As part of building the 2010 budget the Bronxville Board of Education listened to extensive public comments about how best to maintain excellence in our schools. About 200 people crowded into the Elementary multi-purpose room in a meeting that adjourned at 11:00 PM. The group included high school students who presented a petition supporting our present custodial staff (instead of outsourcing). Parents (mostly representing Elementary students) spoke on behalf of the Elementary foreign language program, as did a number of staff members. Parents also emphasized the importance of small class sizes, a concern generated by the district's decision not to replace certain retiring teachers. A number of parents also advocated reducing the clerical work force as a way of avoiding reductions in the teaching force.
Setting the stage for the public comments, and in direct response to email traffic over the past two weeks, Board President Rick Rugani assured the audience that "nothing in this budget or among the proposed cost reductions is designed to alter the historic ranges of class size." Over the past five years, the K-5 class size has varied between 19.9 and 21. Superintendent David Quattrone reinforced the point, assuring the Board and the public that the planned reductions would not drive Elementary class size upward and that he would recommend adjustments if enrollments warranted. The Board and the public also heard that by shifting resources across schools, the district could continue skills instruction at the same group size available in 2009-10 (= about 5). Even after various reductions, favorable class size and the availability of skills assistance will remain strong features of the Elementary School, according to the Superintendent. Although the administration has planned reductions in the number of coaches and activity advisers, no sports or clubs will be eliminated, and modified sports will continue its no-cut approach. Discussions about elective field trips resulted in no budget reductions, but questions lingered about the risks and liabilities incurred by overseas travel.
Perhaps FLES (Foreign Language in the Elementary School) presented the Board with its most difficult decision in light of the ongoing interest in strengthening a global perspective throughout the curriculum. After much discussion about the FLES experience and numerous public expressions of support, the Board reluctantly decided to discontinue that program and "move on." (Without FLES, elementary students will spend the designated time with their regular classroom teacher studying their core subjects.) The Board urged Quattrone to accelerate efforts to offer a non-Western language, and he described a tentative partnership with Pelham and Eastchester as a way to deliver Mandarin at the Middle School level.
By accepting the various proposals for non-instructional savings and productivity improvements, the Board appears prepared to approve a budget in April that produces a 0% - or lower - increase in the tax rate.
