Other News from the Board of Education

In addition to adopting district goals and hearing the internal audit report, the Bronxville Board of Education addressed several other issues of interest at its December meeting:

• Dr. Quattrone thanked the PTA and the Council for their much-appreciated Holiday Tea; announced the Holiday Sings at the Elementary School and band, orchestra, and choral concerts at the secondary schools; recognized the two-week exchange with students from the Canary Islands, thanking Patrick Miele for his leadership efforts; and acknowledged the ninth grade community service project with the Andrus Center.

• Mr. Carlin announced that we are nearing completion of the boiler project, and that the general contract should be done by mid-January. There are ongoing issues with the performance of one boiler, but the other three are providing sufficient heat as we work to fix that problem. although all tests indicate that the sound made by the boilers fall within acceptable levels, we are working with our architect to attenuate sound further, as requested by neighbors. Possible remedies include interior baffling, exterior shielding, or landscaping.

• Mr. Carlin reported that he is projecting a $700,000 surplus in the current fiscal year, which would allow the District to offset the tax rate as it did last year. Pierre de St. Phalle, chair of the finance committee, described the goals the committee established for this year, encompassing budget guidance, investment policy, financial structures, and reporting formats. The goals can be found here.

• Dr. Kehoe described the scope of duties performed by Securitas, our new security guard provider. The firm covers the fields and the building during off-hours and weekends, making full use of our surveillance cameras. Communication protocols with the Bronxville Police have also been arranged.

• Dr. Cain, liaison to the Policy Board, described that group's effort to set up an evaluation and assessment framework for the district's global initiative.

• Dr. Hudson shared his thoughts about a recent meeting about class size, requested by the PTA, Elementary Council officers, and several parents. Mr. Rugani, Dr. Quattrone, and Dr. Wilson also attended. The existing guidelines go back to 1992, and the policy is dated 1975, so there is a question about their continued relevance. Dr. Hudson said it may be more useful to replace the guidelines with principles and beliefs that affirm the value of small class sizes, especially in the primary grades, yet retain the flexibility to adapt to changing finances and enrollment fluctuations. Dr. Quattrone pointed out that we will have some real numbers to look at when the budget is presented.
  

Board Considers New Goals

Over the past few months Board President Jim Hudson has led an effort to establish new District goals, giving Board members an opportunity to discuss issues in greater depth and with a long range view of the future. Part of this process was a special workshop on October 28th, focusing on curriculum and instruction and the quality of the learning environment. The discussion centered on two strategic questions:

• How can we ensure that Bronxville provides the best possible curriculum and instruction, leading to the success of every student?
• How can the Bronxville School best help the community in its effort to promote healthy, safe, responsible behavior among its young people?

As in the past, the Board will set goals related to teaching and learning (such as the current global initiative); but increasing the emphasis on teenage behavior and related social issues represents a new priority for the Board, and the challenge has been to define the role of the School in an appropriate way that reflects the legal and practical limits of what the School can do to prevent or respond to incidents of alcohol or drug abuse that occur outside of school.

At its November meeting the Bronxville Board of Education turned to additional questions related to facilities and finances:

• How can school facilities best support the current and future learning needs of our students?

• What comprises a fiscally responsible, sustainable model of educational excellence for the Bronxville School?

Other articles in this newsletter describe the presentations heard by the Board. Superintendent David Quattrone suggested several possible goals for the Board to consider in December, and Dr. Hudson commented that it might take several years to attain them.

Architects See Much Improvement, Identify Future Needs

The District's architects, KG&D, presented the Board and the public with the results of its five-year building conditions survey. This process, required by law, provides the cornerstone of a comprehensive facilities master plan, which the Board will consider in January.

Russ Davidson and Calvin Black, both of KG&D, reported "terrific progress" since the 2005 survey, citing the rotunda renovation, conversion to digital controls, and flood recovery work. Areas of improvement include ceilings and doors; roofs and parapets; windows; and heaters, controls, and boilers. The inspection team found no significant problems in the C wing of the building, now six years old. "It's a significantly different building today," Black commented.

The next phase of work, he said, should focus on replacing floor tile and ventilation controls. With infrastructure problems largely under control, the next step is to focus on program-related issues, in particular auditorium improvements and the renovation of Middle School science labs.

The facilities committee will review options for the auditorium in the coming months and report back to the Board. In order to develop a funding plan for facilities needs, the Board is considering establishing a construction reserve. In addition, there are some partnerships with the PTA and the Bronxville School Foundation that have played major roles in facilities improvements, including bathroom renovations and field improvements. The Foundation has expressed interest in supporting the early stages of a possible auditorium renovation.

Carlin Kicks Off 2011 Budget Process

As the Bronxville Board of Education considers what financial targets to set, Assistant Superintendent Dan Carlin launched the budget process by reviewing past patterns and identifying future needs.

He began by describing the history of how school budget increases have outpaced inflation. He then pointed out how the district has stabilized the budget and tax rates over the last two years. On the horizon, however, Bronxville faces several difficult challenges. Collective bargaining is still underway with four employee groups; new contracts may produce additional expenditures. Similarly, employer contributions to state retirement funds and rising health benefit costs will also lead to higher costs. Expected reductions in state aid and the end of federal stimulus grants will further complicate the picture. Carlin ended by laying out several budget scenarios, swinging between increases of 2.5% and 8%. These scenarios do not reflect the budget deliberations, reductions, and adjustments that will surely come in the months ahead. The budget process will involve a careful review of how best to minimize taxpayer expense.

No actual budget has yet been proposed. As in the past, a rollover budget will be discussed at a February workshop, open to the public. the full presentation can be found here.