Council Dithers on Budget Another Week — Takes Up Winbrook Future Thurs.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. From the Mayor’s Office. May 20, 2009 UPDATED May 21, 2009 10:50 A.M.: City Hall has announced a second postponement of Budget Decision night within 8 hours. Late this afternoon a Budget Review Schedule was issued announcing the Decision Night on the Budget would take place May 28, but instead it will be a “Decision Morning,” taking place beginning at 9 A.M., which appears to be a precedent-setting time. In the 9 years WPCNR has been covering budget approvals, WPCNR has never experienced the budget being approved at 9 A.M. on a weekday. The City Clerk issued a new separateAgenda for the May 28, 9 A.M. meeting, which is published below:


The City Clerk’s Office also issued an interesting agenda for its work session at 6 Thursday evening which includes a zoning change to include the length of both sides of Lexington Avenue to be rezoned enabling housing and redevelopment. The agenda item follows up a Request for Qualifications for developers for the Winbrook, Lexington Avenue area which appeared two weeks ago. The agenda (s):




New  BUDGET AGENDA


(Published May 21, 2009)


 



AGENDA


ADJOURNED


SPECIAL  MEETING


May 28, 2009


9:00 A.M.


 


 


FIRST READING


ORDINANCES:


 



 


1.                  Communication from Acting Budget Director in relation to the proposed Tax Budget of the City of White Plains for Fiscal Year 2009 – 2010.


 


2.                              Ordinance of the White Plains Municipal Code in relation to certain appointed officials salaries for FY 2009 – 2010.


 


8                      Ordinance adopting the Tax Budget for General Fund for the Fiscal Year commencing on the first day of July 2009, and terminating at midnight on the thirtieth day of June 2010.


 


3.                              Ordinance adopting the Tax Budget for Library Fund for the Fiscal Year commencing on the first day of July 2009, and terminating at midnight on the thirtieth day of June 2010.


 


4.                              Ordinance adopting the Tax Budget for Self Insurance Fund for the Fiscal Year commencing on the first day of July 2009, and terminating at midnight on the thirtieth day of June 2010.


 


5.                              Ordinance adopting the Tax Budget for Water Fund for the Fiscal Year commencing on the first day of July 2009, and terminating at midnight on the thirtieth day of June 2010.


 


6.                              Ordinance adopting the Tax Budget for Debt Service Fund for the Fiscal Year commencing on the first day of July 2009, and terminating at midnight on the thirtieth day of June 2010.


 


7.                                          Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains amending Paragraphs F and H of Appendix A, Section 7-8-121 of the White Plains Municipal Code, Water Rules and Regulations prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Works pertaining to revising certain water rates and charges, and connection fees.


8.                              Ordinance fixing the 2009 – 2010 Special Assessments for the White Plains Downtown Business Improvement District, levying and confirming said Special Assessment and ordering the issuance of a Warrant thereof.


 


9.                              Ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Finance to allocate a portion of the various Cable Franchise Fees to the White Plains Cable Television Access Commission, Inc.


 


10.                                     Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance of the City of White Plains imposing taxes on sales and uses of tangible personal property and on certain services, and on occupancy of hotel rooms, admission charges and club dues, pursuant to Article 29 of the Tax Law of the State of New York” to provide for an increase in the rates of Sales and Compensating Use Taxes.


 


11.                         Bond Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $2,000,000 serial bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay the cost of certain judgments, compromised claims or settled claims resulting from court order on proceedings brought pursuant to Article 7 of the Real Property Tax Law.


 


 


 


 


 


 


COMMON COUNCIL


AGENDA


SPECIAL  MEETING


May 21, 2009


6:00 P.M.


 


 


RESOLUTION:


 



1.                  Communication from the City Clerk in relation to a request submitted by Hongyan Corporation d/b/a Seasons Japanese Bistro, 105 Mamaroneck Avenue, for a waiver of the thirty day notification requirement set forth in the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law for the renewal of a liquor license.


 


2.                              Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains waiving the thirty (30) day notification requirement set forth in Section 64(2)(a) of the New York Alcoholic Beverage Control Law in regard to an application submitted by the Hongyan Corporation d/b/a Season’s Japanese Bistro located at 105 Mamaroneck Avenue for a renewal of its license to sell alcoholic beverages.


 


 


3.                  Communication from the Planning Board in relation to the scheduling of concurrent public hearings for June 1, 2009 in relation to a proposed amendment to the 1997 Comprehensive Plan as amended by the 2006 Plan Update, to extend the Comprehensive Plan Core Area, to provide for 450 units of public housing at the Winbrook Public Housing Property to permit additional units of housing to be located on the property while maintaining a minimum of 450 housing units for eligible residents, to amend the Zoning Ordinance Zoning Map to change a portion of the Winbrook Public Housing Property from RM-0.35 to B-3, and to extend the Central Parking Area to include the Winbrook Public Housing Property and the properties located on the westerly side of South Lexington Avenue from Fisher Lane to Denison Street.


 


4.                              Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling of concurrent public hearings for June 1, 2009, on (A) amendments to the City of White Plains 1997 Comprehensive Plan, as amended by the 2006 Plan Update, to (1) extend the Comprehensive Plan Core Area to include properties located on the westerly side of South Lexington Avenue from Fisher Lane to Denison Street, and (2) amend t strategy providing for 450 units of public housing at the Winbrook Public Housing Property to permit additional units of housing to be located on the property while maintaining a minimum of 450 public housing units for eligible residents; and (B) amendments to the White Plains Zoning Ordinance Zoning Map to (1) change the Zoning Map designation for a portion of the Winbrook Public Housing Property fronting on South Lexington Avenue from RM-0.35 to B-3 and (2) to extend the Central Parking Area to include the Winbrook Public Housing Property and the properties located on the westerly side of South Lexington Avenue from Fisher Lane to Denison Street.


 


           


DISCUSSION:


 


5.                  Stimulus Funds – various projects.


 


6.                  55 Bank LLC – transfer of funds regarding taxes.


 


7.                  Light Tower Fiber Network – franchise agreement.


 


8.                  White Plains Public School District – joint facilities agreement.


 


9.                  Entertainment of a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation concerning tax certiorari, property damage claim and matters concerning the employment history of a particular person.  

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County Tells Council it Must File With County to Preverve Ridgeway Environment

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WPCNR SOUTHEND TIMES. Special to WPCNR. May 20,2009: WPCNR has learned that having the Ridgeway Country Club declared by the county as essential to the county flood plan requires a formal proposal from the White Plains Common Council. The meeting of County Executive Andrew Spano’s Flood Mitigation Task Force held this morning revealed the precondition  of county involvement before the country can consider Ridgeway property could be considered for a project.


The WPCNR source reports the city or town in which a project may be considered has to sponsor the project and propose in “fairly complete”form.


Gerry Mulligan, Westchester County Commissioner of Planning told the meeting that White Plains Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel sent him an e-mail about the Ridgeway Country Club, but Mulligan said the county could not make a move until “a very specific request is made by the White Plains City Government. The WPCNR source says scientific and engineering tests need to be completed in support of any proposal.


 



 The Task Force, the source says, emphasized that the White Plains Common Council has to act right away.


 

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Tenure Appointments Announced This Evening. New Fine Arts Coord Named

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS.May 20,2009: The City School District will hold its annual appointments to tenure  meeting this evening at White Plains High School at 7:30 P.M., and announce the official results of yesterday’s school board and school budget election. Nineteen teachers will be granted tenure tonight.


The District will also announce the appointment of music teacher at the high school, Gary West to the interium position of Coordinator of Fine Arts, replacing Theresa Niss, who moves to Assistant Elementary School Principal at Post Road School.


The Agenda:



WHITE PLAINS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT


White Plains, New York


SPECIAL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING


Wednesday, May 20, 2009


White Plains High School Media Center


7:30 P.M.


(Teacher portfolios on display from 7 P.M.)


AGENDA


OFFICIAL CANVASS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION, MAY 19, 2009


I. Opening of Meeting:


Pledge of Allegiance


Oral announcements by the Board President, Board Members


II. Communications:




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


IV. Superintendent’s Report:


V. Summary Action Items:


– 2 –


VI. Other Action:



  1. Recommended approval of the appointment of Gary West, Music Teacher, High School and Mamaroneck Avenue School, to the interim position of district-wide Coordinator of Fine Arts, effective 5/18/09-6/30/09.
  2. Recommended approval of the appointments to tenure of the following, effective 8/31/09:




























































Megan Acosta


Elementary Education


Michelle Burke


Elementary Education


Shanna Chakides


Mathematics


Christina Cimino


Elementary Education


Rosana Diaz


Foreign Language


Steven Fugarino


Physical Education


Shantel Johnson


Elementary Education


Sasha Kopelowitz


Art


Lisette Maniatis


School Psychologist


Jaclyn Melillo


Physical Education


Michelle Pena


English as a Second Language


Beth Rienti


School Media Specialist (Library)


Crystal Rodrigues


School Psychologist


Valentina Ruggiero


Elementary Education


Jennifer Smith


Mathematics


Amanda Stanford


Art


Deni Thomas


School Media Specialist (Library)


Amy Von Sauer


Foreign Language


Andreanna Walling


Special Education

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Press Excluded from Observing Strategic Planning Core Committee Meeting

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 20, 2009 UPDATED12:15 With Strategic Plan Detail: The CitizeNetReporter expressed interest in observing the scheduled two-day meeting of the White Plains City School District Strategic Plan Core Committee beginning today and continuing tomorrow.


Last night, the Supertintendent of Schools told WPCNR the meetings were not open to observation by the press because they were not an official Board of Education meeting.


The Core Committee agenda reported a month ago on this website was apparently going to check progress against objectives set last year and ongoing concerns. Previous reports of decisions made by the Core Committee have been sketchy and closely held, and issues they are considering vaguely reported by the Committee, its various task forces and other parmutations.


The official Strategic Plan, from the School District website reads:


 


 In 2006, the school district began a comprehensive Strategic Planning process to develop long-range plans to guide the district into the future.  Several hundred school and community members were involved in the development of the Core Values, Mission Statement, Strategic Objectives and Strategies that are listed below. 

The Board of Education accepted the Strategic Plan, as presented by the Core Planning Team in December, 2007.  Later that year, the Superintendent made recommendations for each of the five strategies.  Implementation of these has begun and will continue in the future.


Core Values


We believe that:


v      All people have intrinsic value.


v     Celebrating and embracing diversity enrich life.


v     All people can learn, grow and contribute.


v     Every choice matters, and that people are responsible for their choices.


v     Respect, honesty and trust empower.


v     When people serve the community, both the individuals and the community benefit.


v     High expectations promote high achievement.


Mission


The mission of the White Plains City School District is to educate and inspire all students, while nurturing their dreams, so they learn continually, think critically, pursue their aspirations and contribute to a diverse and dynamic world.


Strategic Objectives


 By 2012:


v     All students will achieve challenging district standards of literacy across all disciplines.


v     All students will continually choose to explore and enrich communities.


v     All students will choose to apply their knowledge and skills to solve problems meaningful to them.


Strategies




  1. We will take the steps necessary to gain the understanding and commitment of all employees to achieve our strategic objectives and mission.


List of Results




  • Every employee understands the vision, goals and implications of the mission and strategic objective.



  • A climate that builds trust and supports risk-taking is developed.



  • Employees’ ideas and concerns are valued in the decision-making process.



  • The district has established a culture that celebrates programs and people achieving the strategic objectives mission.



  • Employees are encouraged in their efforts to achieve the strategic objectives and mission.




  1. We will take the steps necessary to align new and existing resources, both internal and external, to accomplish our strategic objectives and mission.


List of Results




  • A systematic process is in place that assures all programs and projects are mission reflective and cost effective.



  • An evaluation/feedback system is in place that measures how effectively and efficiently resources are used.



  • A systematic process is in place that identifies, attracts, recruits, motivates, evaluates, and retains the people needed to support the mission and strategic objectives.



  • A budget process is in place that assures that resource allocations are mission aligned.



  • A systematic process is in place that assures we develop and maximize community resources to support the mission and strategic objective.



  • A systematic process is in place that assures the district has the fiscal resources needed to support the mission and strategic objectives.



  • A systematic process is in place that assures the district has the capital resources and major equipment needed to support the mission and strategic objectives.




  1. We will take the steps necessary to align and develop curriculum to achieve our strategic objectives and mission.


List of Results




  • As the foundation for all learning, at least 90% of all students are reading on grade level by the end of 2nd grade and are maintaining or exceeding grade level thereafter.  As our success rate increases, so will our goal.



  • A systematic process is developed that analyzes and uses student demographic and performance data to inform and influence program, curricular, and instructional decisions and reporting.



  • Best practices of differentiated instruction (DI) are continually implemented to enable all students to achieve the strategic objectives so that each child will reach proficiency level in all content areas.



  • School, classroom practices, and environments reflect principles that promote students’ motivation and love of learning.



  • In all disciplines, curriculum maps ensure alignment with state standards and integrate technology, problem solving and global awareness to meet the strategic objectives.



  • School and classroom practices and environments reflect principles that promote community building to achieve the strategic objectives.



  1. We will take the steps necessary to continue to develop and capitalize on leadership capacity within the system at all levels to sustain commitment to the strategic objectives and mission.

List of Results




  • All district administrators are proficient in the essential characteristics of effective leadership.



  • All staff members, parents, community members, and students are encouraged and supported in assuming and sharing leadership roles that contribute to the achievement of the district’s mission and strategic objectives (i.e., “institutionalize” distributive leadership).



  • There is a pool of skilled leaders from within who have successfully completed a district-specific, meaningful and comprehensive internship experience.



  • The district has developed cooperative relationships with college and university graduate educational administration programs that have internships designed to support the strategic plan and district initiatives.



  • The district has established a plan for a regional leadership academy for teachers and administrators in cooperation with other school districts and universities,*


*Postpone until Results 1 through 4 are achieved.



  1. We will take the steps necessary to develop an open and ongoing communication process that results in all stakeholders believing in the value of a White Plains City School District education and actively participating in reaching our strategic objectives and mission.

List of Results



  • The district uses a coordinated and integrated approach to disseminate general newsworthy information in order to educate all stakeholders.
  • The district creates opportunities to engage stakeholders in an open exchange of ideas.
  • Communication with stakeholders effectively reflects a multicultural and diverse community.
  • Community members are working in systematic ways to support students’ achievement of the strategic objectives.

Strategic Delimiters


We will not adopt any new program or service unless it is:



  • consistent with and contributes to our mission;
  • accompanied by an analysis of the resources and the staff development needed for its effectiveness;
  • accompanied by a plan to assess its ongoing effectiveness.


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Hold on! Let’s Count One More Time– Council Budget Meeting Postponed til Thursd

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER.From the City Clerk. May 21, 2009:  The City Clerk Office has announced that the Common Council meeting to approve the 209-2010 $160.2 Million Budget and projected expense cuts scheduled for Wednesday afternoon has been postponed until Thursday afternoon at 5 P.M.


No agenda has been issued, yet according to the clerk’s office.

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New York State Revenues Drop Like Rock — 44% — In 1st Month of Fiscal Yr

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the NYS Office of the Comptroller. (EDITED) May 20, 2009:  State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli reported Tuesday, that New York State tax revenues declined even more than anticipated in April. General Fund revenues of $4.8 billion, including transfers, were $3.8 billion or 44 percent less than last year and $239.1 million below the Governor’s April 28 projections.

“This was a poor start to the fiscal year,” DiNapoli said. “It’s been less than a month since the state’s financial plan was released, and General Fund revenues are already off nearly a quarter of a billion dollars. The economy continues to be shaky, which is significantly hurting state finances. We’ve already tapped nearly all of our unreserved funds so there is very little cushion if revenues continue to fall. We need to watch revenues and spending very closely, because the state may be forced to readjust priorities.”


DiNapoli’s April Monthly Cash Report released today found the General Fund closing balance for April was $60.8 million below Financial Plan projections. General Fund receipts totaling $4.8 billion were $239.1 million below projections and disbursements of nearly $4 billion were $177.8 million below projections.


Personal income taxes of $2.9 billion and business taxes of $61 million were significantly below April 2008 receipts (48.9 percent and 41.4 percent).


Other findings in the report:



  • General Fund spending of nearly $4 billion was up $138.6 million compared to last year. The increase in spending was primarily due to increased costs for education (up $220.5 million), health and the environment (up $70.5 million). These increases were offset by decreases in Medicaid spending (which was supported by new federal stimulus funding) and General State Charges. General Fund spending was $177.8 million below projections.

  • All Funds receipts through April 2009 of $9.6 billion were $69.6 million below projections and $3 billion lower than April 2008.

  • All Governmental Funds spending through April 30, 2009 of $8.2 billion was $885.8 million, or 12.1 percent, more than 2008-09 figures through April 30, 2008, primarily due to increases in education ($200.1 million or 24.4 percent),and debt service ($237.3 million or 75.2 percent). In addition, Medicaid costs increased $493.7 million, or 18 percent, primarily because of increased caseloads associated with the economy. All Funds spending was $162.4 million below projections.

The state’s finances are generally broken down by two main categories: General Fund and All Governmental Funds. The General Fund is the major operating fund of the state and accounts for all receipts that are not required by law to be deposited into another fund. All Governmental Funds includes General, Special Revenue, Debt Service and Capital Projects funds, as well as funds from the federal government. DiNapoli’s monthly cash report compares state finances against the same time period last year and the state’s current year Financial Plan.

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Bassano, McLaughlin, Hricay win seats on Board. Budget rolls.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. May19, 2009: City of White Plains  voters passed the proposed $185,778,149  School Budget in voting today, 1,798 votes to 857. The turnout of voters who voted on the budget was 2,655 compared to the 2008 total of 2,109, 546 more voters this year. Last year voters only passed a budget containing a $10 Million increase by 105 votes.


 


Had voters turned down the 2009 proposed budget the district would be forced to cut from $185,778,149 to $185,553,036, a cut of $225,113 and charge higher fees for rentals of buildings and fields.






 Peter Bassano and  Donna McLaughlin were reelected to their seats gathering 1,616 and 1,584 votes each, being joined by Jim Hricay, who bested a field of four other candidates.


 



Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors, left, and Donna McLaughlin, President of the School Board. McLaughlin won reelection to fifth term on the Board.


 


McLaughlin said she was “very grateful  the budget passed, and thankful the people votedme back into office.” She told WPCNR that she was hopeful the finance committee with two more private citizens to be added to thecommittee would begin to look at next year’s budget.  Bassano said,”I’m really grateful the budget passed, Now it’s a relief to return to work and put the election politics behind us. My priority will be a mutually satisfactory resolution of the teachers’ contract.”


 



Peter Bassano, left, and Jim Hricay at Education House Tuesday evening. Bassano is reelected for his second term, and Hricay his first.


 


Jim Hricay,  former Deputy Budget Director for the City of  White Plains, currently with the City of Stamford, was elected  to Terry McGuire’s seat (Mr. McGuire is leaving the Board), with 1,168 votes, compared to Augostino Zicca, Jr.’s 980 votes. Elsie Larhmann’s 950 votes and Reynolds Longfield’s  880 votes.


 


Hricay said he was grateful the budget passed and that the “citizens are committed to join us.”  


The fact-finding process  in the ongoing teachers-school district arbitration begins next week according to Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors.


 


Connors told WPCNR, “It’s a good win for thecommunity and I’m grateful people came out and supported the Board of Education.”


 


Connors, a School Superintendent for 27 years has never had a school budget vote lose, he leaves White Plains with a 7 year winning streak.


 


The Unofficial Results:


 


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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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