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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Incumbents Tout Experience, Continued “Prudence.”

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Longfield: Compromise with Teachers a Must.

 

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

 

McLaughlin: More Data; Sharper Evaluation of Programs.

 

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

  

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

 

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

 

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

 

Zicca and Lahrmann State Positions

 

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

 

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

 

 

Letter to Editor,

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

Augie Zicca Jr.

School Board Candidate

 

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

 

May 16, 2009

Dear Editor:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

Elsie J. Lahrmann

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Administrator Increases.

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

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

Teacher Union President Remembers 

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

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

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

The Record

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 The Text of the Democratic Leader Letter, obtained by the CitizeNetReporter reads:

Hello friends and fellow Democrats:

As you probably already know, Augie Zicca has filed

as a candidate for WP School Board this  year.  

Zicca, however, is not the only Republican stalwart 

running this year. 

  He is joined by Elsie Lahrman, who is a regular 

contributor to Republican causes 

and who gave Zicca $300 for his 2007 campaign.  

    Ms. Lahrmann, it should be noted, has never

(to my knowledge) had a child in the White Plains schools

 nor has  she been involved with any

school-oriented activity that she can identify or 

 that anyone I know is aware of. 

  At the candidates’ interviews at the Journal News today,(last week) 

Zicca also acknowledged not having any involvement with

 school activities (although I believe his daughter did  

attend school here). Both candidates stated today that 

they would be voting no on the school budget this year.

       Zicca, as you can imagine, has showed the same

 disregard for facts in his recent campaign for School Board 

as he did in 2007.     

       For instance, he made several claims regarding a statue (spelling incorrect)

around tax certiorari which turned out to be completely false, 

and after being told so by school officials and attorneys only now 

is acknowledging that he was wrong.

       He has also claimed to support a 0% tax increase (despite falling

property valuations) and that this should be funded by cutting administration

and not  staff positions. Some simple math shows that this is infeasible.

        What is unfortunate this year is that the WP Teachers

Association, which is seeking a new contract, has chosen to endorse 

 Zicca, Lahrmann and a third candidate, James Hricay, in order to 

‘send a message to the Board incumbents about their contract demands.  

        Unfortunately many of their (teacher) members seem

 to be unaware of who Zicca and Lahrmann really are and don’t know anything

about Zicca’s positions in the 2007 election, including his stated wish to

 sic the Immigration authorities on our neighbors with problematic

 immigration status, which would presumably mean them

 and their children who attend WP schools facing deportation.

 What I am asking of you is: 

 *support Board incumbents Donna McGlothlin and Peter

Bassano in this year’s election, along with new candidate Reynolds

Longfield, a community-minded person with a child in the high school 

who will work for  the benefit of the children, not his personal agenda

*support the school budget, which has the lowest

 expense increase (actually a small  decrease if you take out debt

 service) in over 225 years and whcih was  prudently crafted by he Board.

BTW, if the budget fails and the District has to go to

 contingency budget, by statute all groups using the school facilities

 will have to pay full price for their use.   

A Little Leaguer may have to pay as much as $100 more to play  baseball.

 * come to the candidates forum Tuesday 5/12 at the High School and have

pertinent questions ready for Zicca and  Lahrmann

*spread the word about the current issues,

particularly if  you know any teachers in the District who may not know 

about Zicca and his  friends. help offset the cost of a mailing in support 

of the candidates and the  budget (contact me directly if you are interested)

 *above all, come out to vote on Tueday, 5/29 from noon

 to  9 p.m.

 Remember that there are a limited number of voting

 places  and you may not be voting in the same spot for the general election.  

 Absentee ballots are available from the District office for those who 

 can’t make the polls that day.

thanks to all for taking the time to read this.   

After 5/19 I look forward to working with all of  you to

march to victory in November. 

RESPONSE — ZICCA AND LAHRMANN NEWS RELEASE SENT TO LEAGUE

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

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

The Zicca-Lahrmann News Release:

Elsie J. Lahrmann

Augie Zicca Jr.

For White Plains School Board

changewp@gmail.com

 

May 12, 2009

 

Press Release via Email:

 

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

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

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

           

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

             

Candidates for White Plains School Board

 

Augie Zicca Jr.

 

 

Elsie J. Lahrmann

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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WPCNR NEWS COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. May 12, 2009: Well tonight the White Plains citizen has the choice of two interesting “Infotainments” being staged by the League of Women Voters and the White Plains Common Council.

 

At the White Plains High School, at 7:30 P.M., the League introduces the six candidates for the Board of Education seats of three years each, asking them a series of general questions that tell the interested parties very little about what the candidates bring to the table. 

 

Of the handful of persons speaking at last night’s Public Hearing on the School Budget – none  was a candidate for the school Board. How preposterous was that? How serious are these candidates? If you’re the challenger you have to make some comments. Bad job, candidates.

 

Perhaps the League of Women Voters might depart from the usual hanging curve balls they ask these candidates. The six candidates are incumbents Peter Bassano and Donna McLaughlin, and 4 challengers, Jim Hricky, Elsie Lahmarr, Reynolds Longfield (who was at last night’s hearing, but who did not speak), and Augie Zicca, Jr.

 

So, if you’re reading League of Women Voters, here are some questions:

 

 

1. If  the assessment roll declines drastically ($10 Million), how would you as a Board Member proceed with next year’s budget?  Demand spending deaccerlation from July 1 in anticipation? What is your doomsday plan, because the assessments are going to drop in free fall this year. Prices are down and getting downer. Companies are not making money in the city. Look for an onslaught of certs. What would you do?
   
2. Will you cut staff realistically, by not replacing personnel who retire with lower salaried replacements?
   
3. What austerity measures will you put in place in the district, beginning in July?
   
4. Will you tear down the Old Post Road School? (It still stands, you could save it or sell it — for school district offices, another school possibly – or as an asset for the rising birth rate.)
   
5. Will you push newly hired technology persons (strangely silent for the last 8 months), for detailed longitudinal studies of all classes before the next School Budget. (The reporting of school district results has lagged, without detail for years, despite one software package or glitch after another. It is a disgrace. The WPHS high school students could do a better job.)
   
6. Will you make results and objectives of the strategic plan understandable and clear to the general public, stripped of their academic gobble-de-gook?
   
7. Will you get a definitive answer as to whether class size can be increased without affecting performance? (One of the great myths)
   
8. Will you support hiring more dual language teachers (Spanish and English)?
   
9. What will you do to improve the performance gap between whites and Hispanics and African-Americans? Where do you stand on this issue?
   
10. Will you rent the Loucks and Parker articifical turf stadia for revenue?
    
11. What is your solution to the Salary Benefits debate now being played out in the teacher negotiations? 

 

If the League of Women Voters does not ask questions like this, and I suspicion they will not, they are not paying attention. See if they do.

 

 

On the other side of town beginning a little earlier at 6 PM at crumbling city hall,(he moving vans are underway early for the Delfino Administration), is the Common Council is going to give us their take on how to cut the city budget – obviously making the decision a little earlier than the usual May 27….obviously everybody needs to get away for the Memorial Day Weekend.  Council President Benjamin Boykin and Councilman Dennis Power said they’d cut the budget –looking for $4 Million in cuts.

 

Perhaps they will will grab the set-aside hold-back in spending already proposed by the Acting Budget Director David Birdsall whom they rejected months ago. That would be one way to do it. Birdsall had suggested holding back some spending towards the end of the year. The council could just grab it. The council is also faced with the union contracts that they have allowed to go to binding arbitration (outside the auspices of the New York State Public Employees Relations Board), to the city’s peril, which if they are slapped with a 3 per center for the next two years — creates a massive deficit next year — with another contract to be negotiated next year.

 

Anyway, the council better cross their fingers and hope the economy turns up locally because the assessments will not.

 

They could run the same budget by just increasing the property tax 30% — and cutting taxes next year – if the economy turns around. But they do not have the guts to do that. They will let the newly nominated Adam Bradley have that pleasure. The assessments, unless the business community shows some patriotism (by not filing certioraris or withdrawing ones already filed), the city’s $5 Million drop in assessments this year will look very good.

 

Both the Board of Education and the City Government will be into your pockets big time next year due to the sad, sorry, timid and unprofessional analysis by the Board of Education and the Common Council,  of both budgets.

 

Either way, if you like “Infotainment” without content, attend either of these meetings. See your government and democracy – uninformed democracy in action.

 

And the fault is with us.We do not demand better. We much prefer pleasant, sanctimonious sugarcoated earnest “this is so difficult, these are extraordinary times,” excuses  than the blunt truth.