THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

Press Excluded from Observing Strategic Planning Core Committee Meeting

Posted on May 20, 2009 by John Bailey

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Posted on May 20, 2009 by John Bailey

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.

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

Posted on May 20, 2009 by John Bailey

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.

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

Posted on May 19, 2009 by John Bailey

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:

Two Decision Days for White Plains

Posted on May 19, 2009 by John Bailey

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.

Barbara Benjamin Dies

Posted on May 19, 2009 by John Bailey

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.

Where to vote for the School Budget and School Board

Posted on May 18, 2009 by John Bailey

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 .

SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES MINUS 2 PREDICT HARD SCHOOL DAYS AHEAD.

Posted on May 18, 2009 by John Bailey

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

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

Posted on May 17, 2009 by John Bailey

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on May 16, 2009 by John Bailey

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.