Sunday, February 24, 2013

Update on ES Principal Search

The process for selecting an Elementary School Principal began on February 2 with an announcement emailed to all District parents. Superintendent David Quattrone invited parents to attend an open meeting, and the meeting was held on February 14, with about twenty parents attending. The focus group for faculty and staff was held on February 13. These sessions were designed to elicit feedback about the School's strengths, opportunities for improvement, and the qualities and personal characteristics sought in a new Elementary School leader. A summary of the results can be found here, and they will also be reported to the ES Council.

In addition, parents and faculty are invited to register their views through an anonymous survey. [The survey period ended on February 28th.] Parents and teachers who have difficulty finding and completing the survey may also email the Superintendent directly.

The position has been advertised in the New York Times, and regional professional networks have been activated, including the Tri-State Consortium and various university programs. After the initial review of applicants, a screening committee will be assembled, including faculty, Board of Education, and administration representatives as well as the President and Vice President of the Elementary School Council. The committee will interview finalists and provide input to the Superintendent who will make a recommendation to the Board of Education.  An appointment in April is expected.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

PTA Donates $875,000 to Auditorium Project


At its February meeting the Bronxville Board of Education accepted an $875,000 donation from the PTA in support of the planned renovation of the School auditorium.  PTA Vice President Margaret Mager presented the donation, calling it the single largest grant in the entire history of the Bronxville PTA since 1953. The sum represents the proceeds from last year's benefit auction with the theme of "Staging Our Future" and chaired by Louise Parzick and Priscilla Newman. Over 500 people attended the benefit. In presenting the contribution, Mager also acknowledged the contributions of Helen Knapp (PTA President), Nina Evison, (former PTA President), hundreds of volunteers, and numerous businesses.


Board President David Brashear thanked the PTA and the parent community for their "great generosity and phenomenal contribution." Superintendent David Quattrone added that the private contributions for the project enabled the District to pursue a superior design that better meets the needs of all 1600 students, faculty, and the community at large.

The auditorium project, estimated at $7 million, is part of a $10 million capital plan that also includes renovation of Middle School science labs. The plan was conceived as a public-private partnership funded by $2.5 million in the district's capital reserves,  $3 million from private donations and grants, and $4.5 million from a bond that was approved by voters last October.

Capital Plan Moves Forward; Board Retains Construction Manager

This month the Facilities Committee reviewed proposed improvements in the auditorium project and reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of entering into a Project Labor Agreement as a way of managing construction.

KG&D Architecture showed a redesigned path connecting the auditorium side lobby to existing walkways. The group discussed the surrounding landscaping and agreed that some existing trees should be replaced during the project and that an overall landscaping plan would be needed to determine the scope of the changes.

KG&D also reported that cost estimators are now reviewing the drawings to come up with a budget that reflects the design development phase of the project.  After the budget is set there will be a second review of proposed materials and finishes. The group also discussed some of the  scheduling issues related to asbestos abatement and access to the auditorium.

The major agenda item was a review of the consultant report regarding a Project Labor Agreement as a way to manage planned construction. The report estimated this approach would save $48,000 on the total budget of $10 million. However, District counsel offered a legal opinion that the report did not make a compelling case for Bronxville's eligibility to enter into a Project Labor Agreement. At the end of the discussion the general consensus was that it would be safer to pursue the construction manager approach.  Several construction management firms were interviewed earlier in the school year, and at its February meeting the Board of Education agreed to retain the services of Park East Construction for a fee not to exceed $300,000. Chair of the Facilities Committee Jim Hudson pointed out that schedule and costs could be managed through careful bid specifications and related contracts, achieving the same results as a Project Labor Agreement. He complimented Dan Carlin for negotiating a lower fee for the construction management services.


Bronxville Students Show Significant Strengths on International Assessment

PISA, the Programme for International Student Assessment, is the standard measure that compares the educational attainment of 15-year olds across the world. Sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the assessment provides international benchmarks for reading, mathematics, and science.  This year, for the first time, PISA was offered to 126 school districts in the US, UK, and Canada as a way to measure school performance in an international context.

At Bronxville, a random sample of 79 students took the two-hour assessment last spring. Superintendent David Quattrone presented the results of this pilot assessment at the February Board of Education meeting, saying, "There is much to celebrate, but we also need to evaluate the results in order to identify opportunities for improving performance still further."

The presentation compared Bronxville scores to the US and other countries.  PISA also reports patterns of student motivation and perceptions of school climate. Quattrone explained that although the gender gaps are small, girls outperform boys in mathematics and science, contrary to national and international patterns. Bronxville performance is similar to other US schools with a comparable socioeconomic profile, but there are achievement gaps when Bronxville is compared to similar schools in other countries.

Quattrone focused on the descriptions of top level performance, drawing connections between the data and the District's effort to improve critical and creative thinking. For example,
Students at the top two levels are highly skilled readers, capable of deep, detailed comprehension and fine-grained analysis. They are diversified readers who can understand a wide range of content and formats that are both complex and unfamiliar. They can overcome preconceptions in the face of new information and draw on knowledge beyond the text.
The presentation can be found here, and the executive summary of the PISA report can be found here.

Board Considers Draft 13-14 Calendar

The Bronxville Board of Education is considering a proposed calendar for the 2013-14 school year, with a start date of Tuesday, September 3, 2013, an end date of Thursday, June 26, 2014, and a two-week vacation in December/January. Questions were raised about the late end to the school year, and whether there was room for another approach.  Superintendent David Quattrone responded that the Regents Rating Day was a state-wide directive.

The draft calendar can be found here. Although there are local variations, the proposed calendar conforms to the regional pattern, designed to coordinate issues of transportation, interscholastic competition, and various regulatory requirements. Comments and suggestions for improvement should be directed to the Superintendent of Schools.

In the proposed calendar, school begins immediately after Labor day, with a 10:00 AM start.  The starting date reflects local contractual obligations and the fact the school days prior to Labor Day typically do not qualify for state aid. The end date is determined by the state-determined Regents testing schedule; the Commissioner of Education has set the Regents rating date on June 26, 2014.  The entire school year encompasses 182 days for students plus three conference days for teachers.


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Barton Will Retire in June; Search Begins

Terry Barton, Principal of Bronxville High School since 2006, announced his intent to retire at the end of the current school year. During his tenure he hired about 20% of the faculty, focused on a positive school climate, and introduced numerous changes to the Course of Study - including electives, on-line courses, and independent study. In his announcement he complimented the students, teachers, and parents of the school community: "Bronxville High School is a special place and I have enjoyed serving as Principal for the past seven years.  The faculty, staff and community are top notch, and I am proud of the success and progress we have made together across many areas of our school."

"Terry has brought perspective, reassurance, and a good sense of humor to our School," said Superintendent David Quattrone, "and his personal style of leadership has been a significant asset. The school climate is exceptionally positive, and Terry has led the effort to create a great environment for learning."

Quattrone said the search for a new principal will begin immediately. The process will be coordinated by Quattrone, Assistant Superintendent John Kehoe, and PPS Director Rachel Kelly. The process will include several different opportunities for participation by students, parents, faculty, and staff. The tentative schedule follows:
  • February 24  - Advertisement in the New York Times
  • February 25 - March 15 - Online survey for students, parents, and faculty/staff 
  • February 27  - Open meeting for faculty and staff (12:10 Fireplace Room)
  • February 28 - Focus group with Student-Faculty Legislature (12:10 Fireplace Room)
  • March 11  - Open meeting for parents (8:30 AM Fireplace Room)
  • March 14  - First round of interviews (5-10 candidates)
  • March 18  - Second round of interviews by a committee representing administrators, faculty/staff, parents, and Board of Education (2-5 candidates)
  • Reference checks, school visits 
  • The Board of Education approves the final candidate. 
Quattrone hopes to recommend an appointment at the April or May Board of Education meeting.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Board Reviews Initial Budget

Board President David Brashear opened this year's budget workshop by affirming the Board of Education's continuing commitment to cost containment, even as the economy begins to improve. Superintendent David Quattrone characterized the process as "striking a balance between educational excellence and fiscal prudence." Each year that process gets harder; easier reductions have already been taken. He introduced the discussion with an overview of what Village residents get for their tax dollar - the  programs and services that make Bronxville's education program distinctive. The entire budget presentation can be found here.

Assistant Superintendent Dan Carlin followed with a budget history, the factors driving up the local obligations, and the intricacies of the tax levy cap. Key budget drivers include mandatory employer contributions to teacher retirements, health care premiums, and contractual obligations. Mandatory employer pension contributions alone have risen from 12.5% to 16.5% of payroll. In the last few months two new cost containment opportunities have materialized. The Bronxville Teachers Association proposed, and the Board approved, a retirement incentive generating about $200,000 in salary savings. In addition, the District's administrators obtained an extension of their current contract that freezes wages and postpones merit pay. These cost containment measures have been incorporated into the initial budget.

Carlin described enrollment trends, staffing history, budget drivers, and revenue sources. Board members questioned several issues closely, returning several times to the possibility of increasing revenue through user fees or facilities rentals.  Other questions concerned special education services that go beyond requirements, athletics, and the use of reserves. Board members requested more detail on various staff reduction options, including classes and co-curricular activities with low enrollments. Several Board members also expressed skepticism about locking into a twenty-five year commitment to a "pension stabilization rate."


The initial budget, based on what it would cost to run the identical range of programs and services next year, is $45,619,933, representing a 3.12% budget-to budget increase and a 3.67% tax levy increase. Because the excess costs of teacher retirement contributions are a tax cap exemption, the effective tax levy cap for Bronxville is 3.35%. It  would require reductions of approximately $100,000 to get below the cap.  As currently proposed, the budget represents a $430 increase in property taxes for the owner of a home valued at $1 million.

The next step is to develop more detailed information about the impact of various potential budget reductions and determine what approaches make the most sense. Quattrone framed the discussion by saying, "We all want to make wise judgments about how best to meet this year's specific financial pressures while also protecting the long-term health of the school system. There is more than one reasonable result, and there is more than one way to preserve excellence. Finding this year's path is the challenge over the next couple of months."

Elementary Principal Search Begins

Superintendent David Quattrone today announced he will begin the process for selecting a principal for the Elementary School. Last year, after former Principal Thomas Wilson was named Middle School Principal, Quattrone recommended Heidi Menzel and Adrienne Laitman as interim Principal and interim Assistant Principal, respectively. Quattrone said, "The current leadership team at the Elementary School has performed admirably, not only sustaining past progress but also adding depth and breadth to the School's programs and services." This year the School has implemented full day Kindergarten, introduced an internationally validated mathematics curriculum, and moved forward on the District's critical and creative thinking initiative.

Quattrone said he welcomed Menzel as a candidate for the position, but added, "It is important to go through a process that assures all constituencies that we are looking at many promising applicants and selecting the best possible candidate to move the School forward in the years to come."

The process will be coordinated by Quattrone, Assistant Superintendent John Kehoe, and Director of Pupil Personnel Services Rachel Kelly. As with last year's principal selection, the process will include participation by parents and staff in several ways. The tentative schedule follows:
  • February 10 Advertisement in the New York Times
  • February 13 Open meeting for Faculty and Staff (2:20 PM Fireplace Room)
  • February 14 Open meeting for Parents (8:30 AM Fireplace Room)
  • February 15 -28 Online survey for parent and staff comments
  • March 4  First round of interviews (5-10 candidates)
  • March 11 Second round of interviews by committee representing administrators, faculty, parents and Board of Education (2-5 candidates)
  • Reference checks, school visits 
  • Board of Education approves final candidate
Quattrone hopes to recommend an appointment at the April Board of Education meeting.