011097 Record Review says: Vote yes to bond

SCHOOLS

BHES

BVES

FOX LANE HIGH SCHOOL

FLMS

MKES

PRES

SCANDALS

The Public Schools of Westchester County New York

011097 Record Review says: Vote yes to bond

We support Bedford Central's $17.8-million bond referendum and believe it deserves voters' support at the polls next Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Anyone who owns a home can understand that there are some items that, you budget for annually and make repairs to over the years. However, as your home grows older, things need to be replaced and larger repairs have to be financed outside of your annual household budget.

Try this same practice with seven homes and you have the Bedford Central School District, which has been balancing the much needed improvements among its five aging elementary schools and its middle and high schools. With enrollment expected to increase more than 25% over he next 10 years, we think it's prudent to make these improvements and expand now rather than later.

We trust wholeheartedly the findings of the Citizens' Facilities Advisory Committee, which were recommended by the Bedford Central Board of Education. We think this diverse group of volunteers devoted the needed hours in making sure that all recommendations are items that are needed.

For nearly a year, committee members investigated every nook and cranny of our school buildings, reviewed the demographer's report on enrollment, did some investigative research of its own on local birth rates and pared down a $43-million capital project wish list to $10.3 million.

The committee made some difficult decisions before it recommended both the current bond plan as well as a less expensive alternative plan that called for pairing of four elementary schools. The school board was correct in dismissing the pairing plan, favoring instead its neighborhood schools. Pairing only certain grades would have been disruptive to the children's education and social experience that school provides. It also would have increased transportation costs and caused some of the district's youngest children to be on buses for extended periods of time.

In light of this, we support the $7.5 million slated for expansion of the middle and elementary schools, specifically the $2.2 million for new two-story addition with two classrooms and library at Bedford Hills and the six-classroom wing with a library at Bedford Village, as well as the $17 million for the new cafeteria and library at the middle school.

The committee also centered its recommendations where the bulk of the increased enrollment will affect most: the elementary schools and Fox Lane Middle School. Without these expansion plans, the district would be looking at increasing class sizes or purchasing more portable classrooms.

Although there is much talk about what seems to be discrepancies in the demographer's report, the majority of the projects included in the proposed bond referendum deal with the children who are currently enrolled in the schools. They're there. The repairs at the elementary schools-and middle schools are justified.

.The $10.3 million set for capital projects also includes bringing our district school buildings in greater compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, making our school buildings accessible to not only handicapped children, but parents, staff amid the, general public.

also included are upgrades to electrical and mechanical systems, fire saet.y improvements, window and leaking roof repairs, drainage improvements as well as environmental hazards abatement.

While some may have a problem with the district installing wiring for future technology plans, we thinks it's wise and proactive to plan for what is eventually going to be coming to the Bedford Central schools. The technology plan may have failed in 1995, but who says there won't be another in years to come that the community will favor?

If there is going to be work on electrical fixtures at our schools already, it makes sense to put in the needed wiring now for future technology needs.

We believe the proposed bond handles the district's most pressing needs and addresses both current safety and educational problems facing the district now and for years to come. Vote yes for the bond.