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

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. September 27, 2006: Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel Jackson has issued this statement to WPCNR, announcing the police have arrested an individual in the Tuesday afternoon shooting incident in the Winbrook area, in which a series of gunshots was reported approximately 4:30 P.M. The Commissioner issued this statement Wednesday evening to WPCNR:

There were no persons shot in the incident yesterday (Tuesday, September 26).
We have arrested 23 year old Chaz Thomas from Manhattan Ave., White Plains for reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon.  The fight was originally a street encounter between two other subjects.

Thomas and another suspect exchanged gunfire(5-9) rounds. without hitting anyone. (This incident) is not believed to be gang related at this time.

As for police presence in Winbrook, we have always maintained patrols there and will continue to do so. An officer there on an unrelated call called the incident in as it was happening.  We have an ongoing investigation, a number of  community people have come forward with information but we are always looking for more witnesses.

WPCNR notes that persons can contact the White Plains Police with information on this incident, with full confidentiality by contacting 422-6111.

Third Shooting in 4 Months.

The incident is the third shooting episode in the Ferris Avenue-Winbrook area in 4 months, and the fourth violent sequence in 7 months in the Ferris-South Lexington Avenue strip.

Louighy D’Haiti, 26, of Ferris Avenue was shot in the abodomen at 1:15 P.M. in the afternoon  September 11, and survived the attack after being shot and left in the gutter at Richard and Ferris Avenues. That investigation is ongoing and there have been no arrests.

Kevin Chambliss, 33, Captain of the 1993 White Plains High School Championship Football squad, and employee of the White Plains Youth Bureau, was shot and killed May 22 in front of the apartment building in which he lived on Ferris Avenue in broad daylight.

Jermaine Pelletier, a homeless youth, 20, who lived at the Court Street homeless shelter, was stabbed to death March 27, for disrespecting two other youths who were arrested and charged with his murder. Pelletier’s wearing of a red bandana when he encountered his assailants was cited by police as one reason he was stabbed.

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WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. September 27, 2006: County Executive Andy Spano has released the comments he will make at Thursday morning’s scheduled hearing where Kevin Burk, the CEO of Con Edison is expected to testify. Mr. Burk will speak at 11 A.M. Thursday at the Westchester County Center.

Here are the County Executives’ remarks: 

Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you about the recent major power outages in Con Edison’s service territory in Westchester County.

 

I am here to advocate for the thousands of Westchester residents and businesses who lost power – many on several occasions – over the past few months.  These major interruptions in service, each lasting several days and in some cases a week, were more than just an inconvenience.  Many families and businesses lost hundreds of dollars in spoiled food and were displaced from their homes as well.  Today, I am asking on their behalf, for the Con Ed system to change. Simply placing blame does not accomplish anything. Change is the remedy we need.  We need solutions to Con Edison’s service delivery problems and Con Ed’s communication problems, and those solutions need to be identified and implemented immediately.

 

On September 5, I wrote to Governor Pataki to request an independent performance assessment of Con Edison’s preparedness and response to the three major storms that hit Westchester this summer, especially Tropical Storm Ernesto.  As you know, Ernesto caused widespread damage throughout the Con Edison service territory, affecting over 90,000 residential and business customers in Westchester County alone.  On September 12, I reiterated my request for an independent audit in a letter to Public Service Commission Chairman William Flynn. 

 

Specifically, I requested that the audit include an assessment of 1) How Con Edison’s infrastructure,  specifically in Westchester, compares to that of other utilities that have overhead wiring and poles when it comes to redundancy and strength,  2) The “best practices” utilized by utilities throughout the nation a) to prevent weather-related power outages, b) to restore power in a more timely manner and c) whether Con Edison is  incorporating any of them  into their own operating and management systems, and 3) The “best practices” used by utilities to communicate with customers before, during and after power outages, and once again, which, if any, of these practices are being used by Con Edison.
                                                                        

 

Additionally, as part of the scope of work, I requested 1) that provisions be made for the consultant to meet directly with me and my staff in order to learn first hand what the County experienced during the extensive outage, and 2) that the consultant conduct a public meeting in Westchester to listen to the concerns of our residents as they pertain to Con Ed’s emergency preparedness, response and restoration of power.

 

While I am aware that an independent assessment will be performed, I have not yet received a response from Chairman Flynn, and I ask these honorable committees to assist us in seeing that our requests are addressed.

 

Let me say again, I am looking for a culture of change at Con Edison and the Public Service Commission.  This new mindset must also be supported at the highest levels of state government.  Let me cite just one example.  In this testimony, I have referred to the need to improve customer communications by examining the “best practices” of other utilities throughout the nation. 

 

I have learned that both Florida Power and Light and Georgia Power have in place comprehensive customer service systems that have done much to ease the stress and anxiety associated with a power failure.  This largely automated system walks customers through the process of reporting an outage in a customer-friendly and easy to follow manner.  After reporting an outage to the automated system, the customer immediately learns if their problem is part of a larger area outage and if so, learns the extent and cause of the problem and is given an estimated time of restoration. All in one phone call.  This is followed by another message stating that the customer will receive follow up calls periodically to advise them of the progress of the work order.  It then confirms the customer’s phone number.  Finally, the system calls the customer with updates when the work crew arrives at the site and to advise that power has been restored.  It also gives the customer an opportunity to speak to a representative if his or her power has not in fact been restored. 

 

I see no reason why Con Ed’s customer relations/communications system cannot be changed to a system that is being used in Atlanta, Georgia or Broward County, Florida by two totally different utilities. It should be the first change they make.

 

This is just one example of the kinds of practices that I believe Con Edison and the PSC should be implementing here in New York. This is not rocket science—it is simply modern technology.  I am sure, that with minimal effort, other “best practices” could be found which address emergency response planning and preparation, redundancy in infrastructure, refund processes and practices, resource allocation, etc.

 

Similarly, I would like to understand why when the Long Island Power Authority experienced more extensive outages on Long Island during the same Labor Day Weekend storm that hit Westchester, that utility managed to restore their customers in approximately 24 hours. Again, what practices is LIPA using in emergency response preparation that Con Ed is not?

 

The major interruptions in power service experienced by Con Edison customers this year have made the need for change abundantly clear.  I am hopeful that this hearing will help us down that path.

 

Thank you, again for this opportunity to address these honorable committees.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. September 27, 2006:  Each Year the Jospeh R Riverso Mmorial Fund & Stepinac HS have a great community event for all. Stepinac will host it’s yearly Night game in honor of their coach Joe Riverso who died on 9/11. This year the White Plains Bernies will also put on  a half time exhibition for the crowd. Joe coached at Stepinac for 16 years. He played football for Stepinac & captained the 1985 Division Championship team. In his early years he played football with the Bernies.

Joe was an avid sports enthusiast who devoted a great deal of his time to working with young athletes. he taught his players the rules of the game andideals of sportsmanship so they could develop as yung men and women of integrity and character. the Foundationis proud to further the activities and principles Joe espoused during his lifetime.

 Stepinac expects a big crowd so please come & enjoy this great community event, Saturday at 7 P.M.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. September 26, 2006: Joe Torre, the Manager of the New York Yankees, and a man who grew up in a home marked by domestic violence announced his  Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation is contributing a approximately $350,000 to open four “Safe Rooms,” he calls Margaret’s Place counseling rooms to Westchester County for the first time. The safe rooms,  named in memory of Mr. Torre’s mother, are known as Margaret’s Place (s). One of the Margaret’s Places will be opened in the White Plains High School adjacent to the high school cafeteria and will be staffed by the Westchester Jewish Community Services organization.

Joe Torre, with Allan Trager, of Westchester Jewish Community Services introduces four Margaret’s Place locations in Westchester County, expanding his program of education and counseling young persons concerned and are victims of domestic violence,  to Westchester for the first time. Photo,WPCNR News

At a news conference, Mr. Torre, County Executive Andy Spano  and Alan Trager, Executive Director/CEO of Westchester Jewish Community Services, introduced Mr. Torre’s initiative in Westchester establishing Margaret’s Place(s) in WPHS, the Pelham Middle School, Emerson Middle School in Yonkers and the Louis M. Klein Middle School in Harrison. 

 

Ivan Toper, Principal of WPHS, told WPCNR that the White Plains Margaret’s Place will be open in a couple of weeks. He said there will be a private number for students to call to speak to a counselor, and that anonymity will be preserved. Protocols, he said are still being established at this time. Photo, WPCNR News

Mr. Torre, drawing candidly on his own experience, in response to a question by Victor Brady, (a WPHS student attending the public part of the progarm) , asking what were the goals of Margaret’s Place, said the purpose is to allow children living in a domestic violence, or violent boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, to talk about it,  to feel they are not alone and know they have a place they can go where they are comfortable. He said he felt Middle School was a key place to reach out to children living with domestic violence because the situation in his household, growing up in Brooklyn made him feel it was his fault that his father was being violent to his mother, and that it affected his own self-esteem growing up and does, he said,  to this day.

County Executive Andy Spano left, said “No child should have to live in a world of domestic violence, and being able to go to a safe room at school will help ensure that they don’t. Margaret’s Place has been incredibly successful in New York City (Mr. Torre’s Safe at Home Foundation has established six centers in the city), and we are so pleased that the Torre Foundation is bringing the program to Westchester. Photo, WPCNR News

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. September 26, 2006 UPDATED 2:25 A.M. E.D.T. WITH Pix: The Board of Education will seriously entertain contracting with the BOCES Data Warehouse program in an effort to identify specifically where White Plains students skills need improvement on state tests, the Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors announced at Monday’s Board of Education meeting. 

 

 

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors  explaining district test score performance, and announcing the District decision to look at bringing in the BOCES Data Warehouse system  to analyze the School District State Assessment Test Scores. Photo, WPCNR News. 

 

The Board also announced Kaeyer Garment & Davidson, the architect and Triton Construction, the construction manager would have representatives to answer public questions October 5 on the district $69.6 Million Capital Project at Ridgeway School at 7:45 P.M. at a forum sponsored by the Council of Neighborhood Associations, and also at an Open House at Post Road School from 10 A.M. to 12 Noon on Saturday, October 14. The feferendum comes to a vote October 17.

(More)

 

 

BOCES will make a presentation to the Board October 30 to introduce the  test analysis system and new Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler will conduct a cost analysis between BOCES service and a rival private operation offering a similar data analysis service. 

 

Timothy Connors, Superintendent of Schools, welcomes Fred Seiler, new Assistant Superintendent for Business, and a bond managing expert to the district. Mr. Seiler began his assignment with White Plains September 11. Mr. Seiler comes to White Plains from Rochester.  Photo, WPCNR News.

 

The decision to turn to BOCES comes after six years of the Board of Education asking, pleading and demanding that district testing and statistical departments provide longitudinal (4^th through 12^th grade) studies of  group student performance and to identify skill set weaknesses, with the school computer data officials,  making excuses each spring as to why they were unable to provide the data.

 

Improved Test Results on ELA Tests In Comparison to Port Chester and New Ro

 

Connors introduced English Language Arts 2006 Test Score Comparison Charts across Grades 3 through 8, showing how White Plains ranked in ELA results in relationship to Port Chester and New Rochelle school districts (described by Connors, as districts White Plains is most often compared), saying, “we’ve improved.”

 

Connors said that White Plains was third ranked behind New Rochelle and Port Chester in test scores through grades 3,4,5, and ranked ahead of both Port Chester and New Rochelle in sixth grade results, was second to Port Chester in seventh grade results then third again at 58% passing in the 8^th grade 2006 ELA results.

 

 

White Plains School District 2006 English Language Arts test  Performance grade-by-grade in Comparison with Port Chester (Dark line), and New Rochelle (Yellow Line). The White Plains peformance is represented by the Red line. Data Source: White Plains City School District. White Plains is Number 1 against Port Chester and New Ro in the sixth grade, and Number 2 to Port Chester in the 7th Grade, and third in the 8th grade result. Photo, WPCNR News.

 

Connors saw this as a positive, and said that Port Chester and New Rochelle use the BOCES Data Warehouse program that takes the student test scores and questions answered on the tests, and feeds the district analysis of what the wrong answers show, what skills the students are weak in that the district needs to work on.

 

Connors said that Margaret Dwyer, the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction interviewed the Port Chester officials finding that the BOCES Data Warehouse program has been used by Port Chester and New Rochelle to improve their district test scores. Port Chester and New Rochelle use them to analyze what skills the students are not being taught based on the questions not answered correctly on the state tests. Connors also reported that by accessing the BOCES computers, teachers and principals can acquire exercises and curriculum strategies to address specific skill set shortfalls.

 

 

On the bases of the Port Chester and New Ro “successes,” the district is going to hear a presentation from BOCES on the Data Warehouse program October 30.

 

WPCNR pointed out to Mr. Connors that Port Chester schools also use bilingual instruction in the lower grades. Asked if the White Plains School District was considering that, Connors said that he and Ms. Dwyer are committed to “going forward.”

 

 

Big Test Score Falloff in ELA in Middle School from Elementary.

 

The Charts on the 2005 English Language Arts test scores presented by Mr. Connors present a picture of declining English Language Arts performance across five grades  by the three big city districts with “respectable numbers.” Respectable numbers for WPCNR’s purpose in reporting these results, means more than 50% of students passing the ELA tests in each grade in the other big city districts in the county.

 

Port Chester, Number 1 in the big three for every grade but the sixth  in ELA 2006 results went from 83% passing in third grade up to 89% passing in 4^th grade to  85% passing in fifth grade (maintaining performance statistically in the elementary level),before plummeting to 66% passing in 6^th grade, climbing back to 74% passing in 7^th grade before dropping to  66% passing in 8^th grade.

 

White Plains swung from 73% passing in 3^rd grade to 70% in 4^th  to 72% in 5^th grade (maintaining even performance in the elementary grades), followed by a thud in scores in middle school, declining to 66% passing in 6^th grade, 67% in 7^th grade. The WP results bested both the Port Chester and New Rochelle districts in the 6th grade, but finished second to Port Chester in the 7th Grade and sinking to a low of 58% in the 8^th grade compared to Port Chester and New Rochelle.

 

However, the White Plains figure of 58% of 8^th grade students passing the ELA in 2006 was UP  from White Plains score of 53% of 8th graders, passing the last two years (2005 and 2004), and the 48% who passed the 8^th Grade ELA in 2003 (a decline from the 52% who passed it in 2002.).

 

 

New Rochelle District experienced the same phenomena: steady elementary scores in 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th  grades of 81%, 84%, 78% passing followed by dropoffs of 65%, 61% and 61% passing in the Middle School years, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades.

 

Of 454 White Plains 8th graders who took the 8th grade ELA test, 10.57% scored in the Level 4, highest level, 48% scored in the Level 3, and 34% scored in Level 2 and 8% in Level 1. This distribution is standard across the board, even in Scarsdale.

 

 

 $1.6 Million More to Bloomingdale’s

 

Acting President of the Board of Education, Bill Pollak announced that the District legal counsel had advised acceptance of a  tax certiorari settlement with Federated Department Stores “Macy’s East” – which is the Bloomingdale’s operation – of $1,652,427.

 

That certiorari when the city approved it in August was listed in the city backup material as being the Federated Stores—Macy’s with a Galleria Address, but the Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler said it was described as “Macy’s East,” which is Bloomingdale’s.

 

 Previously the City of White Plains had approved a city certiorari for Federated, Macy’s of $523,337 on August 7. WPCNR had estimated the School District hit on this approved cert to be $2.1 Million, but tonight it as announced that the actually amount is $1,652,427, about $500,000 less than expected. Generally the school tax runs $4 to every $1 collected by the City.

 

In the last two years Federated Department Stores Boomingdale’s operation has had its assessment lopped in half from $1.8 Million to $900,000.

 

The district also approved a certiorari refund of $100,756 to the condominium, Cameo House.  The Board voted 4-0-1 in both instances to approve the $1.8 Million in certioraris with Messrs. Pollak, McGuire, Ms. McLaughlin and Ms. Eller approving the certioraris, with Mr. Bassano abstaining both times. Mr. Tompkins and Ms. Tratoros were not present.

 

Infofests on $69.6 Million Referendum.

 

The Superintendent also announced the district would hold an Open House at Post Road School on Saturday, October 14 from 10 A.M. to 12 noon at the school in order that district parents and voters can see the conditions existing at the school, ask questions of the architect and construction manager and school board members in advance of the $69.6 Million Capital Project Referendum October 17. Connors added that the architect and construction manager team would also be at the Council of Neighborhood Association public meeting on the referendum next week, Thursday, October 5 at 7:45 P.M. at Ridgeway School.

 

Mr. Pollak said the parent reaction at PTA meetings at Post Road School was good. Connors reported that the PTA Presidents he spoke with last week on Thursday were very pro-referendum and promised to get out the vote.

 

The Board of Education is contemplating another public forum on the referendum but has not made up its mind. Bill Pollak, Board President expressed displeasure, that Syntax, the district public relations agency, had not gotten out a flyer on the referendum yet. Connors said it was coming. He said, “This is like a campaign, you just keep hitting them right up to the vote.”

 

Pollak said in regards to the extra hearing that “I don’t care what they have to say,” then realizing a reporter was in the audience, and after Board members expressed alarm at that statement, Pollak grinned good-naturedly and said that he was interested in hearing public opinion.

 

In Racial Attitude News.

 

The Superintendent of Schools produced a brochure for the Board of Education review describing the district inquiry last spring into race relations  in the operation of the district. The Superintendent said that the report prepared by a consultant who interviewed stakeholders, teachers, and district personnel on the district feelings, practices and attitudes on diversity, was lengthy and candid and that he had boiled it down into essential recommendations and bullet points into the brochure.

 

Superintendent Connors holding brochure describing edited recommendations of the cosultant and the racial attitudes committee, he submitted to the board Monday night. Photo, WPCNR News

 

President of the Board, Bill Pollak was concerned that the written report was being repressed. Donna McLaughlin, Board Vice President, expressed reservations that certain sections of the consultant’s report expressed conditions that she felt needed to be explained. Superintendent of Schools Connors suggested that he would attempt to draft a letter explaining the report and the “context” in which it should be viewed. The brochure with suggestions for improvement and steps to take to improve race relations and performance in that area will be reviewed by the Board then distributed to the public.

 

The Needs Improvement Designation

 

In the matter of the White Plains High School, being recently designated as one that “Needs Improvement” by the State Education Department, Mr. Connors said that he had determined that it was unfortunate that because of an administrative error,  14 children who were among 50 special needs students attending school out of district were not given the regents exam, that this was then sole reason why the district was cited as “Needs Improvement.” He said that Larry Kilian, the Director of Research, Testing and Evaluation had done his job and steps have been taken to assure that all “on the high school roster” take the regents tests as required by the state.  Connors said it was strictly an oversight which would not happen again.

 

Math Article Cited,

 

Connors in his remarks commented on an article about math basics that recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal. Connors said that Mathematics Coordinator had spent time briefing her mathematics teachers on the need to teach the basics of long division, multiplication  as well as word problems over the summer. “We do teach real math,” Connors said. However, last spring when parents from Mamaroneck Avenue School complained about their elementary students’ ability to do basic math, the criticisms were given short shrift. (See previous WPCNR story.)

 

Math Coordinator Rewarded with Tenure

 

In other action, Lisa Weber, a graduate of White Plains High School was granted tenure as School District Mathematics Coordinator for Grades K-12, after three years in that position. Weber was praised by Margaret Dwyer for being an excellent math teacher, as well as meeting “difficult challenges” and for making “continuous progress” in test scores. Dwyer described Weber as “upbeat and positive and an outstanding teacher in mathematics, and an educator worthy of tenure, of facing the unprecedented challenge of every person passing the Regents.”

 

Lisa Weber thanking the District for awarding her tenure as Math Coordinator Monday night. Photo, WPCNR News.

 

According to the New York State Education Department, in 2002,  69% of  White Plains 4^th Grade Elementary Students Passed the 4^th Grade ELA math test. In 2003, Ms. Weber’s first year as coordinator, the number of 4^th graders passing was 80%, dipped  to 78% in 2004, and  rose to 82% in 2005. Those were the test results for 4^th grade Math. The state average of elementary students passing the 4^th grade Math tests was 85% in 2005.

 

In the Middle School Math Tests given 8^th Graders the number passing was 56% in 2002. In Ms. Weber’s first year as coordinator the number passing dropped to 52%, but rebounded strongly in 2004 to 67%, and dipped to 63% in 2005. The 2006 Results are not yet available. The State Average for 8^th Graders passing the test was  56% in 2005.

 

 

Ms. Weber, shown delivering her thank yous,  balanced the changing standards and curricula changes from the state during those three years, Ms. Dwyer indicated. Photo, WPCNR News.

 

Superintendent Salary Increase approved.

 

The Board voted to give Superintendent of Schools Connors a 3.5% pay increase retroactive to July 1, 2006, bringing Mr. Connors salary to $224,970. Mr. Connors is in the second year of a three-year contract, and is starting his fifth year with the school district. He began his assignment with White Plains at a salary of $197,000.

 

Donna McLaughlin said Mr. Connors, even through disagreements with the Board,  shared the Board commitment and belief in the school district. Peter Bassano said he was impressed with Mr. Connors’ “maintaining his enthusiasm” in the face of criticism.