WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. November 14, 2005; Correction November 21, 2005: The Board of Education accelerated local diploma standards for Class of 2007 students at White Plains High School last night, voting 5-2 (with Peter Bassano and Rick Tompkins against) to raise the requirements for 2007 would be candidates for a WPHS high school diploma. Beginning in 2007, students would be required to pass 2 of the 5 Regents Examinations (American History, World History, English, Math, Chemistry, and Physics)  with a grade of 65 in order to graduate WPHS. This requirement will apply beginning with this year's Junior Class (Class of 2007). It will not apply to the Class of 2006.

In future years, the Class of 2008 would continue to have to pass 2 Regents exams with a grade of 65 or better to receive a local diploma. The Class of 2009, 3 Regents Exams; the Class of 2010, 4 Exams, and the Class of 2011 would have to pass all five Regents Exams with a 65 or better, thereby assuring all students graduating with a diploma from WPHS would be graduating with Regents Diplomas.

The Board ruling places White Plains ahead of the proposed State Education Department timetable which would require all New York State Students to pass all 5 Regents Exams with a 65 to receive a Regents Diploma by 2012. Henry Cafaro, Director of Guidance has informed the board that he knows of no school districts other than White Plains which are accelerating the passing grade process ahead of the state schedule.

Members of the Board of Education went to great lengths at Monday evening's meeting, with Peter Bassano, Donna McLaughlin, Bill Pollack and Marie Tratoros emphasizing that by demanding more of White Plains High students, the district is preparing them better for life after high school. 

Mr. Bassano wrote to correct a WPCNR error in reporting the Board Vote: I  just read the story about Monday's meeting and wanted to correct something rather serious.  The vote approving the Holiday Display policy was unanimous.  The vote for the Regent's passing grade was 5 to 2.   I voted against the proposed policy because I believe we do our students a disservice by handing them a diploma even though they get a 55 on three regents exams and we then do not compel them to retake the class and master the material. John, I would appreciate if you would publish a clarification on this.  This vote and the policy we adopted is one of the more important decisions we will have made this year.

Holiday Display Policy Approved, 7-0

Despite 6 of 7 parents addressing the Board urging they not pass the Holiday Display Policy, with three of the parents sharply criticising the Board's efforts at publicizing the policy to the community, Parents spoke out on the issue during the Public Comment period, complaining bitterly that the policy would introduce religion into the public sector. The number of commentators was a record for the number of public commentators at a school board meeting since WPCNR has been covering the Board of Education (2000).

Here is the text of the new school district holiday display policy:

Displays

The Board of Education of the White Plains City School District is proud of the diversity of White Plains and believes that the District has the responsibility as an educational institution to foster mutual understanding and respect in our students for the many beliefs and customs stemming from the varied religious, racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds of the members of our community.

With this goal in mind, the Board of Education will allow the District to acknowledge the cultural and historical aspects of religious holidays and to temporarily display secular and religious symbols in the school buildings to celebrate the diversity of the holiday seasons.

All holiday displays containing religious symbols must be non-proselytizing in nature and shall conform to the following requirements:

• The display of religious symbols (in a display) must be part of a larger configuration in an education setting which includes secular symbols and is representative of the diversity of the holiday season;
• The display of religious symbols must contain written statements supplied by the District explaining the symbol and its significance to cultural and historical aspects of the religious holidays presented in an unbiased and objective manner;
• The display of religious symbols must be temporary and limited to the duration of the holiday season; and
• The display of religious symbols must be accompanied by a written disclaimer of public sponsorship indicating that,