WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. March 29, 2006, UPDATED 4:20 P.M.: Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education told WPCNR today that the Board of Education has approved a School Budget for 2006-2007 of $165.8 Million to be put before the voters May 17 with no changes from the budget since the last meeting of the Annual Budget Committee. The School District Report Card communication, required to be sent to voters before the district budget vote was not finalized. The Board, in addition, formulated an action plan to decide on the bond amount the district hopes to put before voters in October. As part of the action plan, WPCNR has just learned that the Board of Education will be selecting members of the community to serve on a Committee to evaluate the options and submit a recommendation on what projects to execute as part of the bond issue.  the schools. The Board has decided to proceed in 5 steps:

The Board considered a resolution stating their current position on the facilities and infrastruction bond issue of $66.7 Million the Board has been grappling with the last three months. No action was taken according to Ms. Schoenfeld, and the resolution is being amended. She told WPCNR "The Board will consider a (bond) referendum in October and prior to determining the scope of the bond the Board will take the following five steps:

1.) Hire a Construction Manager to review the proposed costs of improvements

2.) Interview a Strategic Planner to review overall direction of the district.

3.) Form a Committee to review the scope of the work, including alternatives to building a new Post Road School.

Michele Schoenfeld reported to WPCNR Wednesday afternoon that the Superintendent of Schools will convene this Committee that will evaluate the various projects recommended by the District architects. The members of this committee, she said  will be selected by the Board of Education.

4.) The Committee will report and make a recommendation to the Board of Education by early August.

5.) After the Committee Report is received, the Board will be able to frame the scope of the work (amount to be bonded).

Ms. Schoenfeld said that if the Committee fell behind schedule, and the Board did not feel it had enough to set the amount to bond,  the Board would postpone the bond referendum until December.