White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Clouet Resigns; School Budget settled at $193M- 3.1% Tax Increase

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 11. 2013: The Board of Education voted unanimously to accept Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Clouet's resignation Monday evening, as Dr. Clouet has resigned to accept the Superintendency of the Union Free School District of the Tarrytowns. Rosmarie Eller, President of the White Plains Board of Education said the Board would announce "imminently"its plans to proceed to search for Dr. Clouet's successor. The vote took place after a public hearing on the 2013-14 School Budget introduced a "Superintendent's Budget" of $192,950,000, a year-to-year increase of 3.93% resulting in a property tax rate of $583.21/$1,000 of assessed valuation. This would mean a school tax increase of $257 for a home with market value of $650,000-- a total school tax of $8,806, compared to $8,539 this year. The budget results in no cuts to the teacher staffing, according to the head of the White Plains Teachers Association, Kerry Broderick, who thought it would be "a wash." The $583.21 tax rate is slightly higher than WPCNR predicted ($578-$582) due to revenue declines not previously revealed. Fred Seiler, the Assistant Superintendent for Business said, the district was able to add 2 guidance counselors, (one at the high school, and one for the Middle School), one School Resource Police Officer, (currently there are none); and preserve full-time librarians at all school libraries. Seiler reported district had a high number retirements which enabled the district to retain the same number of teachers. He said in reponse to a question during the public hearing the district was negotiating with the teachers union, 40% of whom received step increases as part of the Taylor Law, since the teachers union is without a contract. That 40% who received step increased cost about $1.5 Million in the budget increase. Ms. Broderick the head of the Teachers' union said the sides are in a fact-finding phase. She assumed the union would reach a negotiated settlement eventually. Dr. Clouet did not negotiate for the school district on the previous two contract offers the teachers union rejected. Dr. Clouet said in a 6-minute address to the district, recounting his accomplishments at White Plains, at the close of it, he said: "I mentioned that one of the things Robert F. Kennedy did in his short ife was to make visible the reality of poverty in our nation. Today that remains a monumental issue. In Westchester and across the country the rate of childhood poverty is growing. But aside from the occasional article or report it is rarely discussed. During the recent presidential election cycle it was hardly mentioned. It seems almost taboo to bring it up. Around the country and even in our community far too many people who are fortunate seem to view the poor among us as somehow "undeserving" or "second class"; as a threat to the quality of a community -- or a school. That kind of thinking is not consistent with the core values of our nation -- E PLURIBUS UNUM could be translated-- we are all in this together. I believe the Board of Education has a unique opportunity to bring adults together on this troubling issue of poverty in order to change the divisive narrative -- for the good of the students in our schools." And, his last words..."I encourage the Board of Education -- as elected community leaders to lead on this issue, to bring people together, to be a collective, recognized voice for people who have no voice, and to make visible that which is too often unseen and misunderstood, so that creative soltions can be developed and nurtured. I ask them to constantly nudge and encourage our fine teachers and school leaders to continually improve and update our curricula and instructional strategies to that the achievement gap is closed....I have been privileged to work with a quality team here. It has been an honor to serve the children of White Plains. In closing, remember, the future is not a place to go, the future is something we create.I encourage the Board, and all of you, to be optimistic and confident as you continue to create a just and forward-thinking future for our 21st Century school children."


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