WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR—65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

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WPCNR RINKSIDE. By  “Edge” Bailey. February 22, 2007: Some 70 young ladies from Westchester, Connecticut and New Jersey’s Skyliners Synchronized Skating team and Team Image from the Yonkers Figure Skating club begin competition for the National Championships in Colorado Springs today. After spending the first four days on the “front range,” adjusting to the altitude and putting together practices on the World Ice Hall, the area’s elite most team-like teams are ready to try for that one great skate at the 2007 United States Figure Skating Synchronized Skating National Championships.

2007 Eastern Synchronized Skating Champions — The Skyliners Junior team..working on their “Wheel” at Playland Ice Casino in preparation for taking the ice at the Nationals Tonight in Colorado Springs for their Technical Program. The Juniors, 1st in the Providence Eastern Championships, will be skating with 14 of synchronized skatings elite teams Thursday and Friday. Photo, WPCNR Sports

The Juniors are Champs of the East on the ice after their great skate in Providence Rhode Island at the end of January in the Eastern Championships, nosing out the amost equally excellent Icemates by a blade.

Skyliners Working their double line over and over at Playland Ice Casino last week.

The Skyliners Coach and Choreographer Josh Babb has been working the Junior team hard to fine tune their Technical and Free Skate programs to get closer to the top four teams they skated against at the Dr. Porter Classic in December in Ann Arbor, the International Qualifier in Lowell, Massachussetts and of course The Colonials. They have had extra  practices and longer practices each week for the last three weeks, finishing off with 9 hours of practice last Friday and Saturday before winging to Denver and on to Colorado Springs Monday.

Skyliners Skating to Poseiden to Win in Their Last At Bat in Providence.

Executing the Spread Eagle Intersection

Waiting for the Results of their Free Skate in Providence on the SynchroTron

Skyliner Juniors kiss the Providence Ice after their Eastern win.

The Skyliners ecstatic about their first ever Gold Medal in the Junior Division, have refocused themselves in hopes they can execute two great confident skates tonight and tomorrow. There is such a fine line between a great skate and a disaster in synchronized skating where everyone has to pull together and one ice nick or a soft patch can wreck an element.

The teams are graded by the judges who have the benefit of instant replay to seewhether all skaters in a line were performing the footwork in synch, or whether one was not putting her edge down or getting that twizzle or mohawk (footwork moves) precisely right. Synchronized skating is the truest team sport there is. All skaters have to execute the same, and when they do not the deductions come and whole elements circles, intersections, lines can fail to get “called” lowering their score. 

The girls traveled to “The Garden of Gods”  Tuesday afternoon and enjoyed the breathtaking views of Pike’s Peak. And spent their time enjoying each other’s company and of course, practicing.

Skyliners Enjoying Brunch in Providence before their winning skate.

Celebrating their win late Saturday night in Providence. What a feeling! Those smiles say all the work is worth it.

Parents celebrate too — simply pleased that their daughters were able through their daughters’ own hard work and effort achieved the feeling of winning a prestigious championship or achievement. It does not get any better if you’re a parent — seeing your children succed on their own and achieve happiness — well it might!

Tonight the Juniors take the ice for their Technical Skate to Proud Mary — and a season of growth, achievement and pride and learning — not matter what the result will continue. Two great skates, back-to-back are their goal that they will always remember. 

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WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. From Westchester County Department of Communications. February 21, 2007: Nominations are being accepted through March 15 for a new award to honor the late Stanley Schear, a long-time affordable housing advocate.

  The award will be presented at the first annual Stanley Schear Legislative Breakfast on April 20 at the Woodlands in Ardsley by the Senior Housing and Services Coalition of the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS). Nominees can be individuals or organizations.

  The coalition will also propose legislation at the breakfast regarding affordable housing and senior housing services.

Schear, who passed away last year at age 77, was the coalition’s chairman and guiding spirit for many years.  The coalition has held legislative breakfasts in past years, but permanently renamed the event as another way to honor him.

Through his work with DSPS, Schear helped to bring more services and activities to senior apartment buildings. He was especially gratified that some buildings were also able to have senior service coordinators. 

Schear was also a community activist who championed the needs of the homeless and fought to ban racial discrimination is housing. In addition, he founded and directed the Bridge Fund of Westchester which enabled those at risk of becoming homeless to stay in their homes.

Schear was director of the LIFE Program (Living Independently for the Frail Elderly) at Family Services of Westchester at the time of his death. Over the years, he lived in Scarsdale, Briarcliff Manor and other Westchester communities.

Co-sponsoring the breakfast with DSPS are the Westchester Non-Profit Housing Coalition, Family Services of Westchester and Woodlands Senior Housing.

Nominees for the award must have exhibited vision and action that  has produced a measurable outcome in one or more of six areas: advocacy for people in need, skill building to assist in greater independence, service coordination in linking people to community resources, respectful and compassionate quality of service delivery, philanthropic achievement and coalition building.

To receive a nomination form, contact the Housing Action Council at (914) 332-4144.  They must be returned by March 15. 

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WPCNR RINGSIDE. From TeamSaccurato. (EDITED) February 20, 2007: White Plains Million Dollar Baby, Ann-Marie Saccurato, ranked # 1 Lightweight Woman’s champion will meet Albuquerque’s 5-8, Blonde Bomber, Holly Holm — the Boxing Preacher’s Daughter,  in a world -title fight card March 22 in a Main Event  from New Mexico, that will be televised on Fox Sports. Ann-Marie with a 12-1-2, 5 KO record faces the 5-8 Holly Holm, 16-1-2 — 5 KOs. You can read all about Ms. Holm’s formidable career on her website, www.hollyholm.com

Saccurato defeated Jelena Mrdjenovich in Edmonton, Alberta November 4 for the Lightweight Crown in a split-decision. She now will move up in weight class and contest Holm for the undisputed  WBA Welterweight title and the Welterweight Crown of five other boxing commissions, the WBC, WIBA, IFBA, GBU and IBA. The fight is the Main Event of Destiny — the all-women’s Fight Card at the Isleta Casino in Albuquerque.  Saccurato is shown here punishing Ms. Mrdjenovich November 4 in “The Pounding on the Prairie.” Photo, Courtesy Team Saccurato, by Mary Owen

“I have confidence in my training with Hector Rocca and my strength coach Juan Carlos Santana, from the Institute of Human Performance in Boca Raton. I am also taking steps to combat the change in altitude by using the Colorado Altitude Training world class altitude simulation tent at night. I am doing everything I can to be mentally and physically prepared for my destiny. I importantly hope we both can raise the skill level of women’s boxing and show the world the talent and athleticism that top women boxers possess,” Saccurato said in a statement released to the media.  The fight will be televised live at 11 PM on Fox Sports “The Best Damned Sports Show” March 22.

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WPCNR MR. AND MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS POLL. February 19, 2007: Last week the Department of Transportation briefed the media on their six plans for the Tappan Zee Bridge. On February 27 at Purchase from 4 PM to 8 PM at Purchase College Performing Arts Center they will hold a public hearing explaining the plans to you Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains and Westchesta. But, what does the public really think about the plans?  What does the public think?

For a more detailed version of the following plans proposed by the DOT, complete with diagrams, plus more than you every wanted to read about the Tappan Zee Bridge plans go to http://www.tzbsite.com/tzblibrary/stage1/aa/chapter8.pdf

Plan 1 would maintain the bridge structure and highway to avoid deterioration and complete the present I-287 bridge improvements now under way.

Plan 2 would Rehabilitate the present bridge and make it earthquake-safe, improve Metro-North and NJ Transit west of the Hudson and redesign the Tap Toll Plaza to include a three-lane highway speed toll plaza, weekend E-Z PASS PROGRAM, Ramp metering, congestion pricing.

Plan 3 would build a new bridge with two HOT lanes, 8 general purpose lanes, a pedestrian bike path between Rockland and Westchester. Transit would be improved with a Bus Rapid Transit line from Suffern to Port Chester using HOT lanes in Rockland, a barrier-separated facility in Westchester adjacent I-87 and I-287 and bus lanes on Route 119 in White Plains and Tarrytown — in addition to the toll plaza improvements.

Plan 4 adds a full Rapid rail transit line from Suffern to Port Chester with connection at the Hudson Line in Tarrytown to Manhattan. A new bridge would be built with 2 HOT lanes, 8 general purpose lanes and 2 rail tracks. Stations for the railroad wuold be built in White Plains (at County Center, Westchester Avenue).

Plan 5 — Is a variation on Plan 4 with Commuter Rail stopping at Tarrytown, and Light Rail taking over from Tarrytown to Port Chester. The Light Rail would course over Route 119 through White Plains.

Plan 6—  Is as 4, but eliminates light rail through Westchester, substituting buses, and keeping commuter rail, but stopping it at Tarrytown for connection to Manhattan.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. February 19, 2007 UPDATED February 20, 2007: Based on the New York State Education Department  Budget Report Card of  2006-07,  comparing the budget, tax, and percentage rises year to year of 678 independent School Districts across the state,  the White Plains City School District spends more than any of the 14 districts at the 7,000 enrollment level, and also matches the county’s posh districts dollar for dollar in per student expenditure.

White Plains High School

In comparing the White Plains 2006-2007 budget to school districts enrolling 6,500 to 7,500 students, White Plains  with 7,060 students is spending $165.8 Million compared to runnerup Syosset on Long Island with 6,779 students which spends $155.6 Million.

Distant thirds are Monroe-Woodbury (7,646, $126.5 Million), Freeport (6,635 at $128.5 M) and  Northport (6,521, $128M).  There are 14 districts ranging from Monroe-Woodbury (at 7,646 students) to  Northport-East Northport in the 6,500- 7,500 enrollment class.

In Westchester County, White Plains at $165.8 Million among the four independent cities (New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Peekskill, Yonkers) is third to the New Rochelle City School District which is second in spending. Yonkers at $412 Million (with 24,000 students) is first. New Ro budgeted  $196 Million in the 2006-2007 school year (New Ro serves 11,022 students, 4,000 more than White Plains). White Plains is next with $165.8 Million, and Mount Vernon was a grand behind White Plains at $164.801 Million but with an enrollment of 10,284. Peekskill is the poor city cousin spending $62.6 Million with its far smaller enrollment of 3,150 students.

 Number 1 Among County Big 5

In spending per student however, White Plains budget $165.8 Million outspends its four independent city rivals,  by expending $23, 490 per student. New Rochelle with the Number 3 budget in the state (at $196M) spends $17,787 per pupil. Mount Vernon spends $16,025 per student. Peekskill, $19,883. Port Chester is not a city, but is compared to White Plains in demographic makeup and spends $15,046 per student  while consistently outperforming White Plains in the ELA State Assessments. Peekskill Spends  $19,883 per student. Yonkers with the biggest budget – but not an independent district – spends $17,000 per student.

White Plains spends more per student than New Ro, Port Chester, Mount Vernon, and Peekskill and performs about even with New Ro on the ELA 8^th Grade Assessments, and about 10 percentage points behind Port Chester which passed 68% of its 8^th graders on the ELA while White Plains passed 53% in 2004-05.

 Keeping Up With the Swells

The White Plains City School District has maintained that they need to compete with other districts in Westchester County that are more attractive due to their suburban flavor and high reputation school districts. Analysis of White Plains per student costs, compared to Westchester’s posh districts show White Plains is definitely keeping pace with the “prestige districts” in what they spend per student.

Greenburgh Central School District with just 1,800 students is the per pupil spending leader among independent school districts in the county, according to the state at $28,322 per pupil on a $51 Million budget. A distant second is Briarcliff Manor at $25, 914 per pupil (with 1,800 enrollment), $46.7 Million budget.

White Plains City School District checks in at number 8 in school district spending per pupil  in the county at $23,490 for an 7,060 enrollment  with a  $165.8 Million budget.

 White Plains will approach  $25,000 a student in 2007-2008 with a $175 Million budget projected at this time).

The Per Student Spending Leaders in Westchester County in 2006-2007:

1. Greenburgh Central School District , $28,322, (1,800 enrollment)
   
2. Bedford, $25,914  (1,800 enrollment)
   
3. North Salem, $25,244 (1,385 enrollment)
   
4. Harrison, $25,113 (3,548 enrollment)
   
5.  Scarsdale, $24,647 (4,702 enrollment)
   
6. Katonah, $24,306 (4,100 enrollment)
   
7. Dobbs Ferry — $24,168 (1,410 enrollment)
   
8. White Plains –$23,500 (7,060 enrollment)
   
9. Byram Hills — $23,407 (2,835 enrollment)

Statewide, the White Plains City School District with 7,060 students will spend only $5 million less than the City of Albany ($169.9 Million)  spends to educate Albany’s 10,240 students and  White Plains will spend 3-1/2 million dollars more than the Great Neck School District  does to educate its 6,168 students.

Eighth in State in Taxes.

White Plains is 14^th in the state among independent districts in the size of its school budget and 8^th in state on the size of its property tax levy at $133 Million in 2006-2007. New Rochelle is first in the State Tax Levy Tax-stakes, collecting $155.1 Million.   Ahead of White Plains in collecting Property Tax Levies are

Number 1, New Ro, $155.1 M,

2. Half Hollow Hills, (Long Island), $155.1 M.

3. Great Neck, $153M;

4. Smithtown,L.I. $150.1M

5 Sachem, L.I., 148.8M.. 

6. Haverstraw-Stony Point North Rockland, $145.3M.

7. Syosset, L.I., $143.5 Million,

with the Orange and Black, White Plains at $132.3 Million, according the NYSED Property Tax Levy Report, 2006-2007.

The number 1 spending school district in the state is  Sachem, Long Island with 15,634 students at $266.7 Million; Brentwood, Long Island is second with 16,123 students and a $259.3 Million budget, and our friends at New Rochelle third in the state, spending $196 Million to educate 11,022 students in 2006-2007.

Ahead of White Plains in budgets  are

1. Sachem, $266.7M
   
2.  Brentwood, $259.3M
   
3.  New Rochelle, $196.1M
   
4. Smithtown, L.I., $189M,
   
5.  Haverstraw-Stony Point at $185.3M;
   
6.  Newburgh, $183.1M,
   
7.  Longwood, $181.2M;
   
8. Greece,  (Rochester) $180.3M;
   
9. Half Hollow Hills, L.I., $179.5M;
   
10. East Ramapo (Spring Valley, $178.8M;
    
11. Middle Country, $177.5M;
    
12.  William Floyd, L.I. $174.3M, and
    
13.  Albany at $169.9. 
    
14. White Plains, $165.8M

Among Schools of its enrollment class, White Plains has the highest school budget of  14 school districts enrolling 6,500 students to 7,500 students, nosing out Syosset, Long Island, by $10 Million, Freeport  and Northport by $37 Million and Connetquot by $27 Million.

The Spending per Districts averaging 6,500 to 7,500 Students.

1. White Plains, $165.8M – Enrollment, 7,060
   
2. Syosset, L.I.,  $155.6 M- Enrollment,  6,779
   
3. Connetquot, $140M – Enrollment, 7,091
   
4. Freeport, L.I.,  $128.5M – Enrollment, 6,775
   
5. Northport-East Northport, L.I., $128.1M –Enrollment 6,521
   
6.  Monroe-Woodbury, $126.5M – Enrollment, 7,646
   
7. Hempstead, L.I. $126.2M –Enrollment, 6,950
   
8. Lindenhurst, L.I., $119.5M –Enrollment 7,365
   
9. Middletown — $109.4M – Enrollment, 7,100
   
10. Saratoga Springs — $100.1M – Enrollment, 6,845
    
11. Elmira City – $99.9M – Enrollment, 7,252
    
12. Fairport — $93.8M – Enrollment, 7,200
    
13. Binghamton — $78.7M – Enrollment 6,635

Enrollment Growth Steady, yet Will it Stay Steady?

It is noteworthy that just six months ago during the Capital Project evaluations executed by the Capital Project Committee, White Plains projected that their enrollment was not expected to increase to 7,200 students until 2015. However this year they exceeded their projected enrollment by 200 persons.

In the summer, the White Plains demographer Bishop Inc. projected 2006-2007 enrollment as 6,791 (based on birth rate), yet as of October, the State Education Department reports the White District to be enrolling 7,060 students. The District may not be accounting for immigration into the district. In 1992, the School District educated 5,134 students, and has increased in size to 7,060 in 13 years.

Enrollment Increases 2,000 students, 38% .

Budget Increases 220% in 15 years.

 Based on the last audit of the White Plains City School District performed in 1993 by Edward Regan, the New York State Comptroller during the Cuomo Administration, the White Plains School Budget in 1992 was $76 Million.

 However the school budget has increased from $76 Million in 1992 to $165.8 Million in 2007, with a budget of $175 Million currently projected for 2007-2008. that is a 220% increase in spending with a 38% increase in the number of students served.  The inflation rate from February, 1992 to date was 43.07%. The White Plains budget has risen 5 times the rate of inflation over these 15 years.

In 1991-1992, the district had 5,134 students being taught by 409 teachers. As of 2004-2005, the district employed 937 instructional staff, including 588 teachers, 108 Professional Staff and 230 Paraprofessionals and 11 out of certification teachers or 937  to serve 1,926 more students than 1991-1992.

Teacher Count Up How Much Not Clear.

 1,400 Employees Today vs. 911 15 years ago.

It could not be determined from Mr. Regan’s report if the 409 teacher count included only the number of certified teachers, excluding  Professional Staff, Paraprofessionals, and Out of Certification teaching personal.

In 2006-2007, the White Plains district employees 588 Teachers, 108 Professional Staff, 230 Paraprofessionals and 11 Out of Certification personnel, a total of 937 teaching staff. If you take the 409 teachers of 1991-92 compared with the 588 certified teachers this year, the number of  teachers increased 44% while student population increased 38% in 15 years.  If the 91-92 figure included “ Professional Staff, Paraprofessionals, and Out of Certificationers…then the increase is much larger in teaching staff, 129%.

 In 1992, the Comptroller audit reports the City School District employing 911 persons, including 409 teachers. According to Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education, the district now employs 1,266 plus full-time employees, and approximately 140 hourly employees for total employment of 1,400. 

The 1,266 full-time employees represents an  increase of 39% more employees than 1992 vs. a 38% increase in the student population. Neither the School District Audit, nor Proposed Budget from 2006-2007 lists the exact number of employees in the district. The 1,400 total employees represents a 54% increase in employees since 1992. It could not be determined whether the 911 figure included part-time employees from Mr. Regan’s report.

In looking at the City School District budget today in comparison with other school districts of its size, the district would appear to be very fortunate they have been able to spend at this level for so long.

At 220% growth rate, the budget will reach $830 Million by 2022.