tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87589562844706412572024-02-20T12:57:49.139-05:00Across the Bronxville SchoolsAn electronic newsletter from the Bronxville Union Free School DistrictUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-13216925062129572862014-06-09T12:08:00.000-04:002014-06-09T12:08:24.995-04:00Koetke to Join Bronxville Leadership TeamSuperintendent David Quattrone announced today that Dr. Mara Koetke is his choice for the newly-created position of Director of Curriculum and Instruction. He will present his recommendation to the Board of Education at its June 19th meeting.
Since 2008 Dr. Koetke has served as Principal of Public School #77, the Lower Lab School for Gifted Education. Prior to that she was Assistant Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-66872421227084947162014-04-22T22:40:00.002-04:002014-04-23T15:40:18.301-04:00New Technology Initiatives Get GoingLaunching a new technology initiative, Superintendent David Quattrone described plans to expand infrastructure, provide students with multiple kinds of devices, and offer training that supports technology as an essential tool for learning. Currently, the uses of instructional technology are mostly centered in labs, rather than available throughout classrooms. The lab approach limits access Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-79690574815281871552014-04-22T22:27:00.001-04:002014-04-22T22:27:26.381-04:00Board Appoints Elementary Leadership Team
Tricia Murray, Elementary Principal
At its April meeting the Bronxville Board of Education appointed Tricia Murray as Principal and Adrienne Laitman as Assistant Principal of the Bronxville Elementary School. Currently Assistant to the Principal at Putnam Valley Elementary, Murray has degrees from the University of Michigan, NYU, and Baruch College. Additional background Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-58530665751615801322014-04-22T22:25:00.000-04:002014-04-23T16:02:08.919-04:00Board Awards Tenure to Eight Faculty MembersAt its April meeting the Bronxville Board of Education awarded tenure
to eight faculty members. Each of the teachers completed a successful
probationary period involving multiple classroom observations conducted
by multiple evaluators. The observations rate each teacher as basic,
developing, effective, or highly effective on twenty-two separate
components in four domains -- planning Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-54968077278901227382014-04-07T06:00:00.000-04:002014-04-07T08:47:15.820-04:00Superintendent to Recommend Patricia Murray as New ES Principal
After a comprehensive search process Superintendent David Quattrone announced his intention to recommend Patricia A. Murray for appointment to the position of Bronxville Elementary School Principal. He will nominate her at the April 22nd Board of Education meeting.
Murray has served as assistant to the Principal of Putnam Valley Elementary School since 2008. Prior to that she taught Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-66748314093711872002014-03-20T22:38:00.002-04:002014-04-07T10:49:15.775-04:00Flood Mitigation Plan Moves ForwardA joint project between the village and the Bronxvlle Board of Education is moving ahead, with an eye toward construction beginning in the late fall of 2014. Following the nor'easter of April 2007, which caused $20 million of damage to the school, Village and school officials discussed what practical local options were available to limit the damage in future flooding events. The Village Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-90025296431780274172014-03-20T22:37:00.001-04:002014-03-20T22:37:11.639-04:00Artificial Turf for Hayes Field ProposedThe Bronxville Board of Education is considering installing synthetic turf on Hayes Field in conjunction with the proposed flood mitigation project. Because the field will be totally dug up during construction, the Board asked its architects, KG&D, to re-design the layout as a way of maximizing game and practice space on school property.
The proposed design accommodates the pump Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-89087993455371179552014-03-20T22:10:00.003-04:002014-03-20T22:10:49.158-04:00Budget stands at 1.78% Tax Levy Increase
Assistant Superintendent Dan Carlin, following suggestions from the March budget workshop, presented a revised spending plan to the Bronxville Board of Education. The total school budget request for 2014-15 is $46,219,299, representing a tax levy increase of 1.78%. This figure is slightly
below the mandated tax cap of 1.88%. The revisions make reductions in a number of accounts that haveUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-8000666371621995672014-03-01T13:45:00.005-05:002014-03-01T17:39:32.078-05:00Board Pushes Budget Below Cap
At the March workshop Assistant Superintendent Dan Carlin showed adjustments to the school budget bringing the total within $30,167 of the mandated tax levy cap of 1.9%. With final figures for health insurance contributions now in hand, the expense budget stands at $46,298,871. In preparation for the workshop the Board's finance committee carried out a detailed budget examination and an Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-46487989226365728892014-03-01T13:45:00.004-05:002014-03-01T17:38:49.249-05:00PTA Gift Supports Library Redesign
At its March 1 meeting the Bronxville Board of Education accepted a PTA gift of $8,315 to launch a study to redesign the secondary school library. The basic concept is to convert the library from a place where books are archived to a space that supports innovative technology-based work by students. KG&D, the District's architect of record, will carry out the study. PTA President Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-53267461229497102082014-03-01T13:45:00.003-05:002014-03-20T11:30:50.962-04:00Board Approves School Calendar for 2014-15On March 1 the Bronxville Board of Education approved the school calendar for 2014-15 as proposed. Key features of the calendar include the following dates:
Wednesday, September 3 is the first day of school for students.
There is a long weekend around Veterans Day: No school on November 10 and 11.
A two-week vacation begins on December 22 and ends on January 2.
February vacation spans the Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-86379933231169135592014-03-01T12:00:00.000-05:002014-03-01T13:47:30.088-05:00Quattrone Describes Progress on Leadership Changes
David Quattrone
Superintendent David Quattrone provided the Board of Education and public with an update of the leadership changes that are in process as a result of a succession plan developed in 2011.
Elementary Principal
One-hundred-seventy nine people applied for this position. The district's external consultant, the PPS Director, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent reviewed theUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-14779658214078144672014-02-01T17:47:00.001-05:002014-02-02T14:59:44.777-05:00Board Reviews Proposed Budget
On February 1, the Bronxville Board of Education held the first of two workshops devoted to an analysis of the proposed school budget for 2014-15. President David Brashear opened the meeting, saying,
We recognize that this community is committed to excellence in our schools, and expects a top-tier program across all levels. We also recognize that the tax burden driven by our schools is Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-74557948141534539082014-01-16T21:46:00.000-05:002014-01-16T21:48:00.132-05:00Board Awards Bids for Auditorium and Science Lab Renovations
District architects and construction managers presented the Bronxville Board of Education with their analysis and recommendations for awarding bids for the auditorium and science lab renovations. Erik Wilson of KG&D and James Woycik of Park East explained the process of advertising, opening bids on December 17, and the review the scope of work with the low bidders. Additional Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-68533308013188499012014-01-16T21:45:00.000-05:002014-01-16T21:45:00.893-05:00Quattrone Proposes 2014-15 Calendar
At the January Board of Education meeting, Superintendent David Quattrone presented a draft calendar for the 2014-15 school year. The Board will review and vote on the calendar next month. Quattrone explained that the beginning and end points are essentially fixed by the State. Student days may not begin before Labor Day or extend beyond Regents Rating Day. For this coming school Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-62402307579820065482014-01-16T21:15:00.000-05:002014-01-16T21:29:40.410-05:00Probationary Teachers and Tenure CandidatesThis coming April the Board of Education will act upon the Superintendent's recommendations regarding tenure. This message reminds parents that the process includes an opportunity for them to share their perceptions, positive or negative, with building principals, either informally or in writing. Written statements are shared with the teachers concerned. The list of tenure candidates and Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-71187747408106994882014-01-14T21:40:00.000-05:002014-01-16T21:34:23.113-05:00Next Phase of District Succession Plan Rolls OutWith the retirement of Assistant Superintendent John Kehoe, the District's succession plan moves to the next phase. The following steps have occurred since the Board workshop on this topic in 2011:
Dr. Thomas Wilson was appointed Middle School Principal in 2012, leaving a vacancy at hte Elementary School.
Ms. Ann Meyer was appointed High School Principal in 2013.
Replacing the Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-80701510396158261802013-12-19T21:11:00.000-05:002013-12-19T21:33:14.291-05:00Assistant Superintendent John Kehoe to Retire
At the December meeting, Board President David Brashear announced Assistant Superintendent John Kehoe's plans to retire as Assistant Superintendent of the Bronxville School, effective at the end of January 2014. Brashear called Kehoe's 32-year tenure "remarkable," and characterized him as "outstanding, loyal, and hard-working."
In his message to staff Superintendent David Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-21662453676558639212013-12-19T21:00:00.001-05:002013-12-20T12:16:20.611-05:00Elementary Principal Search Moves Forward
The Bronxville School district launched its search for an Elementary Principal last week, with consultant Martin G. Brooks, Director of the Tri-State Consortium facilitating the process. Seven focus group meetings were held on December 12: Board of Education (3 people), interim principal, parents (19), faculty (32), district/building administrators (3), interim assistant principal, and Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-38335399321286929722013-12-19T21:00:00.000-05:002013-12-20T12:17:16.826-05:00Principal Meyer Presents Changes to Course of Study
At the December Board of Education meeting, High School Principal Ann Meyer described several modifications to the course of study, including a planned rotation of electives, a new sequence in the mathematics program, and a change in advanced physics. Meyer presented the plan as a way to manage anticipated enrollment increases and class size. The rotation of electives frees up staff for other Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-7389570795729054392013-11-22T10:38:00.000-05:002013-11-22T10:38:13.174-05:00Flood Mitigation Project and Field Expansion
The Board of Education heard more detail about the joint District-Village flood mitigation project that has received a FEMA grant. The District's engineering consultant, David Lombardi of John Meyer Consulting, made the presentation, recommending that the District approve the project and giving an overview of the construction schedule. The proposed project has been approved as a FEMA project Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-34007948988373086062013-11-22T10:24:00.002-05:002013-11-22T10:24:49.039-05:00Finding a VoiceEach year the Board of Education conducts several "curriculum conversations," designed to continue the dialogue about an essential question: <!--[if gte mso 9]>
<![endif]-->To what
extent do Bronxville students produce high quality, original work that
demonstrates the capacity for analysis, reasoning, problem-solving, and
effective communication about complex global issues?
Over Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-38303300549943312152013-11-22T07:36:00.001-05:002013-11-22T14:47:31.576-05:00District Expects Slight Increase in K-12 Enrollment
An early look at future enrollment estimates that the K-12 population
will grow less than 1% in 2014, with minor fluctuations at each school.
K-12 enrollment was predicted to rise 2% for the current school year,
but actually rose
by 5.2%. The most significant increases occurred in kindergarten and
between grades eight and nine.
Each year, the proposed
school budget begins Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-4955620237239145502013-11-22T07:29:00.000-05:002013-11-22T07:29:41.615-05:00Auditorium/Science Lab Renovations Out for BidAt its November meeting, Board of Education members heard updates on several different facilities projects.
Plans for the auditorium/science lab renovations, approved by voters in October 2012, have been approved by the NY State Education Department and are out to bid. The District's construction management firm, Park East, and architectural consultants Nasco Construction have reviewed andUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758956284470641257.post-75967393627141608882013-11-21T22:51:00.000-05:002013-11-21T22:51:00.418-05:002013 Bronxville School Annual Report
The District has published its 2103 Annual Report in an on-line format, posted on the school website. Previous editions were printed and distributed by mail to all residents. The new format represents an effort to reduce costs but also meet the need to share comprehensive information with the public. The Report can be found here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com