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.

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.

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.