White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Action Committees Next in School Planning. Priorities Not Disclosed

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS by John F. Bailey. February 16, 2007: The Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors in a statement said that the Strategic Plan Core Planning Committee had had a successful three day conference last week, and now the process would begin to develop Action Committees of citizens to define the actions needed to implement the 5 Strategies created by the Core Planning Committee at the Crowne Plaza Hotel "retreat" last week. Connors said the process was expected to be completed by November when the 10 Year Strategic Plan would be presented to the Board of Education. He made the remarks at the Board of Education meeting Monday night. Photo, WPCNR News

Connors did not announce any specifics to the public as to what the Core Planning Committee has planned and what present school district realities needed to be addressed, if any. There was no statement of the state of the School District today by the Core Planning Committee. There was no statement on the directions the Strategic Plan is going to take, and what issues they considered the district had to address. There was no indication, for example, whether the Core Planners considered budget containment, administration structure, new building possibilities, demographic shifts, adding bilingual teachers, reaching out to obtain corporation financial support were to be pursued, just a few of potential directions a school district with a budget rising twice the rate of inflation yearly with an eroding assessment role might address. Peter Bassano, Board member made a statement saying the Core Planning Group had identified 5 Strategies “which define the priorities of the planning process that will be addressed by the action Planning Teams.” What the priorities and objectives are was not announced by Mr. Bassano, either. Bassano a member of the committee announced the 5 Strategies were 1. Curriculum and Programs; 2. Communications; 3. District Resources (including finances, infrastructure, personnel); 4. Developing leadership, and 5. Commitment to Implementation of the plan. Bassano assured the public there was a great deal of controversy during the three days with the “Core Planning 30:” “Some of the comments we received from the community echoed my own initial skepticism. As the action teams are formed and begin the detailed planning work, I hope some of these community members will take an active part in the process.” The board member told the audience “This first phase was not easy. Difficult and occasionally uncomfortable issues were open aired in a bold and constructive manner. The process was not a self-congratulatory, “feel good” exercise.” He said that the experience was a very good one that they left with a very positive feeling about the district. Bassano told the CitizeNetReporter that persons wishing to be on the Action Teams being formed to construct strategies to implement the undisclosed priorities should contact the Superintendent’s office, 422-2019. Three parents, Sheryl Brady, Charlie Norris and Jerry Rosen members of the Core Planning Committee addressed the meeting saying what a great experience it was, and how participation of the students on the committee, Randy Patterson, Ana Montoya and Victor Brady made all so proud of the school district that the students were able to bring so much to the table Mr. Rosen, one of those parents told WPCNR on leaving the meeting that no specific objectives had been set by the five Strategies. He said no problems or situations had been identified by the Core Planners either, and he said setting objectives to achieve the "Strategies" was up to the Action Committees. Public will be informed. Superintendent Connors said that once the Action Committees had set policies to achieve the “priorities” (whatever they may be), he would be glad to explain them and a report would be available to the community. There was no timetable set for the Action Committees to report. Another committee that will be formed would be an Evaluation Committee to report on how successful the actions of the “Action Plans” were being executed. The Superintendent is picking the members of the Action Committees. Bassano, in his remarks said, “We have already gotten constructive input from a broad cross section of our community, ranging from parents, educators, representatives from our City government and community members, even from a former mayor and former school superintendent. Going forward, we are gong to take advantage of these community assets as we put together the action teams who will work over the next several months to gather and analyze data and develop specific plans of action to recommend to the Board.” Stadium -- Post Road Projects Report on February 26 The Superintendent of Schools reported that he would bring the district up to date on the Stadium renovation (a $9.5 Million expenditure), and the Post Road School project (a $39 Million expenditure), part of the $69.6 Million project on Monday, February 26 at the next Board of Education Meeting. Peter Bassano mentioned that the architect, Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson had already met with the Post Road School “stakeholders” explaining and getting school input on the final design of that renovation. He did not say if there were any significant changes. WPCNR has learned that the architect has also met with the coaches and other stakeholders in the stadium project. Connors told WPCNR that final design plans had not been sent to the State Education Department for approval, and did not expect the plans would go to Albany for at least two weeks. No mention of Court Order and Settlement of WPHS Renovation Court Case Connors did not make any public mention of the status of the Court Order that Judge Charles Brieant of the U.S. District Court of the Southern District handed down to the district January 25. Judge Brieant found, in a non-jury trial, that the district owes Travelers Casualty and Surety Company approximately $2 Million in fees and services stemming from the high school renovation. The Judge also found the architect as having engaged in constructive fraud on the White Plains High School renovation project which Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson, the architect on the new Capital Project oversaw. Minor Cert & Transportation Contract Settled. On other matters – Assistant Superintendent for Business Fred Seiler said that the White Plains Mall was approved to receive a $101,501.35 certiorari payment. Seiler also reported the district had reached a five year contract with the White Plains Bus Company for transportation services for the district which will be pegged to the rate of yearly inflation, estimated to be about 3.2% for each of the next five years (through 2012).

Note: The Board of Education Meeting was taped Monday night and is available for viewing on WPPS-TV, White Plains Public Schools, Channel 77 evenings.


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