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Bedford Central
071400 Salary contract increases
By FRANK NARDOZZI
In a six to one vote, the Bedford Central School Board granted a five-year contract extension to Schools Superintendent Bruce Dennis last week and agreed to an annual three percent salary increase for each of the five years.
Dr. Dennis' salary, which at $182,715 is already reported to be one of the highest in the county, would rise to approximately $211,814 by the end of five years.
With an additional $30,000 in fringe benefits including health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement and social security contributions, and use of a district automobile, Dr. Dennis' entire compensation package would be worth more than $240,000 in five years. The package is currently worth $213,673.
At its organizational meeting, held Thursday, July 6, the board also elected Dorothy Fallon, who was recently reelected to the board, as its president. She replaced Paul Alcorn, who lost his bid for reelection to Bedford resident Joseph Whelan. Elfin Sullivan, who is serving her third year on the board, was elected vice president.
At a special meeting of the board on Tuesday, July 11, salary increases for
each of the assistant superintendents were also approved. The assistant superintendents and their salary increases are:
 | David Abbey, curriculum and instruction, a 4.4 percent increase, to $133,372; |
| James Alloy, assistant superintendent for personnel and staff development, an increase of 3.75 percent, to $125,199; |
| Mark Betz, business and administrative services, an increase of 4.8 per-cent, to $120,461; and |
| Carol Franks-Randall, special education and student services, an increase of 4.8 percent, to $119,061. |
The school board also approved a salary adjustment for Jean Follansbee, director of technology, following receipt of her administrative certification. Her salary will rise from $87,975 to $95,000 next year and $101,000 in 2001-2002.
Sullivan votes against
Ms. Sullivan was the only vote against Dr. Dennis' new contract. She said that while she "valued his contributions," she could not support the additions to his contract "in view of his current level of compensation."
School Board Member Mark Slivka said that it was a "difficult decision" for him also, because of the compensation issue and because "the timing was regrettable," following so soon after an initial budget vote defeat (a reduced budget was ultimately approved by voters).
Mr. Slivka also cited problems that have arisen in communication between the school board and the public and in the district's dealings with local newspapers.
However, in reaching his decision to vote in favor, Mr. Slivka cited Dr. Dennis' "extraordinary experience and talent, his good relationship with staff, the new programs he has introduced and student scores on state exams, most of which have been outstanding."
He also said that it would probably cost more to replace Dr. Dennis with someone else, a conclusion that was also reached by Board Member Mel Comberiati.
Mrs. Fallon said that discussions were started with Dr. Dennis last win-ter when "other districts expressed an interest in obtaining his services." When Dr. Dennis asked to be reassured about the district's commitment to him, Mrs. Fallon said the board wished to endorse his "strong leader-ship" and "maintain its competitiveness" with other districts.
"The board wanted to recognize his excellent performance," she said, calling Dr. Dennis "one of the most highly regarded professional school administrators in the country."
Mrs. Fallon also cited student achievements at high levels and their success in obtaining entrance to some of the finest colleges and universities in the country.
Board Member Paula Kumar called the agreement "fair and equitable" to both Dr. Dennis and the district in comparison with other school districts.
Whelan has no objections
The newest board member, Mr. Whelan, surprised some observers by not questioning the renewed superintendent's contract and not wanting to compare the increases to the cost of living or other districts. "I have no problem with the contract," he said at the meeting. However, Mr. Whelan did raise a question of "hospitality," noting that the contract was not avail-able for the public to make comment on it.
In a short statement of appreciation, Dr. Dennis thanked the board for the opportunity "to continue to serve the children of this district in a way that brings credit to this board."
The board did not renew its contract
with its attorneys, Ingerman Smith of Northport, Long Island, for a full calendar year. Mr. Slivka expressed "some concern over the work that they have done for us" and suggested the board hire an attorney "on a monthly basis until we are able to decide who we want."
Mrs. Fallon suggested that Ingerman Smith be retained until the end of the year to give the board time to look for legal counsel. An extension of the firm's contract was approved for six months at $22,500, half its annual retainer.
Mr. Slivka also suggested that the school board review every legal action it is currently pursuing "to see whether we should continue them or not." That would include the appeal of a federal court's ruling in the co-called "Satan Suit," which upheld three out of 15 complaints filed by three Pound Ridge Roman Catholic families over certain school district practices they said amounted to an unconstitutional endorsement of religions in the schools.
Dr. Dennis suggested the week of Sept. 18 for such a review and the board agreed.
Some discussion was held on the proposal to hold regular school board meetings at different schools around the district to attract more public/
input. Mr. Slivka said that this strategy had not worked previously, but that interest might be higher now after the recent school budget votes.
Mrs. Fallon cited the logistics problem of moving the television equipment out to the elementary schools, creating a "late night experience for the television crew."
Ms. Sullivan stated that attendance was far greater when the board held meetings on the subject of class size at the elementary schools. She recommended that "town meetings" on special issues be held at the elementary schools.
Dr. Dennis concurred with this suggestion, saying that it might help to improve communication with the public and prevent wear and tear on the video equipment.
Community feedback
"I wonder what the community thinks about this?" asked Mr. Whelan. "How do we get feedback from them?"
"The community gives us feedback constantly," Mrs. Fallon replied. "They write us letters, send us e-mail, stop us in the supermarket and in the library."
"I mean before this decision is made," Mr. Whelan said.
Ms. Fallon said that the board could revisit the question in the future, but for the time being she suggested that regular board meetings continue to be
held in the Little Theater at Fox Lane Middle School, with the exception of town meetings and other local issue type meetings to be scheduled at the elementary schools.
The board voted five to two in favor of this policy, with Mr. Slivka and Mr. Comberiati voting against it.
Agendas dropped
In the public comment section of the meeting, Mike Carbone of Bedford Hills criticized the board for giving a sizable raise to the 'superintendent while eliminating a $2,500 budget line that was used to print and send out agendas to the public in advance of board meetings.
"Why don't you take that $2,500 out from someplace else?" he asked. "Why are you trying to keep that information from the public?"
Mrs. Fallon responded that the school board intended to improve its communication with the public, but that mailing out agendas was only a minor part of the total picture. Agendas will be available at all schools, at the central administration building and on the school district's web site on the Internet.
"But I hear what you're saying," she said.
Mr. Carbone was joined in his cornplaint by Phil Christe of Mount Kisco, who along with Mr. Carbone is a perennial school board critic. Mr. Christe called the board's "pullback" of the agendas "rather petty" and criticized the board and administration for "targeting selected groups in the district with clever threats" in order to get them to vote for passage of the school budget.
One of the contingencies that Dr. Dennis said the school district would have had to face if the budget had been defeated a second time was the inability to hire a new principal for the Mount Kisco Elementary School.
Mount Kisco recorded the largest "yes" vote in the second budget referendum, with 587 votes in favor to 315 against — a "yes" margin of 272. Hundreds of first-time voters were registered to vote in Mount Kisco by pro-budget forces, it was reported.
"I respect your opinion," Mrs. Fallon said in response to Mr. Christe's statement. "But I strongly disagree with what you are saying."
"We'll discuss it with the commissioner," Mr. Christe responded, alluding to the complaint he had filed with Richard Mills, New York state education commissioner, alleging illegal electioneering and unfair tactics used by the school board and administration in the budget elections.