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DISTRICT TEACHERS TEACHING FROM HOME ON COMPUTER. 200 MEALS BEING FURNISHED DAILY AT 4 SCHOOL LOCATIONS. AWAITING WORD FROM STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IF BUDGET VOTES WILL BE HELD AS SCHEDULED. SCHOOL BUDGET MAY EYE ELIMINATING PROPOSED NEW ADDITIONS TO STAFF DEPENDING ON STATE AID, PLUMMETING STATE REVENUES.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 26, 2020:

White Plains Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Ricca today told WPCNR “he has never been prouder” of White Plains teachers and administrators the way White Plains students are learning at home on computer the last four days,.

The district designed a computer learning system in just four days, a production cooperation between White Plains technical people, principals, and teachers that is working

The Superintendent said the students are participating, they miss their classmates, they miss their teachers and cannot wait to get back to school.

All White Plains Teachers are working from their computers at home teaching their classes for the last four days. Ricca said there were some gliches but the system is working.

On the issue of the district providing day care for first responder and health care workers, allowing both parenters in the family to continue their necessary jobs, Ricca said the day care is being provided by Child Care of Westchester, the White Plains YMCA, and United Preschool Center at the facilities  provided by those organizations, employing professional child care specialists.   

He said about 20 families are participating in the essential personnel day care mandated by Governor Andrew Cuomo, and organized by Westchester County and the child care associations. First Responders and Health Care Workers who want this day care service should call Child Care Services of Westchester at 914-761-3456, Extension 140, or the YMCA at 914-949-8030, or United Preschool Center at 946-4781. Those three services are in White Plains.

Ricca told WPCNR, the White Plains School District has served 1,300 meals to parents in families where their children have been provided breakfast and lunch by the school district. Those meals are picked between  the hours of 10- AM to 2 PM. Those meals are being provided in bags at four locations: White Plains High School, Post Road School, Church Street School and Rochambeau School. They provide approximately 200 meals a day for consumption at home.

On the matter of the School Budget, the Superintendent of Schools said the proposed budget has not been cut in anticipation of any reduced revenues, but Dr. Ricca said the 2021-2022 budget will be impacted by the revenue losses Governor Cuomo estimated at the Governor’s news conference yesterday. Asked what the district might in matter of budget-cutting, he said hiring of additional new employees would be the first possibility the district might consider. Asked in view of the coronavirus social distancing policy in place, whether the district is considering moving the School Budget Election out to beyond May 19 (the scheduled date of the vote), Dr. Ricca  said the district has been asking the State Education Department about that possibility, but the SED has not come back with an answer. Dr. Ricca said if the state is still mandating a social distancing policy and statewide school closures at that time, he thought it would very difficult to hold an election

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 Utility rate increases that were scheduled to go into effect on April 1 have been postponed. At the Governor’s direction, the Public Service Commission orderouncwed that rate hikes be postponed for nearly 2 million customers. This will help ease the financial stress on families and businesses affected by this pandemic. 

New York University is offering early graduation for senior medical students so they can help overworked doctors who are fighting in the COVID-19 pandemic. Senior medical students who volunteer will be able to work immediately as paid interns at NYU Langone Health’s Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine departments. 

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. Official Statement from Communications Director Dani Lever on Senate Stimulus Bill.March 25, 2020:

“The Governor suggested today that the Senate bill is “terrible” for New York State.  Here are the facts that justify that assertion. 

“Based on initial reports, New York State government gets approximately $3.1 billion.  As a percent of our total state budget — 1.9% — it is the second lowest amount in the nation.  Literally 48 states get a higher percentage in funding than New York State.  For example, South Dakota gets 17.9%.

“This is despite the fact that New York State is incurring the greatest costs as we have the highest number of cases in the country. 

New York State has 30 times the number of cases as Texas’s 1,031.  The gross political manipulation is obvious. 

For example, Wyoming, which only has 40 confirmed COVID-19 cases, is getting 17.1 percent of their budget as a payment from the federal government.

“Compounding this inequity is the fact that New York State contributes more to the federal government than any other state in the nation.  It is just another case of politics over sound policy.”

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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS UPDATE. Synopsis of Associated Press Report. March 25, 2020: The Associated Press reports that the Senate and White House have reached an agreement on a Coronavirus relief package expanding direct cash aid to displaced workers across the country, including $500 Billion aid to businesses, including hospitals with oversight.

President Trump is reported as not willing to force businesses to manufacture much needed ventilators and other medical supplies at this time and that he prefers lifting the social distancing policy in a week to get the economy moving.

However despite the announcement of a deal, there are still details to be haggled over today with a vote scheduled today. Then the President has to sign the bill.

The AP report may be read here:

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/03/24/federal-officials-reach-deal-on-dollar2-trillion-aid-package/23960802/