WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. July 11, 2003. 12 Noon E.D.T. UPDATED 1 P.M. E.D.T.: The White Plains City School District will vote on approving the hiring of Terrance Schruers to the position of Assistant Superintendent for Business effective September 22, to fill the shoes of Richard Lasselle, the perennial "Mr. Numbers" for the School District the last eight years. Mr. Lasselle is retiring, effective August 1.

Mr. Schruers, (pronounced "SHEARS"), is a longtime associate of Mr. Lasselle who has worked with Mr. Lasselle as a member of the New York State Association of School Board Officials. Mr. Schruers, described as a man in his 50s, comes to White Plains from the New Hartford Central School District, located outside of Utica, New York, where he is Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs, and has worked for the district since 1975.

The New Hartford Central School District is located in picturesque Oneida County, New York, and serves approximately 2,900 students. It has a 2003-04 School Budget of $35 Million dollars. You can learn more about the District by going to the website, www.newhartfordschools.org.  (The White Plains City School District budget for 2003-04 is $134.6 Million).On the New Hartford schools website, you can download New Hartford school budget newsletters detailing the District budget justifications in bullet-like, terse detail, with a clarity, comprehensiveness and persuasive flare that closely resemble Richard Lasselle's skills at communicating complex budget requirements effectively.

Schruers is a Director of the Association of School Board Officials, and is known to Mr. Lasselle, according to Ms. Schoenfeld. Mr. Schruers district also participates in the same insurance plan the White Plains School District uses. According to Monday evening's Board of Education agenda, Schruers will be hired for a three year contract beginning in September.