Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Board Launches School Year with $291,321 Annual Savings

Opening the first meeting of the new school year, School Board President David Brashear emphasized the continuity of Board membership and its ongoing cost containment efforts. In his opening remarks he said, "This Board has been committed to both ensuring that the highest quality of education is delivered at the Bronxville School . . . and to operating with a strong measure of fiscal prudence and restraint." The Board's agenda made that theme concrete in three ways: Assistant Superintendent Dan Carlin described 2011-12 surpluses of $975,056  and went on to show how the refinancing of existing debt will yield total savings of $420,771. The annual savings is $51,321. Assistant Superintendent John Kehoe added a third example by citing $240,000 savings in salaries from last year to this year.

The refinancing picture is especially encouraging given the District's Capital Plan, which seeks voter approval on the October 2 referendum. This summer the District sought to refinance indebtedness of $4.3 million.  The previous interest rates ranged from 2.9% to 4.5%; the renegotiated rates were less than 1%.

Monday, August 27, 2012

2012 Results Show Sustained High Levels of Achievement



At the Bronxville Board of Education August meeting Superintendent David Quattrone reviewed student results from last year's New York State assessment program (language arts and mathematics in grades 3-8), Advanced Placement scores, and college destinations for the Class of 2012.  "These results," he said, "show continued high levels, favorable comparisons, and stable patterns."  He pointed out that the accountability aspect of public schools emphasizes standardized tests, which are lagging indicators  -- occurring at the end of the learning experience, as opposed to leading indicators -- formative assessments that help students and teachers know what to do next.  One promising example of balanced, comprehensive approach comes from the District's critical and creative thinking initiative, which calls for the design and development of performance tasks that address higher order skills like analysis and synthesis. Another is the NWEA MAP program, a computer adaptive assessment that is being piloted this year at certain grades. That test monitors student growth over time and links results to recommended steps in instruction.

The District is also moving in the direction of more international comparisons. The Achievement Profile includes global AP comparisons for the first time, and later this fall, the School will receive PISA for Schools results from last year's participation in that international program.  Quattrone reported that students in the Global Perspectives seminar did well on the extremely demanding Cambridge Pre-University examination. The 2012 Achievement Profile can be found here.