Two Decision Days for White Plains

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WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. May 19, 2009.Portions of this column were published two years ago and have been updated to reflect what has happened since then:Today  (May 19) and Thursday, May 21 are pivotal days for the citizens of White Plains. Today just about now the School Budget and Board of Education Elections have begun at 6 locations around the city.  On the budget choice voters have a decision as to whether to pass the $185.8 Million budget or vote “No” and go to a Contingency Budget of $185,553,036, just about $250,000 less. Plus you have some spirited competition in the Board of Education elections, so spirited that the Democratic leaders of the city in panic apparently have endorsed two incumbents responsible for creating the recent labor contracts that have created the present precarious position the school district faces next year as labor contracts run out.


On Thursday now, (postponing Wednesday’s scheduled meeting to adopt the budget),  the Common Council of the City of White Plains meets at the odd hour of 5 P.M. to pass a city budget, and meets again in a Special Meeting at 6. Since they were supposed to meet again to decide on final cuts after last Tuesday’s rancorous meeting, one would presume they would not be meeting at 6 to pass raises for all the City Commissioners and themselves, but you never know, as has been their nefarious and deceptive practice in the past. How else will we attract talent for the city next January, and start White Plains on a new high road of fiscal responsibility? Why wouldn’t we give our out-going Commissioners a nice boost to their retirements? I am being mischievous here. How could the council even think about increasing Commissioner salaries in this economy given the $12 Million deficit? Silly of me.


But, really this Common Council has not even begun to think about the budget Armageddon they’re going to face next year. Perhaps they should for the next seven months. Obama Bucks are the only answer.






 


To cut or not to cut that is the question for the 2010-11 School Budget. Will the incumbents have the will to slash their favorites, the administrators and supervisors who earn more than Supreme Court Judges thanks to the present School Board giveway contracts? What do you think?  Perhaps we can keep the school budget under $190 Million next year but that depends on the bleeding White Plains Assessment Roll.


And another thing, could we have a longer campaign period for the Board of Education elections. These citizen-“managers” “manage” a $185.8 Million budget — badly. They dabble and babble and say it’s “for the kids.” 


 Currently candidates get petitions in by May 1, and have 18 days to get the issues out before the elections. How absurd. That has to be changed if you are ever going to get persons who are not “politically correct” on this board to look down range and see what’s coming.


Could White Plains realize that there are persons in this city who have brains that do not live in the southend of town? In fact, they may have better math skills. Anyway, let’s have the Board of Ed campaign start earlier at least — and do away with the contrivance of the League of Women Voters Forum. Have a caravan — going around to the PTAs at least. At least one tough question was asked by Carrie Kyzivat — what the candidates would do about finances going forward, though all the answers to that question mystriously were given off-mike on the telecast replay of the forum — the microphones were off — so it was very hard to understand. But of course, there are no conspiracies, are there?


The results today in the school board election will most likely be the results like any other year.Budget passes. The usual suspects reelected.


Which means next year will be fun and we should pay real close attention.


 


Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors departs his position in July. it is not too early to be thinking about what new School Superintendent. Dr. Christopher Clouet will inherit.


Few can argue that Connors has been a decisive, politically astute leader, persuading the district parents (because that is who votes in school board elections and bond referendums) to take on the mammoth $69 Million Capital Improvements Project.  He has kept the wolves at bay on the achievement gap in White Plains by at least getting the tedious bureaucracy of the district to focus seriously on the district’s Hispanic and African-American population of which about little more than half can read proficiently two years ago, and  write and do basic math when they enter high school. That may sound harsh, but that is what the statistics showed. Now latest results from Dr. Margaret Dwyer show that has been turned around by extensive remedial work in the middle school.


 


On the other hand, how much more improvement can the district make if they do not address the language problem facing the Hispanic community by not hiring and installing bilingual education in the lower grades?  The African-American academic achievement gap is another problem. When parents are involved children learn regardless of their race or creed or background. Perhaps Dr. Clouet’s ability to connect with minorities will provide a new incentive to improve the learning ethic and needed parental involvement.


However the overriding issue facing the next Superintendent of Schools is the budget. As reported by WPCNR for years, the city blithely continues to rollover for certiorari suits by businesses that are the premier properties in town, continuing to erode the tax base on which the school district taxes for the balance of its budget. The city continued to bet the taxpayer’s wellbeing on development, while agreeing to tax givebacks and assessment reductions based on owner numbers which when you think about have to be contrived via accounting creativity.


How can buildings sold in a thriving downtown be assessed for less? But try and prove it. The city continues the certiorari givebacks and the school district continues to go along with them.  If the Bradley Administration coming in (no Republican Mayoral challenger or Common Council challengers yet as of May19) does anything, they have to impose a city wide commercial certiorari “make-up” charge of some kind that will mitigate the assessment impact.


School taxes that traditionally have made White Plains attractive in the real estate market are going to have to rise about 10% a year to sustain the current level of district spending – which was brought to its lowest increase level in a decade last year but still 7% — double inflation, and this year they held the tax increase to 2.4%.  But, how can they continue to fund their increasingly militant labor force? Teacher rapport is shot thanks to the gobs of cash thrown at administrators each of the last three years. The district negotiators continue to focus on holding the line on the merit raises, without looking seriously at  the step contracts and longevity increases that really kill the district budget. How about lowering the starting salaries for  new teachers? How about doing away with the automatic longevity raises – negotiated in deranged moments in the past?


 The new Superintendent will face a budget that is out of control in a district that shows little heart for reining in spending until this year.


The present Superintendent made very token inroads on the teacher salary structure limiting the year to year contract salary increase to 3%, and negotiating token increase in what teachers pay for their health insurance. And the new Superintendent will  have to negotiate this again a year from now. (Any arbitrated settlement will only be for two years, which will include this year (08-09) and 2009-10).


The portion teachers pay of their health benefits has to go up to trim the 10% increase in health benefits costs that continue to afflict the district.  The negotiations in the first Clouet contract will have to begin with overhauling the structure. You have to lower starting salaries, and revamp the step levels (for degrees) for new teachers being hired into the system to assure the long term health of the district. It is easy to say this, hard to negotiate, but for too long the district has paid such generous salaries compared to other districts that when shown the White Plains schedules, teachers in similar sized districts drop their jaws in disbelief. I know, I’ve showed the salary and step schedule around.


 The relationships in the district between White Plains administration and teachers have always been so cordial and mutually symbiotic. No more. Two thirds of the budget goes to salaries for teaching and administrating.  One could argue that a spirit of mutual cooperation where administration and teaching professionals work together is great for the district. But, the district, thanks to the city fiscal mismanagement of the tax roll, especially the last eight years, can no longer afford business as usual.


The new Superintendent taking over in July will also have to deal with the very secret process of the District Strategic Plan – in which action plans are being devised for presentation to the Board of Education this fall without any public airing to date. But who knows what those action plans are?  The goals are generic.  Not lower  budget to inflation levels. Not attritition of  staff by 10%. Things like that Are they even discussed?


Tomorrow and Thursday, the district gets together on the Strategic Plan. We shall see what comes out of it. The Mission Statement is fine. But what will they be doing?


Specifics have not been divulged, and oddly enough there has been no public recognition by the Strategic Planners (most of whom are school district employees) of the financial plight of the district and how to address it. 


Creating a strategic plan with goals of a lofty variety that do not engage the issues threatening effective efficient, economic education of our youth in the face of a plummeting tax base is wishful thinking.


It’s living in wonderland.


Creating a strategic plan for a decade without coming to grips with the deteriorating buildings at Highlands and Eastview and George Washington School – in the face of cross-your-fingers population estimates based only on birth rate every year – is ignoring reality. The district is at the limits of what it can handle now.


Creating a strategic plan for a decade without coming to grips with the question of why we need to do $17 Million of infrastructure improvements the next two years when we supposedly have been spending $3 Million a year for building upkeep begs the question – how good is the fiscal plant maintenance year to year that is in place now? You have to ask those questions in any strategic plan. If you’re maintaining yearly, you should not have to upgrade $17 million-dollars worth in one crippling debt blow.


These are old schools, too.  How long will they last? Where will the new school school buildings come from to handle our gradually increasing population?


The public needs to see those specifics. If they care. The City School District is essentially where they were seven years ago when they dismissed the previous Superintendent, but the financial pressure has increased substantially thanks to their own largesse. The district  is running out of money sources.


 


If the district leaders do not recognize that they are creating a taxing disaster which will cripple the district for years and the quality of our education more than they will ever realize, the fate is sealed. The taxpayer will be bailing out for years to come.


That is the situation the new Superintendent faces now


On the academic side, one wonders, short of bringing in a bilingual education effort which the district is experimenting with next year – an English Spanish class where students are instructed half in English and half in Spanish – how serious they are at addressing the bilingual need. Port Chester has for years been able to handle their Spanish speaking population with a bilingual program.


 The White Plains Board of Education was told that by this reporter seven years ago, and now thanks to Mr. Connors leadership they are beginning to see the light. Whether the administration will expand on this initiative to teach children of Hispanic descent bilingually  is a fundamental part of Strategic Planning and what the new Superintendent will have to address. Are they even doing that? We don’t know because the district planners are not talking.


The new Superintendent, contrary to what one Board of Education candidate said last week, cannot afford to just get comfortable and schmooze the city in his first year.  He must  lead.


Mr. Connors, though we have not always felt he has moved hard and fast enough has taken decades of  laissez-faire management in this district and has started to turn this very large bloated supertanker around out of the shoals, even though it is leaking red ink and billing the taxpayer for it. Had the Board of Education established a Special Education Academy as Connors suggested five years ago they would have a profit center and educational resource that would have paid for itself. So much for Board of Education vision.


Above all – school district and city government need a management that will pay attention to numbers more than two weeks out of the year, and will trim this district’s operating costs; negotiate a teaching salary structure which over time will keep labor costs at the inflationary rate instead of escalating exponentially.  I am not saying you have to eliminate step increases. I am saying you have to stretch them out, negotiate them down – for new teachers being hired. Otherwise things are not going to change. And attack those benefit payments. They are way out of line with the private sector.


The new Superintendent is going to have to trim administration personnel. We have far too many administrators. Attrition after persons leave the district has to be looked at more seriously than it is. The district currently employs one administrator for every 13 teachers it has. That needs to be looked at very closely, and attrition strongly considered.


The city has to examine their labor force, too, with contract negotiations piling up, tax base tanking, and no development in sight.


Cross your fingers, taxpayers.

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Barbara Benjamin Dies

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WPCNR MILESTONES. May19, 2009:  WPCNR has received a  report from Paula Piekos that Barbara Benjamin, long time head of Concerned Citizens for Open Space, advocate for turning New York Presbyterian Hospital property into a city park passed away Monday morning. Alan Teck, her long time associate in CCOS in White Plains, recently penned this tribute to Mrs. Benjamin when she was honored at Sam’s of Gedney Way.


Mrs. Benjamin was a tireless and fearless advocate for what she believed in,and she should be respected for that quality alone.


Mr. Teck wrote:


Barbara lived in White Plains for 53 years, from September 1952 until August of this year (2008).

 

She quickly found her way to the local Democratic Headquarters and began her career as a volunteer to support the candidacy of Adlai Stevenson. Four years later, she was hired to run the county Democratic Headquarters. Her first public appearance was leading a donkey down Main Street.

 

Concerned Citizens for Open Space was started in 1984 as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization advocating the preservation, enhancement and expansion of open space and parkland in White Plains and Westchester County.

 

Ted Benjamin, Barbara’s husband, joined CCOS in the early ’80s and became President soon thereafter.

 

When Ted died in 1997, Barbara, who had joined CCOS with Ted, became President, has been Chairperson for the past five years and is now Chairperson Emeritus.

 

As President and Chairperson, Barbara has been a forceful advocate of the CCOS mission. All CCOS activities and achievements have benefited from her insight, leadership and ability as a speaker and writer.

 

White Plains is better and greener because of her ideas, forcefulness, integrity and boundless energy.

 

CCOS has worked diligently with neighborhood associations throughout White Plains and under Barbara’s leadership has contributed to efforts that have resulted in the designation of two parks and preservation of several neighborhood open spaces throughout our city.

 

Equally as important, under her leadership CCOS  worked successfully with the Common Council to stop several attempts at massive development on what still remains a large, unblemished, Olmsted-designed park near the center of White Plains.

 

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Where to vote for the School Budget and School Board

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 18,2009: Tuesday, May 19,. is Vote-for-the-School Budget-or- Against-It Day in White Plains, and also time to vote for who is going to guide White Plains School District with plummeting revenues, tanking assessments, and a top heavy bureaucracy (1 administrator for every 13 teachers) into the future. Will White Plains trust the incumbents who created the present budget crisis, or vote new board members in? You decide. To cast your ballot, WPCNR reminds voters the polls open at noon Tuesday and close at 9 P.M. Here is the district map:



District 1: Vote at the Battle Hill Fire Station 5, if you live on the Northwest Side of the Bronx River Parkway, and West of Tarrytown Road.


District 2: Vote at Church Street School, if you live North of Westchester Avenue, and East of Tarrytown Road and Mamaroneck Avenue, North of Hamilton Avenue.


District 3: Vote at Rochambeau School, if you live West of Mamaroneck Avenue, South of Hamilton Avenue and North of Maple Avenue, and on the  North and West side of Post Road.


District 4: Vote at Highlands Middle School if you live East and South of  West Post Road, East to Davis Avenue and West of  Old Mamaroneck Road,


District 5: Vote at Mamaroneck Avenue School, if you live South of Westchester Avenue, South of Maple Avenue, East of Davis Avenue south to Heatherbloom Road, South of Westchester Avenue to Bryant Avenue.


District 6: Vote at Ridgeway School, if you live South of Heatherbloom and Bryant Avenue, East of Old Mamaroneck Road .

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SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES MINUS 2 PREDICT HARD SCHOOL DAYS AHEAD.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. May 18, 2009 UPDATED 10:25 (Italics): The proposed $185.8 Million School Budget and six candidates for the White Plains Board of Education go before the White Plains voters Tuesday, with six polling places open from 12 noon to 9 P.M Tuesday. 


 



The Candidates Forum Minus Two. Left to right, Peter Bassano, James Hricay, Reynolds Longfield and Donna McLaughlin.


 


At the Candidates Forum held at White Plains High School last Tuesday evening, incumbent Board members, Peter Bassano and Donna McLaughlin did not reveal any plans for scaling back the budget further, except for “watching every penny,” with Bassano the more pessimistic of the two incumbents.


 


 Challenger Reynolds Longfield said he would bring a familiarity with data analysis and pragmatic judgment of data that could yield a better picture of what the district needed to do. He also called for compromise with the Teachers Association. Challenger James Hricay touted his knowledge of municipal budgets in both White Plains and Stamford as enabling him to suggest and work for better budget practices.


 


Timothy Connors, opening the forum, said the current budget was the lowest year-to-year increase in the history of the school district. He said the district would continue to be pressured by certiorari tax refunds until the state legislature called for a “reval” of residential real estate. Donna McLaughlin, one of the two incumbents running agreed saying until the legislature passed two separate equalization rates for business and residential properties, assessment decline would continue to plague the district.


 



Augostino Zicca, Jr., left, and Elsie Lahrmann issue statements (shown at recent Gedney Farms Association Meeting) last week.


 


Augostino Zicca Jr. and Dr. Elsie Lahrmann, who boycotted the debate on advice of their lawyers, due to what they described as a racist Democratic Party e-mail campaign against them, issued statements to the media Sunday on their positions, which WPCNR includes in this report, based on a video tape of the forum that was conducted opposite a Common Council meeting.


 


Incumbents Tout Experience, Continued “Prudence.”


 


Bassano said he expected matters to be considerably worse in developing the 2010-11 budget. McLaughlin said she expected no major changes being brought to the district in his first year by incoming Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christopher Clouet. She said she expected that he would observe and learn his first year.


 


McLaughlin maintained that the present board cut the budget to a .74% increase this year to prepare for the challenges next year.  She also said she expected the district to continue “what we’ve been doing.”She said she expected that Dr. Clouet would be able to attract grants to the district for programs to ease the financial pressures – a talent that brought New London $95 Million in grants for a magnet school. She also said he brought great communications skills to the district.


 


 In her opening and closing statements, McLaughlin said during her time on the Board, the Board had developed All-Day Kindergarten in the district, built the new  Post Road School and  renovated Mamaroneck Avenue School, renovated two football stadiums with new stands and artificial surfaces, and planned needed infrastructure improvements. (The district has just issued bonds for the final $16 Million in district building infrastructure improvements, which will secure a $6 Million reimbursement from the state on the $66 Million in financing spent on those capital projects).  She also said during her time on the board dual language kindergarten was begun in George Washington School,and in a bit of news, said a similar dual language program would begin at new Post Road School next September.


 


(During those12 years, though, it should be noted the school budget doubled from $92.6 Million in 1996-97 to  $185.8 Million should the district pass the budget tomorrow. She said her twelve years of experience and knowledge of the board, was an asset navigating the district through this tough time. Mr. Bassano and Ms. McLaughlin also approved the present administrator and previous teacher contracts. 


 


Peter Bassano, describing himself as the lead negotiator with the teachers,  said the teachers union contract continued to be hung up on the amount of a merit raise for this year and next, even though, he said,  70% of the teachers had gotten a 2-1/2% raise based on longevity, and others had received increases based on any  progress in achieving new academic degrees.  


 


He said the economy was “unfair,” noting that the 4 Assistant Superintendents in the district were under a wage freeze, (neglecting to mention that those 4 Assistant Superintendents were voted salary increases 7 months ago of 5%, 3%, 3% and 3% by the Board of Education). Bassano expressed disappointment in the leadership of the White Plains Teachers Association in refusing to compromise on the merit increases, saying the union stance  was “detrimental to the children of the district, detrimental to the teachers.” He also claimed he and McLaughlin were the targets of a “jihad” against them by the Teachers Union,  including drive-by heckling of Mr. Bassano when he was mowing his lawn. Mr. Bassano did not elaborate.


 


 Bassano reported that the additional languages beginning in sixth grade at the Highlands next fall was done without costing a penny more in the budget. It was done by going to a nine period day and transfering one teacher.  


 


According to White Plains Teachers Union President,  Kerry Broderick, the district had to offer the same language courses at Highlands as they did at Eastview in the sixth grade, and this was a necessity not voluntary enhancement.


 


Longfield: Compromise with Teachers a Must.


 


Longfield said repeatedly that the district had to work with the teachers to “compromise” without offering bargaining chips or suggestions. He said the district and all parties in the district had to work together. Longfield noted that Hricay (being married to a teacher in the White Plains School District) would have to recuse himself from any voting on teacher contracts, limiting his ability to affect change.


 


McLaughlin: More Data; Sharper Evaluation of Programs.


 


McLaughlin said her goals were to evaluate programs more closely, justifying the performance of each program going forward, and also said better data was another key objective. This has been a repeated complaint of Ms. McLaughlin the last four years with each year the administration making excuses to the School Board for not having longitudinal data on specific classes over the years. First the incompatibility of data in the district was the issue. The next year there was an inputting problem. Two years ago BOCES was going to do it, but apparently overpromised. Now the district has gone to another software system, Infinite Campus. Perhaps this will change now that a new Manager of Information Processing, hired at $150,000 last August is at the helm, who has yet to make any public report on data progress. The  third new software package (Infinite Campus) costing $300,000 is being installed districtwide and should be in use by the end of next year, according to the outgoing Superintendent.


  


Challenger James Hricay in closing statements said he expected the public sector (i.e, the school district) to suffer next year even if the economy recovers because the economic pressures always affect the public sector last.  Hricay said he would work in consort with the Board and not against them.


 


Reynolds Longfield III, the other challenger, said his experience in analyzing data and developing data reporting techniques in his position as developing and then heading the social studies department in a New York City school, would be an asset in analyzing and critiquing what data is presented the district on its performance in the year ahead.


 


McLaughlin and Bassano repeated Assistant Superintendent of Business Fred Seiler’s warning that the district contribution to the retirement fund for teachers would go up substantially next year injecting an advance pressure on the budget.


 


Zicca and Lahrmann State Positions


 


Augostino Zicca,Jr. one of the school board candidates did not appear at the Board of Education Candidates Forum, protesting the way leaders of the Democratic Party had urged Democrats to vote against him in a Democrat canvas e-mail last week. Zicca accused the Democrats of implying he was racist by criticsing  his past suggestions to tackle the dangerous illegal housing conditions in which illegals and legal immigrants live in this city.


 


Zicca and Dr. Elsie Lahrmann sent these letters to the media stating what they intend to do as a member of the Board of Education:


 


 


Letter to Editor,


 


I am a candidate for the White Plains School Board.   Born and raised in White Plains, I attended the Battle Hill School and I am an alumnus of White Plains High School.


 


I am a retired IBM business professional with extensive corporate development and global experience, along with being a retired Westchester County Correctional Officer. I was assigned as an officer to the program for our incarcerated youth that allowed them to continue their education while in custody. My years working with this population were rewarding and provided me with experience as a motivational leader for our troubled youth in Westchester County.


 


As a community leader and Vice President of The Battle Hill Association in the City of White Plains, I identified a situation unknown to the White Plains School District.  Due to my advocacy for children and working with many parents in this district, the City of White Plains established a notification system to all residents concerning Sexual Offenders residing in White Plains. Communication and data between the school system and City of White Plains must continue to improve.


 


Transparency between the community and school board is essential to create an enhanced and welcoming relationship with all residents.  It is pertinent that the school board hold meetings in all neighborhoods on a rotating basis to improve relationships and communicate budget issues. As a current member of the Community Block Grant Program for the City of White Plains, I have been able to establish dialogue with our large diverse population.


 


We must create an independent review board to analyze all financial matters affecting the district, welcoming all neighborhood representation, unlike the current board recommendation limited to two volunteers from the community. We need to improve relations with all unions. Transparency and open dialogue will enhance our children’s education and parental involvement. Increased focus on the challenged youth in the district will provide them with all educational tools necessary to become achieving adults.


 


A zero base budget system must be recognized and explored to combat the difficult decisions that we may confront in next years budget.  The last five years have brought almost a 38% tax increase from an experienced school board.


 


It is time to revisit all positions, expenses, and revenues in the White Plains School District.


 


 


Augie Zicca Jr.


School Board Candidate


 


Dr. Elsie Lahrmann, who, with Mr. Zicca also declined to appear at the Candidates Forum on advice of her lawyer, who advised Zicca and Lahrmann they were probably walking into an ambush. Also sent this letter to the CitizeNetReporter stating their objectives should they be elected to the Board.


 


May 16, 2009


Dear Editor:


 


I am a candidate for the City of White Plains school board.  It is necessary for me to tell you who I am and why I will be an asset when I am elected to the board.


 


I am a lifelong resident of the City of White Plains. On a personal note my wonderful husband George and I will be celebrating our 45th anniversary this year.  We have lived in Gedney Farms for thirty six years.  I presently serve on the Gedney Board and as the chairman of the public safety committee and have initiated discussions with the City of White Plains to lower the speed limit in neighborhoods.  The purpose of doing this is that children should be able to play safely in their yards.  On an educational level I have a BS in clinical nutrition and doctorate in naturopathy.  I have a practice in natural medicine in the City of White Plains.


 


             On a professional level my twenty five years with the City of White Plains had many accomplishments that I am still proud of.  As the emergency planning director my grant writing abilities saved the taxpayers thousands of dollars for a Police Captain and a Fire Lt, who served on may staff in an emergency capacity.  I wrote the grant for the City of White Plains with regard to microfilming of municipal records; I also shared these services with the White Plains Board of Education.  At the direction of the WP Common Council I acted as administrator for the upgrading of ambulance service to the paramedic response system.  


 


 I am still proud today, that this program is working everyday for the citizens of WP. I acted as the Regional Vice President of the Emergency Medical Services Council and served as the Westchester County delegate to that body.  I am still proud of the designation of the trauma system and the lives it has saved in the region. I initiated the National Flood Insurance Program for the City of WP and acted as their administrator.


 


            Let’s talk about Board of Education issues.  The last five years of 37.4% increases in the school board budget has hurt many homeowners who are now feeling the effects of this economic crisis.  We must make hard decisions and negotiations on this budget and it must benefit the taxpayer and represent inclusion and fair representation for all who live and attend our schools. Did this board request a grant written for the improvement of drainage problems as specified in the capital projects report? It would have saved the taxpayer 1 million dollars.  


 


I am therefore presenting a zero based budget system be initiated in the upcoming new year, so that all expenditures can be analyzed with proper solutions.  Consolidation of departments must be addressed and staffing patterns must be presented and analyzed (currently not being presented to the public). 


 


I believe that the lack of transparency must come to an end.  The finance committee established by the current board should have representatives from each neighborhood in this city, not just two as directed by the board.  We must educate all children and all parents must have an equal opportunity to serve this district.  As far as the teachers union is concerned the president is a long time family friend.  I did volunteer to assist her, and that is what community involvement is about.  


 


 


Elsie J. Lahrmann


 

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Westco’s Gary Puckett brings back Dugout Days with Rock’s Boss Voice!

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WPCNR’S BIG BEAT WITH BIG MELVIN MEAD “With all the hits you need,” The Boss Jock on KKIX  THE MIGHTY1440 “The Rock of America,” Host of Your Saturday Night Rock and Roll Party. May 17,2009: Back in the 60s, his voice boomed out of your transistor and 77 WABC RADIO’s Dan Ingram Show after school, or Cousin Brucie, and crystallized all the anxiety and longing and torture of your first passions. His songs, Woman, Woman, Young Girl, It’s Now or Never, Don’t Give In to Him,  dealt with the tortured gut-churning abysses of awakening passions, adult stuff, unrequited love, and relationships gone bad in driving beats fully orchestrated that made the pain, and the longing bearable and still do. When you heard his songs you knew he knew how you were feeling .


 



GARY PUCKETT FOREVER — SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE IRVINGTON TOWN HALL. Photo, Peter Katz, Courtesy Westco Productions.


 


Last night, Suzy the K, White Plains Susan Katz, brought the great Puckett back and the soundtrack of those days back again. It’s been one hit after another since Westco Productions started the Gold Star Concerts 4 years ago, and the hits just keep on coming. When a Westco concert hits Irvington, Irvington restaurants JUMP. Saturday night continued Suzy the K’s mastery of Westchester entertainment.She brings you the stars you’ll always love, the music that makes you forever young, and the personalities up close and personal.





Saturday night in a return engagement,  Gary Puckett and his band brought out the faithful in another shoulder shifting, finger-snapping, head-bobbing concert just right. Irvington Town Hall was sweaty, reminiscent of those high school dances where you took a chance putting your fragile male ego on the line when you asked an angel to dance. Or, for locals, those dark evenings in Dipaulo’s Dugout over on West Post Road where the 45s spun – one of Suzy the K’s old haunts.


 


Suzy the K of course, is Susan Katz, the  Ron Dolzner, Richard Nader, and Murray the K of White Plains and Westchester whose WESTCO GOLD STAR CONCERTS have been the most successful rock pop series in the county the last four years having developed a loyal following.


 


Next fall, the Marshall Tucker Band, Johnny Winter and Judy Collins are in the Suzy the K lineup of legends.


 


Gary Puckett, back for a return engagement in the Westco March of the Rock Icons, had the audience from his debut song, Woman, Woman.  With his voice suffering from a cold, Gary reached back and delivered all the tortured angst – pushing himself and the emotion was all there.


 



 


Once again, he delivered, Keeping the Customer Satisfied After the concert, over 100 fans part of the house, hanging from the rafters on the little theatre on Main Street,  lined up to meet him, get autographs and connect with the master of  delivering the high and the low of love as no other rock artist does. Photo, Peter Katz, Courtesy Westco Productions.


 


Mr. Puckett enthralled the audience, which hung on his every word, with inside rock anecdotes, how he got started, recording his first record  (hard work and self-promotion with his own record portfolio); he told of meeting  Elvis Presley in the hall at the Hilton International in Las Vegas and how Elvis sent him a message after watching Gary’s set, “That boy sure can sing,” then Gary launched in an Elvis-style “Dixieland” that was poignant. It was the King, but it was Gary’s song too.


 


Gary and his sidemen paid homage, doing Help Me,Rhonda, and Roy Orbison’s Pretty Woman, and delighted the crowd with “Na-Na-Hey-Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye” a cappella.


 


The emotional high of the show is Mr.Puckett’s traditional salute of veterans in the audience where he asks vets to stand and sings an emotional, tear-inspiring ballad of what a soldier dreams of each night. Very classy of Mr.Puckett to include this.


 


Playing for an hour and a half straight, his performance delivered what the customers came for—“a little of that Gloria” – we used to feel and still do whenever we hear Mr. Puckett’s songs – so true to the way you were growing up when you were experiencing those first serious relationships, or relationships that had grown old.


 


Mr. Puckett’s deep emotional connections in his songs hold the key to rock and roll’s 50 years of longevity. Rock lets artists express how we really feel in a most personal way.


 



 


Gary and The Queens Jester, the funniest man on the East Coast — John Joseph. Book em, Dano! Photo, Peter Katz, Courtesy Westco Productions.


 


The Queens Jester, John Joseph, a comic with “the gift” opened the show with 45 minutes of glib, rapid fire stand-up and keep-em-laughing comedy about marriage, kids, rest rooms, and rock and roll styles. His cellphone bit where he played his daughter’s ringtone greeting  (“Message,” “MESSAGE” “MESSSSSAGGGGGGEEEE!” screams”) was one of many hilarious bits.


 


Mr. Joseph plays his own guitar, imitating rock styles. These bits ended with the audience giving him a standing ovation. When was the last time an opening act, a comedy act, got a standing ovation? I wish Mr. Joseph could open School Board and Common Council meetings.


 


 Joseph’s send-ups with his own guitar accompaniment with clever master riffs of rock icons stunned the audience with laugh-riffs of recognition.


 


When was the last time you saw a comic play guitar who was actually funny? Never, baby.  Joseph’s rendition of Bruce Springsteen singing Eentsy, Weentsy, Spider was dead-on, and Springsteen could make a hit of that song.  Joseph hits the High Seas next, doing a week on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship (you lucky people) then appearing next in Las Vegas at the Tropicana.


 


Westco, under the uncanny, put-your-finger-on-the-pulse-of-the-audience-and-give-them-what-they-want savvy of White Plains First Lady of Westchester Theatre, Susan Katz – better known as Suzy The K—delivered another crowd-pleasing, scanner-beeping show. People come out for Westco concerts. Next fall the Marshall Tucker Band comes back and Judy Collins is another on the fall schedule.

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Board To Rein in Administrator Contract Next Yr. Confirms All Increases

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. May 16,2009: Board of Education Member Peter Bassano reported to WPCNR today the Board of Education will “remain consistent in all of our contracts,” indicating  that when the Adminstrators and Supervisors Association contract expires in June 2010, they expect to address a scaling back the same as they are attempting to negotiate with the White Plains Teachers Association. The Civil Service Employees Association contract expires this June, and that will also be on the table for addressing.


 


 WPCNR asked Bassano if the district had asked administrators and supervisors to scale back voluntarily the raises and step increases…some exceeding $10,000. Bassano said the Board had not because they were guaranteed by contract. “They could sue us,” he said.


 


Bassano in a letter to WPCNR received today via E-Mail confirmed that the WPCNR analysis of Administrator and Supervisor pay was correct, but the salaries of the four Assistant Superintendents appearing in the Proposed 2009-Budget Book were incorrect, that the  4 Assistant Superintendents  who make up the Superintendent’s Cabinet of Assistant Superintendents for  Business,  Curriculum and Instruction, Human Resources, and Pupil Services had their salaries “frozen” at 2008-09 (the present year, concluding June 30) levels.


 


Bassano explained to WPCNR  that the Assistant Superintendents were given 5%,3%,3%,and 3% raises in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, 2008-2009, (even though the 2008-09 Proposed Budget Book lists three of the four Assistant Superintendents as receiving cuts in 2008-2009). Bassano confirmed to WPCNR the present salaries of the four Assistant Superintendents in the 09-10 budget were correct.


 


He said they were not increases from 2008-09 salaries (since the increases passed after the 08-09 budget, and not appearing in that published budget,  were approved and started to be paid  in the fall of 2008.)


 


Bassano said  since the Assistant Superintendents would not be receiving any increase in the fall of 2009, that in effect, their wages were “frozen.”


 


Mr Bassano issued this statement to WPCNR by e-mail Saturday morning:

Your article on administrator raises is generally correct and indeed
reflects hefty raises for many of the district’s administrators.  Let me
clarify a few matters for your readers.

These raises are remnants of an existing contract with administrators
which will expire next year.  This contract was negotiated a few years ago
during much better times, long before the current economic decline.   As
you pointed out, these raises also included automatic step and lane
increases just like under the teachers’ contract.   You should also note
that the salary schedule also shows reductions in pay for several
administrative positions.

The proposed budget that we distributed listed the wrong salaries for the
assistant superintendents.  The four assistant superintendents and all
non-union managerial and confidential administrators and employees in the
district will receive no salary increases at all next year.  Those salary
freezes are accurately reflected in the budget numbers but the printed
addendum was never changed to reflect this.

The bottom line however is that our district pays its educators very well
and has always done so.  Taxpayers are now facing unprecedented economic
pressures and every educator in this school district should understand
that such salary increases are simply no longer possible.


In the 2008-09 Proposed School Budget, the salaries listed for the Assistant Superintendents were:  Business, $171,600;Curriculum & Instruction, $165,505;Human Resources, $174,332; Pupil Services, $164,800.


 In the Proposed 2009-2010 Budget, the salaries listed, reportedly incorrectly for the Assistant Superintendents are: Business, $180,180; Curriculum & Instruction,$169,744; Human Resources, $179,562; Pupil Services, $170,470.  Salaries of Assistant Superintendents would appear to have been raised after the printed Proposed 2008-09 Budget was distributed last year, and after the 2008-09 Budget was passed.


Mr. Bassano said he had no idea how the error had occurred, learning about the Assistant Superintendents salaries first in The CitizeNetReporter story published Friday morning. He said it must have been an accounting error.


Later Saturday, after WPCNR had confirmed the Assistant Superintendent increases having been granted in the fall of 08, Mr. Bassano confirmed the 2009-2010 Assistant Superintendent salaries in the budget book were correct, but technically not increases.


Administrator Increases.


For the record on the Administrator salary increases to clarify: there were 6 reductions in pay for 38 Administrative positions the salaries of whom are reportedly correctly according to Mr. Bassano, (presumably new hires in the 2009-10 Proposed budget),  and there 32  administrators receiving increases.


Mr. Bassano confirmed to WPCNR that there were about 20 “Managerial and Confidential Employees” who were participating in the wage freeze. None of these twenty were included on page 82 of the Proposed Budget, which lists the salaries of 38 Administrator positions. Bassano told WPCNR Saturday the raises were as a matter of contract.


Teacher Union President Remembers 


Kerry Broderick, President of the White Plains Teachers Association, which is now in bitter, protracted mediations, supervised by the New York State Public Employers Relations Board (PERB),  that have entered the “fact-finding” stage),  told WPCNR she was aware of the “hefty” Supervisor increases.


However, she said it was her recollection the Assistant Superintendents had received increases with the Managerial and Confidential employees last fall.


Terrance McGuire and Charles Norris of the Board of Education, speaking to WPCNR Saturday said they could not remember whether Assistant Superintendents had had their salaries increased the since the start of the 2008-09 fiscal year. They said the Assistant Superintendents had had their salaries frozen at the end of June 2008.


The Record


In the  2008-09 proposed budget passed last spring (currently in its last quarter), salaries for only one of the Assistant Superintendents was raised from 2007-2008 by about 1%, and the other positions received  reductions in salary. 


 


According to the 2008-2009 budget, the Assistant Superintendent for Business was raised from $170,462 to $171,600 this year(1%); the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction position was decreased from $166,003 to $165,505; the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources salary was lowered from $174,856 to $174,332; the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services was cut from $165,296 to $164,800.


 

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29 Adminstrators Again Reap 3%-10% Raises. District Plays Hardball w/Teachers

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. May 15, 2009: The White Plains City School District Budget Book for 2009-10 reveals that it pays to be a School Administrator in White Plains no matter what shape the school district is in. Twenty seven administrators who will receive raises will receive an average increase of $7,416 beginning July 1.


 


The listing of the 38 Administrator salaries in the Budget Book shows 14 Administrators receiving 3% raises , 5  receiving increases from 5% to 6%, 9 are getting increases in the 7% to 8% range, and one High School Assistant Principal is receiving  a 10.5% raise.


 


Adminstrators across the district will receive pay increases ranging from $4,485 to $15,216. There are 6 administrators receiving year-to-year increases of $10,000 and up. Seven receive raises from $7,000 to $10,000


 


 


The five elementary school principals all will make $172,433 a year in 2009-10 but to get there, two principals received $9,738 raises (6%) and a second elementary Principal, a $8,356 raise (5%). Two other Elementary School Principals are receiving $5,022 increases (3%)


 


The increases though not Wall Street proportions by any means are intriguing in light of the district hand-wringing over the White Plains Teachers Union contract which is in the fact-finding stage of arbitration.


 


Life will be excellent for Elementary Assistant Principals, too. One receives $9,040 more, a  7.3% raise to $132,665 a year; a second will be paid  $10,811 more to $147,269 a year, a 7.9% increase and  a third $9,040 more, a 7.3% boost in pay $132,665. Two others will come on board at $128,000.


 


As you move into the Middle School hierarchy, you are reaching heady levels.


 


The two Middle School Principals will make $183,127and $172,433 – each pocketing pocket change of 3% in increased salaries, $5,334 and $5,022 respectively. The three Middle School Assistant Principals will receive 7.4%, 3% and 3%. The 7.4% raise increase means $10,217 more for that  Middle School Assistant Principal bring them to $147,901, the other two are only being increased $5,022 and $4,485 each, raising their salaries to $172,433 and $153,987.


 


At the high school, the Principal receives a modest 3%, bringing him to $195,828 up from $190,124 this year.  One  Assistant Principal at WPHS receives a 10.5% increase from $149,919 this year to $160,135, while a new Assistant Principal position new in the budget book this year, comes in at $155,059


 


The four House Administrators at the high school will be paid $128,000; $149,502, $153,987 (increased 3% from $149,502) and $149,911, up $8,323 from $149,502 this year.


 


Among the Directors the raises were modest and personnel shuffling limited raises there. The Director of Adult Education will receive a 3% raise in 2009-10 to $160,135; the Director, New York Hospital program salary for that position reduces to $127,490, saving the district $27,981, but it is unclear how this pay change affects the position.


 


The Director,Special Education receives a 7.1% increase of $11,477, bringing that position pay to $172,433 in 09-10 from $160,956.


 


The Director, Support Programs is increased 3% ($4,664) to $160,135.


 


The New Director, Management Information Systems will be paid $156,750. The Director, Research, Testing & Evaluations who earned$149,502 this year, has retired and that position may be eliminated.


 


The Director, Pre-K that was paid $155,471 this year, is not listed as a position in the new budget.


 


Moving into Coordinator land in the School District, Coordinators continue to do well.


 


The District will save $171,004 by  consolidating the Athletic Director and Interscholastic/Physical Education/Health Position and hiring a “Coordinator,Interscholastic/Physical Education/Health” for a budgeted $128,000. The position has just been posted according to the Superintendent of Schools, and will not go to Jody Cole the former Director of  Physical Education and Health. She has decided to retire, as announced at the Board of Education Monday evening.


 


Coordinators doing nicely are the Coordinator of Mathematics, who picks off a $10,974 raise on top of a $16,385 raise last year, bring that position to a total salary of $153,987, one of three highest paid Coordinators. The Coordinator of Science and Coordinator of Social Studies earn the same $153,987 (as they collect 3% raises, up from$149,502).


 


The Coordinator of Guidance receives a $10,209 increase, too, bringing that position to a pay of $149,206, up 7.3%.


 


The Coordinator of ESOL and Director, Newcomer Center  receives a $9,740 pay increase from $133,159 to $142,899.


 


With Ron Paladino retiring as Coordinator of English, the district expects to appoint a new Coordinator of English at $128,000 a saving of $12,561.


 


The Coordinator of Fine & Performing Arts receives a 3% increase to $153,987, up 3% from $149,502. Though WPCNR believes the Coordinator of Fine & Performing Arts is being promoted to Elementary Assistant Principal.


 


Finally, the Coordinator of Business Education & Technology is increased 3% to $153,987.


 


At the top of the food chain, the district is saving money on its incoming Superintendent of Schools. The new Superintendent  at $210,000 a year will earn $40,347 less than his predecessor, and pay him $7,618 less in benefits, and $4,750 in other compensation.


 


The Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction receives a $4,239 raise to $169,744 a year, up 2.6%.


 


The Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources gets a 3% raise of $5,250 raising her to $179,562.


 


The Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services is raised 3.4% to $170,470.


 


The Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler, is the only administrator of the 43 will not receive a  pay raise this year.


 


WPCNR cautions that these increases may be mandated by contracts, academic achivements, and promotions of the positions, but the increases cost money and lift pay.


 


This is the second consecutive year raises more than double the rate of inflation have been liberally distributed by the Board of Education and the Schol District, while pleading poverty in the stalled teacher contract negotiations.


 

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School Board Forum First Cast Friday Night,8 PM. No Zicca,No Lahrmann

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 14,2009: The Educational Public Access Channel announced days and times of its video tape of the League of Women Voters Public Forum held Tuesday night. The first telecast will be Friday evening at 8 P.M. on Cablevision Channel 77, and Verizon FIOS Channel 46, (right after White Plains Week, showing at 7:30, the city news roundup show — public access channel’s best  lead-in), just switch the channel to 77 or 46.



School Board Candidates’ Public Forum  For the Record  begins Friday at 8 on Educational Channels.  (L to R), Peter Bassano, Jim Hricay, Reynolds Longfield, Donna McLaughlin without Augostino Zicca, Jr. and Elsie Lahrmann, (empty seats) who declined to participate, according to Mr. Zicca, on advice of his legal counsel due to an inflammatory letter circulated by leaders of the White Plains Democratic Party.


That letter urged Democrats to turn out and ask pointed questions of the two. The letter also portrayed Mr. Zicca as being anti-immigrant, which Zicca told WPCNR was “slanderous.”  Zicca told WPCNR, “we thought they were going to ambush us, and we would not get an oppotunity to get our message out.”The series of Forum telecasts of the replay featuring the four candidates who appeared will be televised Friday at 8


Viewers on Educational Access Channels 77 (Cablevision) and Channel 46 (Verizon) can view all the action in Tuesday evening’s League of Women Voters Public Forum beginning at 8 P.M. Friday night. The show will also be telecast Saturday at 12:15 and 4 P.M.; Sunday at 9 AM, 3:15 P.M. and 7 P.M.; Monday, at 12 P.M., 3 P.M, 5:15 P.M., 8 P.M. and 10 P.M., and on the election day itself, Tuesday at 9 A.M., 12 P.M. and 3 P.M.


The letter Zicca and Lahrman in a news release refers to, reads:


 The Text of the Democratic Leader Letter, obtained by the CitizeNetReporter reads:
Hello friends and fellow Democrats:
As you probably already know, Augie Zicca has filed
as a candidate for WP School Board this  year.  
Zicca, however, is not the only Republican stalwart 
running this year. 
  He is joined by Elsie Lahrman, who is a regular 
contributor to Republican causes 
and who gave Zicca $300 for his 2007 campaign.  
    Ms. Lahrmann, it should be noted, has never
(to my knowledge) had a child in the White Plains schools
 nor has  she been involved with any
school-oriented activity that she can identify or 
 that anyone I know is aware of. 
  At the candidates’ interviews at the Journal News today,(last week) 
Zicca also acknowledged not having any involvement with
 school activities (although I believe his daughter did  
attend school here). Both candidates stated today that 
they would be voting no on the school budget this year.
       Zicca, as you can imagine, has showed the same
 disregard for facts in his recent campaign for School Board 
as he did in 2007.     
       For instance, he made several claims regarding a statue (spelling incorrect)
around tax certiorari which turned out to be completely false, 
and after being told so by school officials and attorneys only now 
is acknowledging that he was wrong.
       He has also claimed to support a 0% tax increase (despite falling
property valuations) and that this should be funded by cutting administration
and not  staff positions. Some simple math shows that this is infeasible.
        What is unfortunate this year is that the WP Teachers
Association, which is seeking a new contract, has chosen to endorse 
 Zicca, Lahrmann and a third candidate, James Hricay, in order to 
‘send a message to the Board incumbents about their contract demands.  
        Unfortunately many of their (teacher) members seem
 to be unaware of who Zicca and Lahrmann really are and don’t know anything
about Zicca’s positions in the 2007 election, including his stated wish to
 sic the Immigration authorities on our neighbors with problematic
 immigration status, which would presumably mean them
 and their children who attend WP schools facing deportation.
 What I am asking of you is: 
 
 *support Board incumbents Donna McGlothlin and Peter
Bassano in this year’s election, along with new candidate Reynolds
Longfield, a community-minded person with a child in the high school 
who will work for  the benefit of the children, not his personal agenda
 
*support the school budget, which has the lowest
 expense increase (actually a small  decrease if you take out debt
 service) in over 225 years and whcih was  prudently crafted by he Board.
 
BTW, if the budget fails and the District has to go to
 contingency budget, by statute all groups using the school facilities
 will have to pay full price for their use.   
A Little Leaguer may have to pay as much as $100 more to play  baseball.
 * come to the candidates forum Tuesday 5/12 at the High School and have
pertinent questions ready for Zicca and  Lahrmann
*spread the word about the current issues,
particularly if  you know any teachers in the District who may not know 
about Zicca and his  friends. help offset the cost of a mailing in support 
of the candidates and the  budget (contact me directly if you are interested)
 *above all, come out to vote on Tueday, 5/29 from noon
 to  9 p.m.
 Remember that there are a limited number of voting
 places  and you may not be voting in the same spot for the general election.  
 Absentee ballots are available from the District office for those who 
 can’t make the polls that day.
thanks to all for taking the time to read this.   
After 5/19 I look forward to working with all of  you to
march to victory in November. 
 

RESPONSE — ZICCA AND LAHRMANN NEWS RELEASE SENT TO LEAGUE


In response, upon becoming aware of the mass circulation of this e-mail letter among district leaders in the Democratic Party last week, Zicca and Lahrmann sent this e-mailed press release to the League of Women Voters notifying them they would not attend the forum.


Mr. Zicca said he and Lahrmann did not telephone the League informing them of their decison to withdraw from the forum due to the “poisened atmosphere.” As a result, the League moderator did not read the news release as requested, and did not announce why Zicca and Lahrmann were not present, as requested in the news release. Apparently no one monitors the League of Women Voters e-mail in the afternoon of a public forum.


The Zicca-Lahrmann News Release:


Elsie J. Lahrmann


Augie Zicca Jr.


For White Plains School Board


changewp@gmail.com


 


May 12, 2009


 


Press Release via Email:


 


We authorize and request the media and the League of Women Voters to read and or print for the record the following statement.



In the past few days we, (Mr. Augie Zicca Jr. and Elsie J. Lahrmann), have been privy to a hateful and libelous email. The inflammatory missive is presently being requested to be circulated throughout the (White Plains Democrat) community.  This vicious email has personally attacked the integrity and real purpose of our campaigns for the School Board of the City of White Plains.



These emails are filled with untruths which hold no validity and attack the political information about us.  We believe our political registrations should not influence or be a subject in a School Board election.  We believe partisan political party politics and the education of White Plains school children are clearly two separate subjects.


           


We will not participate in tonight’s debate due to the political overtones threatened by the emails circulating. We will be notifying the press when a non-partisan debate and forum can be arranged.


             



Candidates for White Plains School Board



 


Augie Zicca Jr.


 


 


Elsie J. Lahrmann



 


 

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Get Your School District Budget/Board Election Absentee Ballots IN before Tuesda

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WPCNR CNA NEWS. From Council of Neighborhood Associations. May 13, 2009:  For the past few days, CNA Co-President Candyce Corcoran  tells WPCNR,  “I have been averaging 2 phone calls per day asking, “Where are we supposed to vote for the school budget.” 

 

She writes, “Unfortunately, the district map included in the brochure that all White Plains Residents received in the mail, is impossible to read.  Today at Education House, I received an enlarged version of the map. 

 

You (also)  may NOT be voting at your “normal polling place”. There are 6 voting election districts for this vote.  Battle Hill Fire Station #5, Church Street School, Rochambeau School, Highlands, Mamaroneck Avenue, and Ridgeway. 

 

In addition, if you will need an absentee ballot, you will need to get one immediately.  It is a 2 step process.  You will need to fill out an application and in turn, an absentee ballot will be provided. 

 

When obtaining ours, I was told that the ballot MUST reach the district before 12 PM on Tuesday, prior to the polls opening.

 

If you need additional information, please contact the school district. 

 

 

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Wanted Financial Wizards for School District Finance Committee

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. May 13,2009:   In accordance with a new policy adopted on May 11, 2009, the White Plains Board of  Education is seeking up to two community members to add to its Finance/Audit Committee, to assist in providing financial oversight for the district.

 


            The committee, which also includes three Board of Education members, meets once a month during the school year, from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M., at Education House.  Membership will be  for one year, from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. 


 


Individuals who wish to apply should have accounting or auditing experience and should send a letter of application, citing qualifications, to the District Clerk, 5 Homeside Lane, 10605.   Letters must be received by June 15th and interviews will be conducted by the current committee.  The Board expects to make the appointments at its Regular Meeting in July.


 


            Education Law stipulates that committee members shall not be employees of the District,or have provided goods or services to the district within the last two years, or have a direct  interest or be related to a principal in any company providing goods or services to the district.

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