WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. May 10, 2005: The Board of Education held its public hearing on the 2005-2006 $154.7 Million School Budget Monday evening at White Plains High School. Only one person commented, representing the League of Women Voters' position on the budget. The League supported the budget but urged closer cooperation and decision-input with city officials on negotiating PILOT agreements with future developers and in negotiating certiorari settlements.
School Budget Hearing Monday Evening. Photo by WPCNR News
Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors (shown above, addressing the Public Hearing) said that the year-to-year budget increase of 7.61% contained no new funding for new programs, and funded only three new teaching positions at White Plains High School. Connors said the budget reflected the School District commitment to providing a quality education for every child, and an effort to maintain average class size of 22 to 25 students, while supporting the district efforts to close the achievement gap between various ethnic groups.
He said that the loss of $130 Million in community assessibles in the last decade, was in part, responsible for the 9.36% increase in the School Property Tax rate. Mr. Connors remarks may be seen in their entirety Wednesday evening on the School District Television Channel, Channel 77.
Majorie Davies, Co-President of the League of Women Voters was the only person to comment, after Mr. Connors opened the public hearing for comment from the public. Davies, speaking for the League, she the League supported the district commitment to educating all the children and closing the achievement gap.
Ms. Davies, though supporting the budget, made these observations in her statement:
State funding has decreased next year for the first time in several years. Likewise, a decrease in assessibles means less property tax income. This loss represents the greatest concern since property taxes provide over 80% of the revenue to run the district. While both circumstances are outside the control of the school district, we urge the Board (of Education) and Administration to continue to work with our state assembly and senate representatives so White Plains receives its fair share of state aid.
Ms. Davies also called on the district to monitor and make known to the city the impact on the District of the manner in which the city handles its certiorari cases: “A similar effort should continue to make city officials and representatives more sensitive to School District needs. We urge the school district to take their place at the table when the city negotitates PILOT agreements with developers and certiorari settlements since the school district relies more heavily on property tax income than the city.”
Davies, speaking on behalf of The League of Women Voters, called upon the School District to evaluate “the many programs in the school district,” as a cost saving exercise: “The league’s final area of concern is the continuing need to evaluate the effectiveness of the many educational programs in the school district. Since over 75% of district expenditures are personnel-related salaries and benefits, it is vital to assure that the time and energy of the staff is actually producing measurable gains by the students.”
In closing, Ms. Davies said, “ The League of Women Voters with the goal of the district to educate all children, and the continued partnership with the community in budget development. I urge you all to vote May 17.”
