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051404 Strong administration deserves `yes' vote
in Bedford Central
Bedford Central School District voters don't have
a lot to gripe about with the current administration. The district has maintained a first-rate quality of education, helped cap building expenses, and developed an innovative and far-reaching educational system. The nightmarish battles of a few years back are gone, with an enthusiastic unity among dedicated board members and administrators. The increase this year for the district budget stands at 6.91 percent, a number in keeping with other districts faced with rising benefits costs, personnel and administrative expenses, maintenance requirements, and state and federal mandates. For Bedford and Pound Ridge residents, the percentage increase is even lower, 4.90 and 4.83 percent, respectively.The district will need to continue to attract quality administrators in the future without breaking the bank, and maintain its aggressive recruitment policies, which have paid dividends with promising new principals at the Fox Lane Middle School, Bedford Hills Elementary School, and Mount Kisco Elementary School. The district must guarantee equitable class sizes in schools throughout the district, with the goal of providing equal opportunity of education to all students.
Bedford Central's Proposition 2 asks voters to use a surplus fund balance for critical building items and improvements - among them classroom desks, tables, and chairs for Pound Ridge Elementary School, Mount Kisco Elementary School, and Fox Lane High School. The plan has been well-presented. The second part of this proposition requests a reallocation of funds not to exceed $760,000, which would bring artificial turf to the Fox Lane campus main stadium field, the boys' baseball infield, and the Fox Lane campus girls' softball infield. This should save the district money in the long run and protect our players.
Three Bedford Central school board members are running unopposed this year: incumbent Brad Sacks, and newcomers Donna Marino of Bedford Village and Frances LoMonaco Loucas, a Pound Ridge resident. Mr. Sacks has done an admirable job of articulating the issues and staying on top of building plans and cost-saving measures. Ms. Marino and Ms: LoMonaco Loucas are proven volunteers in their schools. We anticipate that the new members will rapidly come up to speed and develop a point of view that will bring new insights and serve the best interests of the district's voters.
A "yes" vote for the budget's Proposition 1 is an endorsement of a well-managed and highly respected school district. This is not a time for voters to be complacent, however; a cost-cutting mood is prevalent - as residents of Pound Ridge found when the proposed community center, considered a slam dunk, slashed and burned. While serious opposition to the district's budget proposal has not been in evidence, at election time, nothing can be taken for granted.