WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 9, 2010: The School District has officially cut the school budget year-to-year for the first time in district history. Last night, the district  matched up revenues with their final round of expenses Monday evening and projected the 2010-11 School Budget would raise school taxes 4.72%.

All together, possible city tax increases, county tax increases combined with the School District budget presented Monday night could increase property taxes $1,500 or more in 2010 for the White Plains homeowner with a $650,000 home.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 5, 2010: At a public forum on the 2010-11 School Budget Wednesday, the school district announced it was planning at this time a budget of $184.7 Million, about $1 Million less than this year's budget.

WPCNR predicted in January, that based on present revenue projections on the new city assessment roll coming in at $3.7 Million less, and the 5.5% salary increases next year for teaching staff,  that the district would either have to cut 100 teaching assistants or a combination of fulltime teachers and teaching assistants (between 40 teachers and 40 teaching assistants, which would total $6,000,000 in salary) to avoid about a 9 to 10% tax increase. WPCNR was told that "we are not firing 100 teaching assistants."  "Support staff" apparent is going.

WPCNR's prediction was right on the money. Last night, the district said at this time they were cutting 41 fulltime teachers and 39 "support" staff to bring the budget in at $184.7 Million. The cuts come to $6.5 Million.

WPCNR also reported last Saturday that  the District had unbeknownst to the public negotiated a one year contract extension with the teachers for the 2011-2012 year adding up to a 2-1/4% merit raise in salary in additon to the standard 2% step raise, meaning the teaching staff will receive a 4-1/4% increase in February 2012. This raise was negotiated without the district knowing what their 2012-12 revenue projects could possibly be (considering the very shaky state of the White Plains Assessment Roll.

Last night the district announced this extension, as reported by WPCNR last weekend.

Monday, the district is supposed to discuss their revenue projection for this year. Some 41 teachers are expected to retire, taking advantage of incentives approved by the Teachers union as part of the new contract extension.

WPCNR expects to hear more on Monday.

The district has also set up a similar situation to last when they presented a budget to the public lower or close to what a contingency budget would be if the district voters rejected the 2009-10 budget. WPCNR attempted to get the inflation rate the State Department of Education will use to figure contingency budgets but the press office has not delivered it yet. It has been a week and a half since WPCNR asked.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. February 27, 2010: White Plains Public School Teachers have agreed to accept a 2-1/4% pay increase in 2012 in exchange for money-saving adjustments to pay.

The budget-friendly changes will pay teachers for pursuing advanced degrees at a slower (only one academically achieved increase a year may be approved), and a more tightly monitored pace for pursuing M.A. and Ph.D degrees.

The teachers have also accepted changes in working conditions, productivity adjustments,  and approval of retirement incentives that are available in the current budget year.

The White Plains Teachers Association membership approved the one year contract extension with the City School District through 2011-2012, two weeks ago, WPCNR has learned.  

Peter Bassano, a member of the Board of Education confirmed the contract extension to WPCNR Saturday afternoon. He said the District and Dr. Christopher Clouet had started negotiations with the teachers three months ago.

The contract extension has yet to be voted on by the Board of Education, Bassano said.

The 2-1/4% salary increase in February, 2012 increases up to 4% to 5% when longevity raises (automatic over the first fifteen years of service in the current 2010-11 step schedule for the majority of the current 651 teachers), are factored in. 

Here are the sketchy details of the suprise extension so far:

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. February 8, 2010 UPDATED FEBRUARY 10, 2010(iTALICS): Layoffs of from 60 to 100 job positions would possibly be required according to WPCNR estimates to compensate for the projected $3.7 Million fall in the White Plains Assessment Roll revealed two weeks ago by the city. Without layoffs a tax increase of 8% (about $1,000 on a $650,000 h1ome in White Plains) would be required to keep the staffing where it is.

WPCNR calculates that even if the city school budget for 2010-11 stays at the 2009-10 level of $185.7 million, the district still faces the necessity of replacing $2 Million in revenue because the city assessment roll is projected to decline $3.7Million to $281.5 Million of Assessed Value.

If the school district wishes to maintain its current staffing numbers, the decline in assessments alone would require severe cost-cutting measures to fund approximately $5 Million in scheduled teacher increases in 2010-11.

The School District presents the second part of its 2010-11 Budget with the "Instructional" portion tonight at Education House at 7:30 P.M., 5 Homeside Lane. The Revenue projections will not be compared to expenses by the District until March 8.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. News & Comment By John F. Bailey.January 20,2010: Tonight at the Slater Center, the White Plains Board of Education will stage its second Budget Planning Process forum at the Slater Center, 2 Fisher Court, 7:30 P.M. Last week the first session was held at White Plains High School drawing about 75 persons, including teachers and school district personnel.

In looking at the state budget proposed by Governor David Paterson yesterday, and judging the information provided by the school district last week, property taxpayers in White Plains can be assured that because the school district did not cut more expenses last year when they had the opportunity, district taxpayers will be paying whopper tax increases this year in the White Plains School District.

A preliminary runthrough by WPCNR shows the district is looking at a $50 increase in the tax rate – unless a miracle occurs. The district is looking at a $201 Million budget based on preliminary figures.

At last week's meeting at  the high school, no preliminary budget was passed out, and citizens were asked to comment on areas and issues concerning the budget. One of the most telling comments came toward the end of the meeting, when one spectator asked how the audience could make serious suggestions where to cut the budget when the district had not presented a preliminary budget to them. The Superintendent of Schools (Dr. Christopher Clouet) promised that a preliminary budget would be ready in February.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. January 11, 2010: The White Plains Board of Education accepted the resignation of Ridgeway School Principal Evette Avila tonight at the second Board of Education meeting of the year, for "personal reasons," according to Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Lenora Boehlert.

The resignation was effective June 30, 2010. Avila was scheduled to earn $172,433 as Elementary School Principal from July 1 2009 to June 30, 2010, and apparently will collect her salary for the balance of the year. Boehlert gave no reason for the resignation and Ms. Avila is no longer principal of the school. Tashia Brown remains as Assistant Principal.

Francis Lahey was appointed Interim Principal by the Board. No statements were made to the public by the Board on the Ridgeway School situation, or Mr. Lahey. Mr. Lahey previously served as interim principal at Eastview School in January 2009, and was Principal of Fox Lane High School.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. January 6,2010 (Edited): The White Plains Board of Education has announced the district’s 2010-11 budget planning  process, combining the successful community-wide forums held last year with some new initiatives. President of the Board of Education, Donna McLaughlin, put the preliminary increase in expenses the district faces at $10 Million over the $185.7 Million 2009-10 budget.

White Plains Week, the WPCNR television program which closely follows the extraneous impacts on the school budget, estimates that the district is looking at a $17 Million budget increase that has to be raised through taxation, if preliminary assessment role estimates by the city assessor expected state aid cuts in next year's state budget materialize.

            The district is seeking broad input from the community at various meetings scheduled for this purpose.  Two budget forums will take place at the High School, on January 13^th  and March 3^rd, at 7:30 P.M., in the B-1 Room. 

In addition, the Slater Center will host a meeting on January 20^th, at 7:30 P.M., Centro Hispano will be the host on February 24^th, at 7:30 P.M., and the White Plains Council of eighborhood Associations will host on February 9^th, 7:30 P.M., in the Assembly Room at Education House.

            Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher P. Clouet said, “We hope to work together with the community to develop a budget that maintains the high quality of education in White Plains and that is fiscally responsible and can be supported by the taxpayers in the May 18^th vote.”

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. January 4, 2010: The Board of Education approved financing $11 Million in energy improvements identified by the Honeywell Corporation, which would save the district $1 Million in energy usage annually. Construction and installation of the Honeywell-supplied equipment and modifications to buildings in the district is expected to begin in March or April.

Board of Education approving energy saving contract Monday night.

The board, in addition also approved expenditure of $57,000 in repairs to the unfortunate design of the electrical system at the new $38.5 Million Post Road School which keeps lights in halls and the cafeteria on 24 hours a day.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the Office of the State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. December 23, 2009(EDITED): School districts across New York state, including White Plains and New York City, face a potential funding gap of at least $2 billion when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding runs out in 2011-12 unless federal aid is renewed or replaced by state aid, according to analysis released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Property taxpayers could face on average a 7.7-percent tax increase in 2011-12 to make up the loss in ARRA funds, assuming school budgets and state aid remain constant.

The White Plains School District according to Comptroller DiNapoli's Office  received $3,876,166 of its $13,736,444 in school aid this year from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding that is due to expire. If the funds are not restored by Washington,  the district faces a 2.1% tax increase to replace those funds. This would based on other factors cited last week by the school district send the district budget well over the$200 Million mark in 2010-11.

Last week the School District Finance Committee heard Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler detail that the district faced a $15 Million increase in expenses made up of $$2 Million (now $3.9 Million according to the Comptroller's figures) deficit in state aid, a STAR EXEMPTION DECREASE, $3 MILLION more in salaries, $3.5 Million more in pension costs, $4 Million in Health benefits, and replacement of about $3 Million decline in the assessment roll. The increase indicated by the Comptroller this week, if the ARRA is not extended, would mean if the City School District Budget does not cut expenses, the budget will top $203 Million.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. December 4, 2009: The $38.5 Million "green building, eco-efficient, energy-saving" Post Road School opened to rave reviews in September with no reported glitches. However, the security lighting system in halls and stairways and entrances cannot be controlled efficiently due to flaws in the electric system controlling the lights.

Neighbors may be wondering why the new Post Road School has blazed like an airport terminal all night long 7 days a week these past three months. Fred Seiler confirmed the problem with the lighting to WPCNR Thursday.  The school according to Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler, has too many lights that are security lights which cannot be dimmed and are not motion-sensitive, and apparently, (it is not quite clear why), cannot be turned off individually.

Seiler confirmed the electrical-design perpetual lighting problem  in the new school Thursday afternoon to WPCNR, after a parent contacted WPCNR complaining about the waste and how long it has been literally going on.

WPCNR  SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. November 19, 2009: Jim Hricay, newly elected Board of Education Member disclosed Monday that due to his being married to a White Plains school teacher, he would not be voting on matters pertaining to teacher contracts, nor participating in Executive Sessions on teacher negotiations. Hricay told The CitizeNetReporter when asked how his expertise (in municipal finance with the cities of Stamford and White Plains in budgeting) could contribute to economical functioning when he could not vote on the issues, said he could still make suggestions to other board members, but not on teacher negotiations.

BOARD OF EDUCATION  MEMBERS BASSANO, HRICAY, TAKE THEMSELVES OUT OF VOTING ON CERTIORARI AND TEACHER ISSUES, RESPECTIVELY.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. October 16,2009: Governor  David Paterson's extensive budget reduction plans announced yesterday, if enacted  as planned will cost the city school district $1,392,027, a 9% reduction in state school aid for 2009-10, not 4.5% as stated in the Governor's news release, according to Fred Seiler, Assistant Superintendent for Business.

Seiler said that the school aid cuts are on a sliding scale with wealthier school districts paying 9%, and they include Harrison, Mamaroneck, Eastchester and Rye, according to a printout Seiler received Friday morning from the state. He said for example that while White Plains may lose 9% of its $13,736,444 the state said the district would receive this fiscal year, while Mount Vernon School District would lose only 3.5% and Yonkers 2.88%.

WPCNR estimated the district would lose 4.5% or about $500,000 based on the Governor's news release, but this is not the case. Seiler said the district first found out about the proposed cut Friday morning. He said the district would do a few "what if" scenarios and "monitor" the situation. He said the bulk of the state aid is not paid until the spring, and that it is usually used to pay the school district share of the Teachers Retirement Fund payment in late fall, which this year is $7,030,535.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Elaine London. (Edited) September 15, 2009: Mayor Joseph Delfino, Cl,ass of 1950 and Jimmy Roberts, Class of 1975, the sportscaster and journalist, and Alfred Renino, Class of 1947, and Eartha B. Williams Class of 1960 have been named to the 2009 Class of the White Plains High School Hall of Fame.

Mayor Joseph Delfino, March 2003, Makes the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame pays tribute to the White Plains High School alumni/ae who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers and/or have significantly and positively impacted the lives of others.

The 2009 inductees are:  Alfred A. Renino ’47, music teacher in White Plains Public Schools for 35 years; the Honorable Joseph M. Delfino ’50, three-term Mayor of White Plains; Eartha B. Williams ’60, counselor and mentor to White Plains youth for more than 40 years; Jimmy Roberts ’75, Emmy award-winning sports journalist and author.

The honorees will visit the High School on Tuesday, October 27th and will spend time with students.  The Induction Ceremony will take place in the Media Center and will be followed by a reception.  The public is invited. 

This is the fourteenth class of distinguished alumni/ae selected since the Hall of Fame was established in 1996, bringing the total number of inductees to 62.  It is estimated that more than 26,000 students have graduated from White Plains High School in its 112    years of continuous operation.

The inductees were selected by a committee of representatives of civic and school groups from nominations submitted by the public.  New nominations are welcomed each year.