To the Editor:

We, the Friends of the Bedford Central School District, are a growing group of parents and community members from throughout the district. We are concerned about maintaining the quality of excellence in education that is presently provided for our children while at the same time supporting a fiscally disciplined budget.

We urge you to vote for the upcoming school budget on Tuesday, May 16. We believe the board has worked diligently and aggressively to arrive at a final budget figure that represents the district's best efforts to meet the demands of enrollment growth while maintaining an outstanding academic and extracurricular program for our children. We feet this budget supports the community's commitment to curriculum development and highest teaching practices, and includes sufficient resources to meet the new academic standards mandated by New York state. ,

Our community is experiencing unprecedented growth. This increased growth has led to a four percent district wide enrollment increase and an 8.13 percent growth in enrollment at Fox Lane Middle School alone in this coming academic year. Resources are required to accommodate this enrollment increase.

In addition, resources are needed to comply 'with increased instructional mandates for all students (including those requiring additional academic support), as determined by the new New York state academic standards. We feel this budget supports the district's ongoing commitment to long-range plans in curriculum development, technology, facility improvement and bus fleet replacement. Included also are funds dedicated to the gradual reorganization of the middle school into a graded structure.

Other fiscal realities affecting this

budget are regional and national growth in health care costs; negotiated salary increases for certified and support staff; the cost of transportation; and mandated services for children with special education needs.

The board sought public input at all stages of the budget process. Accordingly, we believe this budget reflects an exhaustive effort to responsibly meet the demands presented by the depth and breadth of our district's commitment to quality educational programming and to providing opportunities for all children in our community to excel.

Your "yes" vote on May 16 is vital to preserve Bedford Central School District's ability to provide excellent education for all our children.

Deborah Friedland, Pound Ridge Naomi Gorstein, Mount Kisco

Barbara Grossman Berger, Bedford

Heide Shilstone, Bedford Corners Tina and Stephen Lang, Bedford Hills Denise Moore, Pound Ridge