MEET THE BAUMANN SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
SCHOOLS
040503 Spending eased and programs restored
By FRANK NARDOZZI
Additional modifications in the proposed Bedford Central schools budget for 2003-04 have resulted in the restoration of more of the summer academy program that was previously cut and restoration of some high school teaching positions.
The budget-to-budget increase is now expected to be about 8.3 percent or 8.4 percent, with tax rate increases expected to be about 9 percent in Bedford and 7.7 percent in Pound Ridge. The final budget will be adopted by the school board on April 9 with a vote by residents of the school district on May 20.
Dr. Diane Ramos-Kelly, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and staff development, proposed to add three teachers and 36 students to her revised summer academy program to add more diversity to the students served.
Programs for English as Second Language students would be increased by 12 students each in the middle and high school levels. Another 12 students would be added to a special "bridge" class for students transitioning from elementary to middle school.
With the proposed restoration of cuts, the size of the summer academy would be 192 students this year as compared to 352 students in 2002. There would be a total of 16 teachers and three teachers' aides as compared to 27 teachers and 10 aides a year ago.
The district would save a total of $50,000 on the pared-down academy: $37,337 in instructional salaries, $9,163 in non-instructional salaries and $4,000 in materials and supplies.
Property to be sold
Another $186,000 in rescue aid is being used to replace the septic system at Bedford Hills Elementary School.
School Board Trustee Mark Slivka asked what the school district intended to do about the salt that was contaminating the Pound Ridge Elementary School's water supply. Mr. Betz responded that the district would have to dig another, deeper well in another location on the schools campus. He said the cost should be less than $10,000.
Mr. Betz added that it was not known for certain that the source of the contamination was road salt used by the town during the winter season.
Cell tower
School board member Joseph Whelan asked if anyone in the school administration was assigned the task of "beating the bushes" for more cell communications companies to colocate their facilities on the cell tower on the Fox Lane High School campus. Two companies currently pay $50,000 each every year to the school district for the right to use it. Another two companies could be accommodated, Mr. Whelan said.
Mr. Betz responded that he would have that responsibility if the school board asked him to, "but we haven't discussed it," he said.
"Other boards have decided not to focus on cell towers, but rather on educational issues," Mr. Betz said.
... And not on the revenue to pay for it," Mr. Whelan responded.
Mr. Betz noted that Westchester County was interested in talking to the board about locating its police, fire and medical emergency radio signals on the Fox Lane tower. However, he said that the county would not pay the district for locating on the tower.
School board member Elin Sullivan noted that one cell company had aggressively pursued the district about the Fox Lane cell tower. They were allowed access to the site to investigate it, but then the district never heard back from them, she said.
Mr. Betz responded that the cell company, believed to be Sprint, had since located or been given permission to build a cell tower in another area of town. He noted that the company had pursued the district and not the other way around.