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LCOR: Build 55 Bank Job in Steps,Tied to $$$. $300M Elusive.Defaults $5M Owed WP

Posted on July 3, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE BUILDING NEWS. Special to WPCNR from White Plains CitizeNetReporter Correspondents. July 2, 2008: LCOR, the developers of 55 Bank Street, the 536-Unit residential “showcase” affordable housing project approved in May, 2007 by the Common Council announced to the council Wednesday afternoon they could not raise the $300 Million in one lump sum to finance the project in today’s financial conditions.

Peter Gilpatric, center of photo, of LCOR, Shown April 12, 2007 when the Common Council was considering a PILOT on the 55 Bank Street property. (WPCNR News Archive)

of LCOR and LCOR attorneys William Null and Robert Feder of Cuddy & Feder proposed instead a substantial redesign of the project to keep it alive. Trading two slender pillars for one long 28-story building running the entire block of the property fronted by a short 14-story building and a different configuration for the parking garage. The project is a complete redesign, which Gilpatric hopes to get underway by mid-summer, 2009, financing forthcoming.

LCOR also proposed a two month delay in paying the $5 Million installment it owes on the commuter parking lot the city sold LCOR last spring to build the project on. LCOR has Lehman Brothers lined up for that payment if the Common Council and Urban Renewal Agency approve this “save” of the project.

We like White Plains!

Jim Benorofe told WPCNR that Mr. Gilpatric began the meeting with a statement that said the company liked White Plains wanted to continue to do business here, and to build this project, but today’s financial markets prevented them from building the project originally planned because the entire project could not obtain $300 Million in financing. He said the project instead could be financed only in approximately $100 Million increments if it were broken up into three steps.

To achieve this the Urban Renewal Agency and the Common Council would have to amend the site plan approval tying the start of each building contingent with securing financing for it.

The “design” consisting of a rough sketch was shown the Council. It had LCOR building one diminutive tower of 14 stories ( the size of the Bar Building), fronting on Bank Street and a massive 28-story wall of a building a full block in width behind the 14-story structure. The 28-story building extends the width of the property closest to the Metro North railroad tracks. The third piece would be a parking garage for the project behind the 14 story tower.

Hotel to come?

The hotel proposed all along to be built on the present 5 Bank Street parking area is still planned for that location. Mr. Gilpatric said LCOR had a term sheet out to a hotel chain “with a substantial White Plains presence,” (possibly, WPCNR speculates Marriott or Starwood).

A very rough outline sketch of the project was passed around to the Common Council to demonstrate the “save” of the project that is in very rudimentary design stage. WPCNR’s correspondents report

The councilmembers present: Benjamin Boykin, Glen Hockley, Rita Malmud, Dennis Power, and Thomas Roach were stunned to learn that LCOR had not paid the $5 Million due on the LCOR purchase of the city commuter parking lot. The city had sold the land to LCOR for $16 Million, with $6 Million paid last June and $5 Million due last Monday. The $6 Million last year balanced the city budget.

The LCOR representatives said that Lehman Brothers would lend LCOR the money for that payment and it would be paid to the city in September, if the city approved the new design and staggered financing.

Accrual Method Proposed to Prevent City Finishing in Red

Mayor Joseph Delfino said the payment technically due Monday of this week and planned for in the 2007-2008 budget, would be booked as an “accrual” until September to avoid a deficit in the budget, if the Urban Renewal Agency adopted a rewording of the site plan approval allowing the buildings to begin construction when financing is secured for each of the 4 buildings. This unusual request will be taken up by the Urban Renewal Agency July 16.

Another request of the Common Council is that the $4.8 Million remaining on the payment for the commuter parking lot would not be due until the complex is completed, which Gilpatric anticipated would happen in 2012.

107 Units spread throughout

The 107 units of affordable housing owed the city on the project would be split between the 14 story building fronting on Bank Street and throughout the 28 story one block long building along the railroad tracks. No traffic patterns were shown, according to our correspondent. The retail component would also be included in the 14-story building.

The 107 units of affordable housing (rentable to earners making 60%, 80% and 100% of median income, $73,000) have been a key component of the development since the city granted it 15 years of tax abatements on the project as incentive to have LCOR build the project a year ago.

Mr. Gilpatric said, according to WPCNR’s observer that the company had spent $4 Million on the previous design and needed an indication from the council whether the redesign “concept” presented Wednesday afternoon was acceptable, before proceeding (spending millions more) on a more detailed design of his rough sketch. Gilpatric did not anticipate starting the project for about 14 months (mid-2009).Jim Benerofe told WPCNR the Council seemed agreeable to the redesign to save the project.

One Project Left

Presently the LCOR project is the only project still viable in the city. Windsor Towers and The Boker Condominium project on Maple Avenue have both balked at paying the additional affordable housing “buyout fees” now owed by those projects thanks to new Common Council legislation passed in April

The only Councilperson adamantly opposed was Councilperson Rita Malmud who accused LCOR of defaulting on the payment to which Mr. Gilpatric agreed. Ms. Malmud also complained that this was the first time she had heard of the default. The Mayor said he had first heard about it 8 days ago, then amended that to five days (last Thursday).

$29 Million Tax Abatements

At the time of the unanimous Council approval in May of 2007, total tax abatement on the project was

put at $29 Million over 18 years. The PILOT took the previous planned towers off the

roles and assigns their assessment to the Westchester County IDA, which is not required to pay

property taxes on the assessment. It was not discussed last night how the PILOT arrangement would

be affected by the new deal. The PILOT approved by the Council was $486,000 a year in payments

going out 18 years.

You Got Mailed: City/Sch Taxes Hit.$700G Median Home Total: $12,740.STAR CUT!

Posted on July 1, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. July 1, 2008 UPDATED 6:30 PM EDT: City government may delay very important decisions, but they do not delay tax bills. Like death, the city tax bill for the first half of 2008-2009 arrived suddenly, confirming what only WPCNR of all the media in the state reported to our readers last April.

This year’s city and school tax for the median homeowner will be $10,342 compared to the 2007-2008 tax bill of $9, 634, a city and school tax combined increase of 7%.

Albany legislators secretly cut the STAR Exemption, raising your assessment. In today’s tax bill the STAR Exemption was cut to $3,330, as WPCNR reported in April, from last year’s $3,700. This results in a $10,342 tax bill between city and school for the White Plains median home judged to be worth $700,000 on the market. Inspecting your tax bill you will find your RES STAR Assessed Value to be $3,330.

Albany’s reducing the STAR Exemption $370 costs the median homeowner about $186 more in school taxes, $7,618.09 under the $3,330 exemption as opposed to paying $7,431.97, under the $3,700 exemption in effect in 2007.

It results in about $1 million more in taxes in the district – about 85% of the increase in state aid the city is getting, according to Assistant Superintendent for Business for the School District, Fred Seiler in a WPCNR report written in April

The County Tax, estimated by WPCNR to be $2,400, tagged on to the city and school tax bill brings the total tax on the White Plains median home to $12,742 – higher than WPCNR had originally estimated in the spring of this year, where our WPCNR Math Lab estimated $12,600. Those of you opening your tax bills who own a home valued on the market over $700,000 will pay more, considerably more.

The city included a flier with the tax bill showing that the County collects 19% of your tax dollar and the school district, 61%, and the city 20%. It reminds the recipient payment is due by July 31 to avoid any interest charges.

WPCNR encourages the taxpayers to get their payments in early.

No Agreement with White Plains Teachers Until Fall

Posted on July 1, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. July 1, 2008: WPCNR has learned that White Plains teacher negotiations on a new contract have been suspended through the summer and will not resume until the fall. A source close to the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity, told WPCNR there will be no agreement until teachers return to work in September because the teachers’ contract specifically forbid any vote on a contract during the summer.

A vote on a teachers’ contract can only occur while the contract is in effect from September 1 through June 30, the source said. The source said the current items under discussion are salary and medical benefits. The source said the teachers were particularly annoyed at the increases in the salaries of 42 full-time Coordinators, Directors and principals and assistants who received $444,553 in salary increases for 2008-2009, an average of 7.5%, and an average raise in pay of $10,584. Though no salary figures have emerged from the clandestine negtiations, the teacher salaries in last year’s contract were held at 3.2% across all steps, substantially less than 7.5%. Some administrators received salary increases over 10%

Our contact said that the current contract for 2007-2008 would remain in effect until a new contract is negotiated and approved. The last time this happened, they recalled was in 1999-2000,

School Bus Contractors, Districts Plea with Albany for Diesel Fuel Relief.

Posted on July 1, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. July 1, 2008: John Silvanie, President of White Plains Bus Company told WPCNR today he saw no relief in sight for the 50% increase in diesel fuel prices his company is facing due to the runup in diesel fuel. He told WPCNR his company is locked in to a transit contract with the White Plains City School District that entitles his company to fee increases tied strictly to the state Consumer Price Index, which he said this year is 4%.

The district is presently protected against school bus transportation increases, however they face possible monthly increases in their cost of electricity from the New York Power Authority. (The authority has the right to increase the cost of electricity they sell the district, at one third less than consumers pay, a spokesperson told WPCNR last week.)

Silvanie said that the State School Bus Contractors Association and other school districts across the state are mobilizing an effort to get the state legislature to provide more school aid to offset the doubling of transportation fuel costs. A bill has been introduced in the Assembly by Assemblyman Peter Rivera to roll back fuel taxes for school bus operations (the state gets 70 cents a gallon for every gallon of diesel fuel), and also force school districts into a 4-day school week to conserve fuel costs. Presently the legislature is on vacation, and expects to be on vacation the rest of the year, pending the governor’s calling them back into session.

Last week WPCNR asked Silvanie if he had any recourse in extracting more fuel money from the White Plains School District, he told me again today what he told WPCNR then – “We don’t have any recourse. There’s nothing in the New York State Municipal Bid Law that allow us to be paid an additional amount for the (additional) cost of the fuel. I know there is some talk in the industry about trying to get a bill passed in Albany that would provide some relief.”

WPCNR asked if he was planning to consolidate bus routes in White Plains. “We really can’t. We’re not the ones to decide what the bus routes are the school district does. We commingle the routes as much as we can so we use as little equipment as we possibly can. The district does not pay me to run one bus and run another an hour later on an elementary school trip or something like that. There’s no place we can go, in terms of our municipal customers, not that I haven’t thought about it. The same is true of our contracts with Westchester County.”

How does your company survive,WPCNR asked: “Not easily, we’re tightening our belt as much as we can. We’re trying to get the best deals we can out of our fuel suppliers. But the reality is the cost of fuel is up almost $2 a gallon.”

We asked, how long do you feel you can hold on at this level? “We just did a multi-year extension (contract)with White Plains. We’re contracted to do that. We have a moral and legal obligation to do it, so we’re going to do it.”

What do you anticipate the cost of living increase the state will give you? “The CPI this year (2008) is 4%. So the state has approved CPI increases of 4%. And our guess is, going forward it’s going to be more than 4% (next year). When the cost per fuel goes up $2 a gallon, 2,3 or 4% isn’t going to take a big dent out there.”

State could change law on CPI relief.

The state cannot, Silvanie said increase the CPI allowance more than once a year according to the Municipal Bid Law, Silvanie said unless they changed the law. “If they change the law, we certainly would try and get our school districts to help out.”

I asked what the other transportation companies are doing about this problem. “I know they have been talking in Albany about the potential of passing a bill that would allow contractors to get reimbursed from the school districts for the additional cost of fuel, and I think part of that was to also provide additional state aid for it because the school districts clearly don’t have the money to do that. Tax money doesn’t come from nowhere.”

Fuel Efficient Vehicles.

WPCNR asked if he anticipated adding to his fleet with more fuel-efficient vehicles:

“School buses migrated in the 50s and 60s when they were gas-powered to where they were diesel-powered. There were two reasons for that, diesel was much less expensive at the time than gasoline and diesel engines are more efficient so they burned less fuel. A gasoline powered school bus in the 70s and early 80s got 5 miles a gallon, where diesel vehicles got 7 miles a gallon. Everybody in the industry migrated to diesel powered equipment.

“With the most recent 2007 and 2010 emission requirements on diesel engines, they are starting to be less efficient. People who are running 15-20 passenger school vans that are gasoline powered, they are finding there isn’t a big difference in consumption between diesel and gasoline-powered equipment and so the mpg are much closer. And the cost of diesel is significantly more than gasoline now.

So the reality is, as we buy new equipment we may migrate the smaller vans back from diesel to gasoline. It would take some time.”

How long can he sustain? Non-Contract Customers Raised 5 to 15%

WPCNR explored long he could operate under these fuel conditions.

“We don’t envision going out of business as a result of this. We’re raising rates for our non-contracted customers and so we’re doing what we need to do to stay in business. In the 86 years we’ve been in business there have been upturns anddownturns in the business climate and we’ve managed to stay in business and it’s our intention to continue to be in business. It depends on the customer, anywhere from 5 to 15%.

Sports Consolidations

As far as field trips for the schools, WPCNR asked, does he anticipate increasing costs for those. “The reality is, with respect to the school district they are under contracted numbers. We really can’t. We will probably ask the school district to limit the non-educational field trips. Athletic trips, if we can double teams we’re going to do that as well. Instead of two buses we send one bus.”

Albany Attitude

I asked about the enthusiasm in Albany for perhaps giving bus companies relief:

“You have to remember that the children in New York State get school buses. Half of the school buses in New York State are owned by private contractors like our company, the other half are owned by school districts, so the school district operations have the same fuel problem the private bus companies have.

There obviously has to be a great deal of pressure on the non-contracted districts, because their cost of fuel has gone up the same $2 a gallon my cost has gone up. So there has to be pressure on those school budgets,which means that they’re going to be putting pressure on the elected representatives in Albany to find some relief for.

Teachers Contract Not Settled . New Members Sworn. $1M in conslting apprvd

Posted on July 1, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. July 1, 2008 UPDATED 3:15 P.M. EDT: An announcement of a possible new contract with the White Plains Teachers union which expired at midnight last night, will not be announced tonight at the Reorganization an the first meeting of the 2008-2009 Board of Education. Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors and White Plains Teachers Association President Kerry Broderick have not returned calls as of noon today from WPCNR asking whether a new tentative contract has been reached.

A member of the Board of Education has informed the CitizeNetReporter moments ago that an agreement has not been reached yet, noting that “There is no settlement yet and discussions are progressing. There is no impasse. It just hasnt happened yet.”

New member of the School Board Randy Stein, left, and re-elected member Rosemarie Eller right will be sworn in this evening and a new Board of Education President appointed.

The School District will hold its Reorganization Meeting for the coming school year this evening, followed by a regular school board meeting of the newly constituted Board The new Board is expected to approve a series of consultant spending contracts totaling $822,404.

The Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors will discuss test scores and the capital improvement project, and the Board expects to approve the purchase of Infinite Campus a new “student information system” that is expected to provide at last, longitudinal Kindergarten through high school individual and collective student performance by grade and class,on in-district academics and state achievement tests, vastly improving the district ability to gauge the effectiveness of their curriculum and teacher performances.

In spending approvals, the Board is expected to approve contracts for a Hearing Officer for $60,000; Donna Klein & Associates for Occupational Therapy Evaluations and Services for $300,000; Blythedale Children’s Hospital for Occupational and Physical Therapy Evaluations and Services for $150,000; MBF Investigative Services for residency investigations/surveillance and special assignments to verify legal residency of students for $60,000; and to the Children’s Literacy Initiative for 2008-2009 for $252,374.

The agenda:

PUBLIC HEARING ON CONTRACT FOR EXCELLENCE PROPOSAL AGENDA

I. Opening of Meeting:

Pledge of Allegiance Moment of silence in memory of June Fleary, George Knies, Sylvia Kotch and Mark McKenzie, former and current staff members Oral Announcements by the Board President and Board Members II. Communications:

III. Public Participation: (The Board will entertain comments from the public on any issue, with a time limit of three minutes per person, and a maximum total of 25 minutes.)

IV. Superintendent’s Report: Graduations and School Closing Test Scores Capital Project

V. Summary Action Items:

1. Recommended approval of minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 9, and the Special Meetings of June 2, and 23, 2008.

2. Recommended approval of the district calendar for 2008-09 as amended.

3. Recommended approval to add Nokia Corporation and Encounter Church to the list of organizations permitted use of facilities.

4. Recommended acceptance of the following donations:

$5,000 from the Shinnyo-en Foundation to establish the Mayor Joseph Delfino Community Service Scholarships $1,000 from the Bronzo Group of Wachovia Securities for their Scholarship Award

$1,000 from 15 donors to establish the Charlie Jenkins Scholarship Award $1,000 from over 30 donors to establish the Pasquale Evangelista Scholarship Fund

5. Recommended approval of the appointment of Physicians, Physician Assistants and Nurses for the 2008 Summer School.

6. Recommended approval of consultant agreements with:

a. George Hagans Consulting, to serve as a Hearing Officer and provide other services, for the amount of $60,030

b. Donna Klein & Associates, for Occupational Therapy Evaluations and Services, for an amount not to exceed $300,000

c. Blythedale Children’s Hospital, for Occupational and Physical Therapy Evaluations and Services, for an amount not to exceed $150,000

d. MBF Investigative Services, for residency investigations/surveillance and other special assignments, for an amount not to exceed $60,000

e. Children’s Literacy Initiative for 2008-09, for the amount of $252,374

7. Recommended approval to arrange for the appropriate program and services for students with disabilities, as recommended by the Committee on Special Education: 157 cases, as per attachment.

8. Recommended approval to arrange for the appropriate program and services for students with disabilities, as recommended by the Committee on Preschool Special Education: 52 cases, as per attachment.

9. Recommended approval to appoint Chairpersons and Parent Representatives for Special Education Committees and Subcommittees for the period of 7/1/08-6/26/09, as per attachment.

10. Recommended approval that all employees previously granted a conditional appointment and who have not received conditional clearance from the State Education Department be granted another conditional appointment for 20 days. Civil Service Staffing:

11. Recommended acceptance of the resignation for the purpose of retirement of Geraldine Bellantoni, Media Aide, Education House, effective 7/1/08.

12. Recommended acceptance of the resignation of Dreama Donohue, Administrative Assistant, Education House, effective 6/28/08.

13. Recommended approval of a request to extend the unpaid leave of absence for Yasmine Murana, Office Assistant II-Spanish Speaking, Adult Education, from 6/30/08 to 9/15/08.

14. Recommended approval of a request for an unpaid leave of absence for Lisa Zareski, Treasurer, Education House, effective 7/16/08-9/1/08.

15. Recommended approval of the 26-week probationary appointments of the following:

Patricia Cacsire, Office Assistant I-Spanish Speaking, Adult Education, effective 7/7/08 (from list OC #2007-3) Andrew Vena, Senior Custodian, Church Street, effective 6/6/08 (has been serving provisionally, from list OC #66-380)

Christian Reyes, Senior Custodian, Post Road, effective 6/6/08 (has been serving provisionally, from list OC #66-380)

16. Recommended approval of the provisional appointment of Joseph Paulo, Senior Custodian, George Washington School, effective 7/3/08 (replacing D. Robertin).

17. Recommended approval of the second provisional appointment of Antonio Moronta, Head Custodian, High School, effective 6/6/08.

18. Recommended approval of a resolution to abolish the positions of Media Aide, Education House and High School, effective 9/1/08.

19. Recommended approval of the temporary salary adjustment, as per attachment.

20. Recommended approval of the substitute and summer appointments as per Board approved “Substitute, Summer School and Supplemental Rates,” as per attachment.

21. Recommended approval of the revised “Substitute, Summer School and Supplemental Rates” as per attachment, effective 7/1/08. Teacher Staffing

22. Recommended acceptance of the resignation of the following Teaching Assistants:

Rosanna F. Maiuolo, Church Street School, effective 6/28/08

Elizabeth Marouk-Coe, Newcomer Center, effective 7/2/08

Rachel Martin, Mamaroneck Avenue School, effective 7/1/08 23.

Recommended acceptance of the resignations of: Monica Bermiss, Instructional Specialist, ELA K-5, Districtwide , effective 7/2/08

Maria Zenon-Park, ESOL Teacher, George Washington School, effective 8/31/08 24.

Recommended acceptance of the resignation for the purpose of retirement of Kayreitha Smalls, Adult & Continuing Education Teacher, Rochambeau, effective 8/8/08.

25. Recommended approval of requests for childcare leaves for: Melissa Staar, Science Teacher, Middle School-Highlands, effective 9/1/08-9/30/08 Maribeth Milkowski, ESOL teacher, Middle School-Highlands & High School, effective 9/11/08-11/10/08

26. Recommended approval of an extension of the childcare leave for Amy Frishman-Amir, Elementary Education Teacher, Ridgeway School, effective 7/1/08-6/30/09.

27. Recommended approval of the appointment of 2008 Summer School staff for the New York Presbyterian Hospital Program, at the agreed rate of pay, as per attachments.

28. Recommended approval to rescind and appoint 2008 Summer School Staff, as per attachment.

29. Recommended approval of the appointment* of district-wide per diem substitute teachers, as per attachment.

30. Recommended approval of compensation for the following, as per attachments:

a. 2008 Summer School Curriculum Writing

b. 2008 Summer School CPSE and CSE meeting preparation

c. 2008-09 Professional Development Stipends d. 2008-09 Resource Specialists as Chairpersons

e. 2007-08 WISE Mentors

f. 2007-08 stipends for trips abroad

g. 2008-09 Technology Trainers, Computer Lead Teachers, Subsite Directors

h. 2008 Summer School Technology positions

i. 2008-09 Family Literacy K-PASS positions

31. Recommended approval of the Part-time appointment of:

Lauren Stipo* (Replacing J. Palkaunieks) BA – Adelphi University (Political Science) MBA – Pace University (Management) Certificate: Pace University (Secondary Education) Certification: Initial, Business & Marketing & Social Studies 7-12 Assignment: Business Education Teacher, High School, 80% of full time Dates of Service: 8/31/08-6/30/09

32. Recommended approval of the Regular Substitute appointments of: Valerie Browne* (Replacing S. Pak, reassigned) BA – Manhattanville College (English and Education) Certification: ELA 5-12 Assignment: Grade 6 ELA Teacher, Middle School-Eastview Dates of Service: 8/31/08-6/30/09

Sara Natlo (Replacing A. Pedulla) BS – SUNY/Oswego (Elementary Education) M. Ed. – University of Maryland/College Park (Curriculum & Instruction/TESOL) Certification: Initial, Childhood Education 1-6 and ESOL Assignment: Elementary Education Teacher, Ridgeway School Dates of Service: 8/31/08-6/30/09

Eileen Murphy (Re-appointment) BS – Long Island University (Public Accounting) MA – College of New Rochelle (Early Childhood Education) Certification: Permanent, Elementary Education N-6 with Gifted/Talented extension Assignment: Elementary Education Teacher, PreKindergarten Program Dates of Service: 8/31/08-6/30/09

Ann Baker (Replacing L. Green) BA – Goucher College (Economics) MAT – Manhattanville College (Elementary Education) Certification: Permanent, Elementary Education N-6 Tenure Area: Elementary Education Assignment: Elementary Education Teacher, Church Street School Dates of Service: 8/31/08-2/1/09 33.

Recommended approval of the Probationary appointments of: Karen Jordan* (Replacing K. Kushnir) BS – Long Island University/CW Post College (Special Education) MS – CCNY/CUNY (Special Education) Certificate – SUNY/New Paltz (School Leadership) Certification: Permanent, Special Education, Professional, SDL & SBL Tenure Area: Special Education Assignment: Chairperson Special Education, Districtwide Probationary Period: 8/31/08-8/30/10

Carolyn Chapman (Replacing L. McKenzie) BS – Marymount College (Special Education) MSE – College of New Rochelle (Reading Education) Certification: Permanent, Reading, Elementary Education N-6 and Special Education K-12 Tenure Area: Reading Assignment: Reading Teacher, Middle School-Highlands Probationary Period: 8/31/08-8/30/10

Elizabeth Galvin* (Replacing C. Gruder) BA – Manhattan College (Elementary Education) MA – Lehman College (English) Certification: Permanent, Elementary Education N-6 & Professional, ELA 7-12 Tenure Area: Elementary Education Assignment: ELA Grade 6 Teacher, Middle School-Highlands Probationary Period: 8/31/08-8/30/10

Tara Simmons-Crawford (Replacing A. Williams, reassigned) BA – Mt. St. Mary College (Mathematics) Certification: Initial, Mathematics 7-12 Tenure Area: Mathematics Assignment: Mathematics Teacher, Middle School-Highlands Probationary Period: 8/31/08-1/30/11

Maria Csikortos* (Replacing L. Lyman) BA – John Jay College (Forensic Psychology) MS Ed – St. John’s University (School Counselor w/ Bilingual Extension) Certification: Permanent, School Counselor Tenure Area: School Counselor Assignment: School Counselor, High School Probationary Period: 8/31/08-8/30/11

Ryan Fischer* (Replacing E. Farrell) BS – St. Thomas Aquinas College (Recreation and Sports Management) MA – Manhattanville College (Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy) Certification: Initial, Physical Education Tenure Area: Physical Education Assignment: Physical Education Teacher, Districtwide Probationary Period: 8/31/08-8/30/11

Catherine Sheldon-Dagher (Replacing M. Steinberg) BA – Santa Monica College/UCLA (Political Science) MBA – Thunderbird School of Global Management (International Business) MPS – Manhattanville College (Education) Certification: Initial, Students with Disabilities, 5-12 & Social Studies 5-12 Tenure Area: Special Education Assignment: Special Education Teacher, New York Presbyterian Hospital Program Probationary Period: 8/31/08-8/30/11

Libna Diaz* (New position) BA – SUNY/Purchase (Biology) MA – Long Island University (Bilingual Education PK-12) Certification: Provisional, Biology 7-12 Tenure Area: Science Assignment: Science Teacher, High School Probationary Period: 8/31/08-8/30/11

Sissi Johnson* (Replacing R. Vincent) BA – Hampton University (Psychology) M.Ed. – Claremont Graduate University (Teaching) Certification: Initial, Biology 7-12 Tenure Area: Science Assignment: Science Teacher, Middle School-Highlands Probationary Period: 8/31/08-8/30/11

Thomas Hauser (Replacing G. Kressin) BA – SUNY/Purchase (Graphic & Package Design) Certification: Initial (pending), Technology Tenure Area: Technology Assignment: Technology Teacher, Middle School-Highlands Probationary Period: 8/31/08-8/30/1

*All of these appointments are conditional appointments, subject to and contingent upon, the satisfactory completion of the finger printing process and investigatory background check required by the New York State Education Law. The Board of Education reserves the right to rescind these appointments without notice, upon receipt of any unsatisfactory report resulting from the aforementioned background check.

VI. Other Action:

1. Recommended approval of the extension of the probationary period for Jodi Nestle, Elementary Assistant Principal, Post Road School, effective 7/31/08-7/31/09.

2. Recommended approval to abolish the position of Director, Newcomer Center and Coordinator of ESOL K-5, effective 6/30/08.

3. Recommended approval to create the position of Director of ELL Programming K-12, District-wide, effective 7/1/08.

4. Recommended acceptance of the Treasurer’s Report for the month of May, 2008.

5. Bids and contracts: Athletic Training Supplies, Athletic Uniform Reconditioning, Project Management for Computer Projector/Whiteboards, Asbestos Abatement at Post Road School, Elevator Maintenance and Testing

6. Recommended approval to authorize Michael Lynch to sign Westchester County and City of White Plains permit applications for backflow prevention systems for district properties.

7. Recommended approval of the purchase of Infinite Campus, a new student information system.

VII. Board Discussion: 1. Board Committee Reports

Filene’s Basement Original City Center Tenant Will Leave City Center

Posted on July 1, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. July 1, 2008: Filene’s Basement, an original City Center tenant that opened for business in April, 2004, confirmed what Filene employees had been saying last week, that the City Center store would be closing August 31.

Pat Boudrot, a spokespersons for Filene’s released a statement to WPCNR late Monday afternoon, saying “Filene’s regrets that dut to material violations of the lease, Filene’s will be closing August 31, 2008.” Asked what specifically those material violations were, Ms. Boudrot declined.

Neither the owner of City Center, nor Filene’s would confirm the rumors of the closing when asked about the closing by WPCNR Friday.

Ryan Returns from Surgery. Recovering at Home

Posted on June 30, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Board of Legislators. June 30, 2008: Legislator Bill Ryan, Chairman for the Westchester County Board of Legislators, was released from the hospital this weekend after undergoing heart bypass surgery last week. He has returned home and is said to be making a steady recovery.

The Ryan family extends its thanks for the many expressions of comfort and well-wishing during this time.

Pilla Pillories Paulin on Ignoring Property Tax Cap Issue

Posted on June 30, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2008. June 30, 2008: White Plains resident and New Rochelle native Anthony Pilla was introduced by County Republican Chair Douglas Colety in downtown White Plains this morning as the challenger for Amy Paulin’s Assembly Seat in the 88^th New York Assembly District. Pilla wasted no time in announcing his main theme that Ms. Paulin in eight years had done nothing to stop the rise in property taxes affecting the middle class. A property tax cap, Pilla said, was his number one issue. He said he scheduled his announcement for 10:30 this morning to symbolize that he would be out working for constituents early every day instead of taking vacation when the state was in serious financial trouble, referring to the Albany legislature announcement they would not meet again until January.

Anthony Pilla (left) was introduced as a man who roots in not only White Plains, but in New Rochelle, where he grew up, and in Pelham, where he has family. Colety, (right) the party chair called him a fresh face who would bring a new perspective in Albany. Colety charged Paulin with a record of voting for 8 years for more taxes on Westchester families and that Pilla is someone new who can “clean up the mess of Amy Paulin and Sheldon Silver.”

A real estate associate, Pilla (shown with his three children), said he had strong financial support from New Rochelle, and would be campaigning hard in all areas of the 88th. The 88^th Assembly District encompasses the northwest corner of White Plains (Battle Hill), Eastchester, Scarsdale, New Rochelle and Pelham. Pilla poked fun at Paulin’s record of sponsoring bills that dealt with personal issues – such as a hotline to report dog fights — and her record of not attacking problems that face the majority of voters today. He promised to fight the soaring taxes he said that Paulin had gone along with the last eight years, and promised full-time representation: “I will not be sleeping in, or deciding to take a vacation when people need me in Albany.”

Anthony Pilla, Republican Candidate for the 88th District and Rob Biagi, Republican Candidate for the 91st Assembly District in Harrison — both are firmly committed to seeking a property tax cap to slow the rate of property tax impact on middle class. Mr. Pilla said the Republicans may still nominate an opponent to run against Adam Bradley in the 89th Assembly District.

Amy Paulin’s Albany: Legislative Report.

Posted on June 29, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR’S AMY PAULIN’S ALBANY. By Assemblyperson Amy Paulin. 88th Assembly District. June 29, 2008: With the close of the 2008 legislative session, I am very pleased that a remarkable number of the bills I authored passed the Assembly and the Senate: a total of 18. Here is a summary:

Protecting Our Children
To ensure that our children remain healthy and well protected, my legislation:

obligates parents to financially support their children until age eighteen, instead of sixteen (Chapter 70).
aims to reduce underage drinking. This bill encourages bar and restaurant owners to provide employee training on how to identify underage drinkers and the legal consequences of serving minors. Restaurant owners will receive an insurance incentive for offering this training (A.537b).
prohibits smoking in dormitories and on-campus residence halls to eliminate the adverse health effects of second-hand smoke, reduce the number of college students who become regular smokers, and mitigate the possibility of fires (A.538a).
requires the Crime Victims Board to reimburse hospitals and child abuse advocacy centers when they call in child abuse pediatricians to identify children who have been abused or mistreated (A.5206a).
establishes state-funded fellowships in child abuse pediatrics to encourage physicians to become trained specifically in identifying, treating and preventing child abuse and maltreatment. Currently, there is a shortage of such experts in the state (A.9628b).
creates a uniform least restrictive restraining procedure for children placed in mental treatment programs. This will eliminate the confusion of deciding which procedure to use during an intervention thereby protecting both the distressed students and the persons caring for them (A.11231).

Fighting Crime and Domestic Violence
Named “A Leader in the Fight Against Domestic Violence“ by the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV), I have passed legislation to protect victims against domestic violence and other crimes. Such legislation:

protects victims of domestic violence by establishing a criminal penalty for those who prevent a person from calling 911 or seeking any other kind of emergency assistance (Chapter 69).
requires the State to reimburse domestic violence agencies for emergency shelter they provide to undocumented human trafficking victims (A.10228).
clarifies that the crime of sodomy is included in the list of crimes for which there is no statute of limitations. This bill eliminates a loophole in an existing law which had the unintended result of not including sodomy as a crime that can be prosecuted without a time limit (A.10760).

Open and More Responsive Government
To ensure that citizens have maximum access to public records and policy-making decisions, I have passed legislation which:

requires government agencies designing information systems to do so in a manner that separates public information from non-public data, such as personal health data or social security numbers. Previously, otherwise legitimate FOIL requests have had to be denied because the public data could not be segregated from private data thereby prohibiting maximum access to public records (A.582).
provides reimbursement for attorneys’ fees where a party was compelled to go to court to enforce the state Open Meetings Laws. Awarding attorneys’ fees to successful petitioners eliminates any financial barriers that could prohibit full enforcement of the law due to the inability of an individual to afford counsel (A.1033a).
allows New York State unemployment insurance recipients to withhold 10% of their weekly unemployment benefits for state income tax purposes. Taxpayers who choose this option can avoid a large and sometimes unexpected payment when their state income taxes are due. This option already exists for federal income tax purposes (A.9868).
establishes that property assessment data, consisting of the physical characteristics of a property, must be made available for public inspection and copying. Allowing the public access to these records will assist property owners who seek to challenge their assessments and ensure a more accurate tax roll (A.11150).

Honoring Women’s History
In recognition of the contributions that women have made throughout history, my legislation:

promotes awareness of women’s history by publicizing historic places in New York State that represent the struggle for equal rights. Some of the sites to be included on the trail are Carrie Chapman Catt’s home in New Rochelle, the Susan B. Anthony house, Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged, the Elizabeth Stanton House and the gravesites of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Carrie Chapman Catt in the Bronx (A.9952a).

Affordable and Accessible Healthcare
To ensure affordable, quality healthcare for a wider group of people, my legislation:

allows licensed pharmacists who have received proper training to administer flu and pneumonia shots to adults. New York was the only state in the country other than Maine that did not allow trained pharmacists to provide these vaccinations (A.2140d).
aims to decrease the rising number of unnecessary caesarian section births by offering education and outreach programs to patients and healthcare providers. The programs will include information on the benefits and risks of birthing procedures, the various delivery options, and the importance of maintaining proper health care from preconception through delivery (A.7674b).

Responding to Community Concerns
To alleviate parking problems, my legislation:

grants residents of the village of Bronxville who live in the vicinity of a construction site an exemption from on-street parking restrictions until the project is completed in 2011. Approximately 180 parking spaces will be displaced by the construction project creating a shortage of parking for nearby residents (A.10519).

Recognizing Veterans
In honor of the service that all veterans have provided to our nation, I have sponsored legislation which:

allows municipalities to provide veterans who served in the Cold War an exemption from real property tax (Chapter 6).

Fifteen additional bills passed in the Assembly but not in the Senate. I will continue to work to pass them into law next year.

Representing you in the New York State Assembly has been a great privilege for me. While this past year was tumultuous in many ways, it was personally very gratifying. I look forward to continuing to work with you to move our great state forward. As always, please contact me at any time with your issues or concerns.

White Plains Teams Advance in District 20 LL Play

Posted on June 29, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR VIEW FROM THE BLEACHERS. Frim Rich Masseroni. June 29, 2008: To date, our Majors 11-12 Girls Softball team has won their first 2 games including a 15-3 opening round win at home over Ardsley, then a thrilling 7-6 last inning come from behind victory over Harrison at Brentwood Park in Harrison. They have advanced to the winners bracket final versus Eastchester which is scheduled to be played on Tuesday, July 1 at 5:30 PM @ Kensico (Pat Henry Field). If they win, they will advance to the championship final round of play.

In Majors 12 Baseball, WP American advances in the winners bracket with an 8-4 victory (yesterday) over WP National. WP American plays Rye on Thursday, July 3 at 5:30 PM @ Elmsford. WP National will play its next game tomorrow, Monday, June 30 versus Kensico at 5:30 PM @ Eastchester.