WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS ROUNDUP. By John F. Bailey. August 18, 2008: Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Connors told WPCNR tonight there has been no movement on negotiation a new contract with the White Plains teachers since talks broke off June 30 for the summer. He said he expected to resume negotiations with Kerry Broderick, head of the White Plains Teachers Association in September. He said Ms. Broderick had not approached him, but he is always open he said.

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The school district hired two custodial workers, one Office Assistant in Food Services; approved tenure for four Teaching Assistants, hired five teachers on Probationary appointments, and five Regular Substitute appointments. Asked if the district had allowed any vacant positions not be filled as a way of trimming the budget through attrition since June 30, the Superintendent said the district had not, because that could affect class sizes.

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The Board of Education approved a 2.75% salary increase across the board for 19 Managerial & Confidential employees.

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The Superintendent was asked if the School District was going to work on trimming the school budget earlier this year.

Mr. Connors said the district was waiting to see what the state legislature would do regarding property tax issues. The legislature reconvenes Tuesday with both State Senate and State Assembly at odds over Governor David Patterson’s property tax cap proposal, passed by the Senate last week. Last year the state did not make known its intentions towards school aid until after the school budget was formulated by the district.

The White Plains School district is on target to hit the $200 Million mark in 2009-2010. The current budget is $184.4 Million.

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The Board of Education held off discussion of the 2^nd and 3^rd grade WINGS programs in the elementary levels until September 8 because a report of recommendations was not completed yet. Asked how changes might affect that program, Mr. Connors said “there’s always room for improvement.” Connors told the Board of Education the 4th and 5th Grade WINGS programs were not going to change.

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The Superintendent said enrollment for the 2008-2009 school year beginning September 4 was as expected and not increased from 2007-2008 when it was approximately 7,100 students.

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Charles Norris, member of the Board of Education,told WPCNR, unsolicited, that he was not a candidate for Mayor of White Plains at this time, contrary to rumors that he has heard to that effect. He said he would not run as a Republican, but strongly denied he was a candidate at this time.

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Board Members Peter Bassano and Charles Norris, asked if they had seen a design of the new $104,000  jumbotron-equiped scoreboard ordered last month for Loucks Field, the new artificial turf field in White Plains, said they had not.

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Superintendent of SchoolsTimothy Connors noted that the 2008 high school football schedule begins Saturday, September 6 against Roosevelt at 1:30 P.M. at Loucks Field, followed by a night game at 7 P.M. against Scarsdale, September 12.  The Schedule:

September 6: Roosevelt, 1:30 P.M.

September 12: Scarsdale, 7 P.M.

September 20 -- at Mamaroneck, 7 P.M.

September 27: Mount Vernon, 2:30 P.M.

October 4: at New Rochelle, 3:30 P.M.

October 10: Gorton, 7 P.M.

October 18: at Lincoln, 1:30 P.M.

November 27 (Thanksgiving): Stepinac, 10:30 A.M.

(Presumed to be Loucks Field venue due to higher seating capacity. Parker Stadium last year was filled to well past capacity and spectators had to be turned away by officials.)