Friday, February 17, 2012

Village Proposes Flood Mitigation Project

At the February Board of Education meeting Village officials and engineering consultants described a joint flood mitigation project, involving underground storage tanks and a pumping system. FEMA and SEMO have indicated preliminary approval of the design phase of this project, which would be 75% reimbursable by federal and state agencies.  

Lessons Learned and Short Term Planning

Superintendent David Quattrone introduced the presentation by reviewing actions and adjustments made after Hurricane Irene. Facilities improvements included replacing wood doors with fiberglass, installing a gym floor with a greater capacity to withstand a water event, and putting more first floor furniture - desks, chairs, cabinets - on wheels. On the operational side, the school has updated its planning and preparation. External resources, including trucks and manpower, have been lined up to assist with any relocation efforts. The District has also practiced its protocols for moving material to the second floor in the event of a flood. Quattrone cautioned that such plans were always contingent on specific circumstances, and the timing of a particular storm might make it necessary to modify or abandon a particular strategy.

Longer Term Approaches

Harold Porr, Village Administrator, introduced the proposed project which would install detention tanks and a pumping station on school property. After the flood of 2007, Board of Education members approached Village officials, seeking a joint, more comprehensive plan to minimize the damage of future storms. Building on their earlier studies, the firm of Folchetti & Associates was engaged to update its analysis and develop a mitigation plan. Four years later, with additional data from Hurricane Irene, FEMA is prepared to support the initial stages of the project.

Paul Pelusio, of Folchetti & Associates, explained the main features of the plan.The storage tanks would be located under the school's athletic field, with a small pumping station located somewhere on school property. The system would not eliminate flooding altogether, but it would detain water, offering protection to the parking lot and the first floor of the school. The relief would mitigate the effects of flooding up to the "100-year mark."

The Board of Education posed a number of questions aimed at ensuring that the impact of future floods on the school was minimized. There were related questions about management and responsibility for the pumping system, the impact of County initiatives, using current data, and impact on school operations. In addition, James Ryan and colleagues from John Meyer Consulting have conducted an independent assessment of the plan on behalf of the Board. Ryan confirmed that the overall approach was a "proven and effective" methodology and commented on the several issues affecting the school directly, including pump location, field restoration, and the impact of construction. It is expected that these issues can be addressed and resolved during the design phase of the project.

For the Folchetti presentation, click here.

Fifth Graders Demonstrate Public Speaking Skills

 As part of ongoing "Curriculum Conversations" with the Board, Elementary Principal Thomas Wilson shared a video that showed how students in each grade learn to make presentations to their fellow students. He then introduced four fifth grades to share their prepared speeches with the Board and public. Helen N and Kirsten I spoke about their campaign to collect boxtops as a fund-raiser for kindergarten flood relief. Libby B and Amanda S shared their insights about bullying and the importance of prevention.The overall effort, Superintendent David Quattrone explained, was part of the District's effort to help students develop their critical thinking skills.

Proposed Budget Moves Closer to Cap

As we incorporate new information, the proposed school budget for 2012-13 has moved within striking distance of the legislated tax levy cap. At the February Board of Education meeting, Assistant Superintendent Dan Carlin presented the Board of Education with the revised spending plan, adjusted for workers compensation, teacher retirements, and full day kindergarten. At the February workshop, the budget exceeded the cap by about $314,000. The proposed budget now stands at $44,441,945 or $149,525 above the cap. That translates to the equivalent of 1.6 full-time teaching positions.

As a next step the finance committee will study private school transportation to determine if additional savings can be found. The Board has also asked the  administration to identify program reductions that would mean zero growth. In order to achieve a 0% budget increase the Board would need to make additional reductions of 9.2 teaching positions.  Based on the last several budget cycles, the likely reductions would entail significant increases in class size and reductions in skills support, Middle School exploratory programs, and High School electives.

The next budget workshop is on Saturday, March 3 at 9 AM in the Multi-Purpose Room.

Earlier in the meeting, Superintendent David Quattrone described regional advocacy regarding the tax cap. The Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents and the Putnam Westchester School Boards Association are joining forces with Rob Astorino, County Executive, and state legislators to focus attention on unfunded mandates. Such mandates are presenting severe challenges to local districts as they try to comply with the 2% tax levy cap. The coalition is likely to focus on three key issues: required employer contributions to state pension systems, health insurance premiums, and the Triborough amendment that guarantees annual step increases in employee salaries.  Each of these elements in its own right can drive up expenditures beyond the 2% level. The cumulative effect of such cost drivers leads to major reductions in school programs and services.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Board Begins Review: Proposed Budget Shows 2.3% Increase

In the first year of the statewide 2% tax levy cap, the Bronxville Board of Education has begun its review of a proposed spending plan showing a 2.3% budget-to-budget increase. The next step will make various adjustments and identify specific ways to lower expenditures. It would take reductions of $314,490 to meet the cap and reductions of over $1 million to stay at zero growth.

Board President Jim Hudson introduced the process by explaining that unfunded mandates make it more difficult to comply with a tax cap, but thus far the state has not provided any relief. Further, he pointed out that by retiring some debt, the effective tax cap for Bronxville is actually 1.5%.  Any budget below a 2% tax levy increase requires majority approval in the school budget election; a budget above the cap requires a 60% override.  He concluded by pointing out that cost containment efforts in prior years have successfully preserved programs, but that it was getting increasingly difficult to do so.

In his message Superintendent David Quattrone echoed these comments by referring to "a sustainable model of excellence" as the key goal of district planning.  Strategic budgeting, he said, had focused on reductions in non-instructional areas, preserving a comprehensive array of services and programs that add value to student development.  While sustainability is a long-term effort, he cited recent collective bargaining agreements as one example of better alignment of compensation with the rate of inflation.  Finally, he pointed out that the proposed budget includes a number of innovations such as new high school electives. One major cost driver is an expected huge increase in flood insurance premiums, estimated at $300,000 -- roughly the size of the dollar amount exceeding the cap.

Dan Carlin, Assistant Superintendent for Business, explained the details. An earlier edition of the budget had shown total expenditures about $844,000 above the 2% mark. That figure has since been modified to reflect corrections and new information leading to a $500,000 downward adjustment in the proposed budget.

Enrollment is stable, he reported. Although overall staffing has decreased by 33.6 positions since 2008, next year's budget includes one additional position, a school psychologist,  funded in 2011-12 by a grant that is no longer available. He reviewed special education revenue and enrollments, and explained the changing insurance picture stemming from the August flood.

Mandatory employer contributions to pensions and health benefit premiums also contribute to budget increases, though Carlin pointed out that recent negotiations have resulted in a higher percentage of contribution by teachers and other staff members. Unfunded mandates include not only these contributions but also expenditures for testing, audits, special education, and private school transportation. The budget also includes non-discretionary costs such as workers compensation, utilities, insurance, and social security.

An extensive period of comment and questions followed the presentation.  Board comments focused on the technicalities of the tax cap, how best to show year-to-year salary comparisons, state aid trends, and what reductions might be possible and reasonable in the area of private school transportation. Looking for ways to get below the tax cap or even a 0% increase, Board members also asked about administrative consolidation, moving away from textbooks, hiring practices, extra-curricular participation, alternate approaches to health insurance, and how the Foundation or PTA might offset costs. Another area of interest was how best to deploy reserves.

Public comments and questions concerned reserves, pension costs, advocacy for private school transportation, support for full-day kindergarten, concern about sixth grade class size, and the opportunity to consolidate services with neighboring districts.

The workshop lasted a little over two hours, and the administration will proceed to analyze the impact of various budget reduction scenarios and make adjustments as new information arrives.  The next update will be at the regular Board meeting on February 16.


Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Richelsoph Announces Retirement

Today Dr. Barry Richelsoph announced his intent to retire as Middle School Principal as of June 30, 2012. He joined the Bronxville faculty in 2004, following a career in Trumbull, Connecticut as a science teacher, assistant principal, and Middle School Principal. At Bronxville he supported many student-centered programs, including advisory, exploratory courses, and extended field trips to Williamsburg and Washington. He shepherded the school through some significant budget pressures and personnel changes, preserving the school's core programs and services. "Barry is a kind and patient leader," said Superintendent David Quattrone, "and whether it was a disciplinary matter, advocacy for a particular course, or sponsoring new activities, he always had the students' best interests in mind. Bronxville is fortunate to have had the benefit of his experience and wise perspective." Dr. Richelsoph will be sending a letter to the school community in the near future.

The Board will act on Richelsoph's decision at its February meeting, but the search for a new principal will begin immediately. Quattrone said the needs assessment would include open meetings with Middle School students, parents, and teachers to identify the school's strengths, needs, and the desirable personal characteristics of a new principal. He has asked Dr. Rachel Kelly to facilitate this process. There will also be an on-line survey.  Quattrone said he expected this phase of the process to be completed in early March with a recommendation for appointment no later than May 1.  The search process typically involves advertising, recruitment efforts, group interviews, reference checks, and site visits.