate its financial resources.

 

 

 

The homework that Transformation Systems has done, based on the survey they created, apparently has not acquainted them with these issues that the district should consider in forming any strategic plan. 

 

Hopefully White Plains citizens will get out their old torches and descend on the high school at 7:30 P.M. Wednesday night and move from table to table and raise issues: talk about them, demand they be addressed.

 

The Runaway Freight

 

Otherwise,  assuming a 9% annual budget increase plus 2.5% inflation a year, the district will continue on the inexorable budget track it is on now. We will see the school district budget reach $410 Million in 2015-2016, which I assure you will become more of an issue every year, unless the school district addresses it.

 

Here is the very rough “basic math.”

 

2007-2008 — $175M

2008-2009 — $191M

2009-2010–  $213M

2010-2011–  $238M

2011-2012 — $265M

2012-2013–  $296M

2013-2014–  $330M

2014-2015 — $368M

2015-2016–  $410M

 

WPCNR will be there Wednesday evening, 7:30 P.M. to see what Mr. and Mrs. And Ms. White Plains really think at the World Café Session at White Plains High School.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. January 20, 2007 UPDATED January 21, 2007 4:30 PM EDT: The White Plains City School District, in a letter received in most homes of parents this morning, has listed the devices banned in  mid-term examination rooms beginning Tuesday and clarified their communication device policy on exams that begin Tuesday with high school midterms — in examination rooms or on supervised “breaks.”

Today Monday, the District reported the ban extends only to high school exams, and that the ban on cellphones and other devices listed below does not apply yet in the two White Plains Middle Schools, Highlands and Eastview or the Elementary Schools.

The District also said no evidence of cheating using electronic devices has been uncovered at the high school.

The letter from White Plains High School Ivan Toper reads:

“Your child may not use any communication device while taking a State examination (or local school exam), either in the room where the test is being administered or while on a supervised break (such as a bathroom visit).

Such devices include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones, pagers, CD and audiocassette players, radios, MP3 players, Personal Digital Assistants, video devices, and associated headphones, headset, microphones or earplugs.”

The letter states the following protocol should the student take a cell phone in with them,

” They may not answer it if it rings or vibrates.  If the child’s pager beeps or vibrates, they may not look at it. These and other devices (within the examination room) must be turned off and put away.”

Penalty: Exams invalidated

The penalty for answering a device or using it in an examination room is, “your child’s exmaination will be invalidated and no score will be calculated if they use any such device or related communications technology or if they wear headphones while in the testing room.”

The letter recommends students not bring communication devices of any kind to the exam room. The letter states — “if they do the aforementioned procedure will be followed. Violation of this policy during a state exam requires notification to the Office of State Assessment. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken following procedural due process.”

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WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By John F. Bailey. January 19, 2007: Councilperson Rita Malmud, asked by Mayor Delfino to negotiate a removal of the 85 Court Street homeless shelter with Westchester County reports progress to WPCNR, revealing that the county is considering the shelter “temporary” — her words. Reporting to WPCNR on the results of her meetings with the county so far, Malmud issued this statement:

Mayor Delfino and I spoke about 85 Court Street a few weeks ago when I updated him on talks with County Executive Spano.   These talks were characterized as positive and productive.  I expressed confidence that the status quo would not remain.  Although I forget the specific and exact words used, it was clearly implied that this shelter was not permanent.

Ms. Malmud was asked by WPCNR Thursday in two separate telephone calls whether a new location in White Plains was being considered, whether a location outside White Plains was being looked at, whether better monitoring of the homeless during day was being developed, or even job and employment opportunities were being developed for the 85 Court Street population, but she did not respond to those questions.

Today, WPCNR has asked her for clarification on what the terms “positive and productive” mean, and when she thought it would be resolved.

This is the first time Westchester County has stated publicly that the 85 Court Street shelter is temporary. Previously when asked to remove the shelter by Mayor Joseph Delfino,due to its proximity to the downtown, and documented related incidents,  the county has balked — never indicating they were seeking alternate locations.

Donna Green spokesperson for the Westchester County Department of Communications, when asked if the county was viewing the 85 Court Street Shelter as “temporary” and was seeking to relocate it — something the county has refused to do in the political standoff between the County and the City — Green said “I have no answers for you at this time.”

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WPCNR THE PARKING NEWS. Interview with Al Moroni, Commissioner of Parking with John F. Bailey. January 18, 2007: In response to citizen complaints, The City of White Plains is reviewing its on-street parking policies  that limit parking at downtown on-street meters and on unmetered streets in certain parts of town to the 1 or 2 hour time limits noticed on the meter or by signs,  regardless of whether you “feed the meter” when you park in or move your car to another spot on the same street.

 

Commissioner of Parking, Al Moroni.

 

Present White Plains Meters Do Not Advise Motorists Specifically they can only park for the limit imposed on a specific street once a day.

 

According to Mr. Moroni speaking to WPCNR today, the Traffic Commission has asked the Department of Parking, the Traffic Department and the Law Depart to meet and “to take a look at the ordinance and see what can be done to come up with an ordinance that is enforceable and understandable (to the public).”  Deputy Commissioner of Parking, John Larson said a date for that meeting has not been set.

 

An unspecified number of residents have gotten tickets when they have returned to the downtown, “fed a new meter” and still got a ticket when they parked on the same street they had parked on during their first trip to the downtown, according  to Commissioner of Parking, Al Moroni.

 

He said there have not been many persons this has happened to, but when it does, “it seems so unfair to them, they get pretty upset about it.” If, they return to the downtown and park on a different street at a meter, they would not get a ticket, Moroni said.

 

 

Moroni remarked that there are several issues the Commission is examining in addition to the controversial “Double Jeopardy” parking ordinance.  one  is parking beyond the limit in a parking lot beyond the 1 or 2 hour limit, regardless of whether you come back and feed the meter at the end of the two hours,  you receive a “Beyond the Limit” Ticket. After time has expired, you have to move your car to a garage or another parking lot, and cannot “feed the meter” to stay in the lot if if you move to a different space.

 

The second issue involves streets around the city which are not metered where signs say parking is limited to 1 or 2 hours. Neighborhoods don’t want people working in an adjacent area using their streets for parking for their business, Moroni said.

 

Double Jeopardy Clarification under review by “Task Force”

 

Moroni, whose Deputy Commissioner of Parking, John Larson, attended the Traffic Commission meeting Wednesday morning when the decision reexamine the “Double Jeopardy” issue was made, said “We are wrestling with how do we come up with a more fair way of treating this problem.”

 

The Traffic Commission, WPNCR had learned from a member of the commission, speaking to WPCNR under condition of anonymity, took up the “Double Jeopardy” problem and our original source reports that the commission members all agree it should be changed and it is “under review” as to how the meters can be “resigned” to cut down the possibilities of getting a second ticket even when you’ve fed the meter.

 

It has not been decided whether one of those options is eliminating Double Jeopardy.  Our source said, the talk is to make the meter instructions more explicit to enlighten motorists they can only park once on the same metered street during the meter enforcement times. 

 

White Plains Week First

 

The “Double Jeopardy Ticket” was first exposed by White Plains Week, the controversial Public Access Television news roundup show (cablecast to Mr. and Mrs. White Plains, Fridays at 7 and Mondays at 7:30 on Channel 76) last year.

 

 

Moroni explained how the White Plains street meter parker exposes himself to the “Double Jeopardy” Ticket:

 

“You park on Mamaroneck between Main & Post Road in the A.M . An officer scans your license into his computer at 9:30. You leave. You come back at 1:30 P.M., and park on the same street (Mamaroneck Avenue) but not in the same spot. The parking officer will give you a ticket (even if you have put money in the meter) because you have parked in violation of the beyond the limit of the area.” Moroni said “same area” means “same street.” “That’s how we’re interpreting and enforcing it,” Moroni confirmed.

 

 

The parking meters do not specifically warn you that you cannot park in another meter on the same street.

 

Moroni defended the Double Jeopardy system because he said, that without limiting parking on the same street, people who work in the stores in the downtown will be jockeying  their cars along the street their business is on, taking away space from legitimate shoppers.

 

$15 Fine Signs Placed in The Galleria

 

New signs warning motorists that after the Parking Office is closed in The Galleria, motorists are subject to a $15 fine, instead of the $2 overtime notice, have posted. Mr. Moroni said that $15 has always been in effect, and is not new, just that the signs are.

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WPCNR Public Safety Gazette. January 17, 2007: The City of White Plains is actively seeking a diverse pool of candidates for the June 2nd Fire fighter written exam.  The salary range is $48,982 – $76,836 and the exam is open to Westchester County residents. According to Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Daniel Jackson, number of fire fighters in the Department is not being increased: “Any hires are strictly to fill vacancies.”

White Plains Fire Fighters in Action, September 2003. The Department ability to get to scenes quickly within four minutes has resulted in “saves”

of three apartment building fires and the Temple shown here. Its safety inspections have resulted in safer buildings, less fires. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

Interested applicants must submit an application no later than Thursday, March 15, 2007 to be eligible. Application materials and announcements can be obtained by logging onto www.cityofwhiteplains.com or by calling the City of White Plains Personnel Department between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM at (914) 422-1258. 

 

Free training is offered to help candidates prepare for the written exam.

 

For more information please contact the Personnel Department at 914-422-1258.