WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. Special to the CitizeNetReporter. March 22, 2004 EDITED March 23, 2005: At the Board of Education meeting Monday evening, the first public hearing on the proposed 2005-2006 School Budget of $154.8 Million was held, and just two citizens appeared. Neither of those citizens made any comments, according to a school district official who attended the meeting.

The Board of Education is scheduled to adopt the budget next Monday evening, March 28. City Hall provided no written projections of future certriorari refunds and expected revenues from new development (PILOTS) were provided to the district as requested by the Assistant Superintendent for Business one month ago.

No written information on major certriorari obligations expected or the revenues anticipated in the next two to five years  from Payments In Lieu of Taxes from the City Center, 221 Main Street, The Jefferson, the City Center North Tower and Trump Tower was received by the School District Business Office as requested one month ago. No representative from the city attended to pinch-hit  for Eyde McCarthy, the City Assessor, who was scheduled to provide this information Monday night, but could not attend for health matters.

A call to the Mayor's office to ascertain why a detailed written report outlining expected certriorari and PILOT and revenue projections going out up to five years or more  has not been prepared by the city, or why Budget Direct Ann Reasoner, or Commissioner of Finance Gina Cuneo-Harwood could not address the School Board and the School Business Office in Ms. McCarthy's place has not been responded to as of this hour. The School District Business Office requested such a projection for their own budget planning over the next five years a month ago.

Public Relations Team on Board.

Syntax Communications was officially hired by the School District to prepare district publications and informational material at a cost of $40,000, about $20,000 of which would be remimbursed by BOCES.

According to Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education, Syntax will be publishing the next Board of Education newsletter in April, the budget information briefings in May, and will be conducting focus groups to develop and eventually prepare profiles and informational materials and features on the uniqueness of the School District.

No Statement on High School Drinking Party last Wednesday.

No statement was offered by the Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors on the White Plains High School morning teenage drinking party involving 20 – 25 students just off-campus of the high school that was broken up by White Plains Police last Wednesday.