Supt's Scoop
Dr. Manno's E-Brief, Feb. Edition, #8 2017-18 School Year
A message from the Superintendent of Schools
Dear BCSD Families and Community Members:
As we are well into the school year, we hope the BCSD community shares pride in notable progress. Last year, community members, parents, students, staff, administrators came together to design our BCSD Success Plan. Now, we are leveraging this plan to drive programmatic and other improvements across the District. In addition, the financial foundation and long-term sustainability of BCSD has improved over that past year and a half.
During this month's Board of Education meeting, I presented the proposed Superintendent's 2018-19 Budget. Our overarching budget development goals are to design a fiscally responsible budget that meets the educational needs of our students, meets the operational and fiscal needs of our school district and community, and promotes accountability and transparency.
These are the Principles which guided the development of this 2018-19 BCSD budget:
Work to maintain and enhance curricular and instructional programs - Evaluate and incrementally reinstate, and grow programs and services for students; Invest in the capacity of staff to achieve the Goals and Objectives of our BCSD Success Plan.
Limit projected expenses and maximize potential revenue - Stay within the legislative property tax levy cap; Maximize State Aid and other revenue sources.
Achieve compliance with state and/or federally mandated programs with minimal additions to staffing or other costs.
Work to maximize operational efficiencies.
Increase, maintain, and utilize reserves to support the strategic goals of the District - Build in operational contingencies for unanticipated expenditures; Continually seek efficiencies to bring in expenses under budget; Develop and manage reserve funds to prevent fiscal stress and crisis in the future.
Programmatically, the 2018-19 Superintendent’s budget seeks to:
Develop programs and practices to increase the inclusion and the success of children within the general education setting.
Promote consistent best ELA practices across elementary schools.
Increase resources to promote professional development to achieve SUCCESS Plan objectives.
Expand opportunities for children to engage in and be excited by the curricular and co-curricular program.
Increase social and emotional, and college and career planning support for students
Detailed information about the budget may be found on our District's website (this will go live on March 1st). Over the coming months, the Board of Education shall deliberate over the proposed budget and is expected to approve a final budget on April 11th to be placed before the voters for the May 15th vote.
Best Regards, and In Service,
Dr. Christopher Manno, Superintendent of Schools
This month our schools recognized Presidents' Day!
by Jenny Olson, Secondary Social Studies and Business Coordinator
The celebration of Presidents’ Day originated as a commemoration of George Washington’s birthday, February 22, 1732. In 1832, Congress organized national celebrations in his honor, and in 1892 established his birthday as a federal holiday. Across the United States, Washington’s birthday was celebrated on the same date, until in 1968 the Uniform Monday Holiday Act (Pub. L. 90-363) moved it, Memorial Day, and Veterans’ Day to Mondays. While the date of celebration may have changed, the purpose has largely remained the same; to honor and celebrate not only the four presidents whose birthdays are in February (Washington, Harrison, Lincoln, and Reagan), but also all other presidents.
Brookhiser, R. (2013). A birthday every American should remember. American History, 47(6), 42-45.
Johnson, L. "Statement by the President Upon Signing the Uniform Holiday Bill.," June 28, 1968. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=28963.
Schwartz, B. (2008). Collective Memory and Abortive Commemoration: Presidents' Day and the American Holiday Calendar. Social Research, 75(1), 75-110.
A Brief History of Black History Month - Also Recognized in Our Schools this Month!
by Jenny Olson, Secondary Social Studies and Business Coordinator
Begun in February, 1926 - a month chosen in honor of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’ birthdays - Black History Month started through the efforts of Carter G. Woodson. A notable Black scholar and 1912 recipient of a doctorate degree in history and government from Harvard University, Woodson and other Black academics established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, which published two academic journals and created the first annual Negro History Week.
Among the goals of Negro History Week was to celebrate and to recognize the role of ordinary citizens in history, not just great men. Woodson hoped to create awareness of a more inclusive history and to improve the historical narrative by bringing knowledge of the Black experience to the public. Although Woodson died in 1950, his work continued to expand through the Civil Rights movement, eventually becoming Black History Month. The US Congress designated February as Black History Month in 1986. In New York, the K-12 Social Studies curriculum incorporates the historical role, contributions and experiences of African-Americans in U.S. History from the nation’s founding to the modern era. In the 2016-2017 framework, an important component of social studies education is the development of skills and practices for historical thinking, including looking at events from multiple points of view (Gathering, Interpreting, and Using Evidence) and striving for social justice and human rights (Civic Participation).
At Fox Lane Middle and High School, the Social Studies Department uses the New York State Social Studies Framework to guide our curriculum development. Accordingly, students learn not only about African-American achievements, but also the accomplishments of diverse populations throughout American history.
Anderson, M. (2016). Black history month in schools: Retire or reboot? The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/02/black-history-monthretire-or-reboot/470124/
Bair, S. (2015). Inclusive historical narratives: Lessons from Mary Ritter Beard and Carter G. Woodson. Social Studies Research & Practice (Board of Trustees Of The University Of Alabama), 10(2), 124-134.
Curtis, S. (2018). Black history past and present. Middle Web. Retrieved from https://www.middleweb.com/5365/black-history-past-present/
NYSED SS frameworks http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/documents/9-12FrameworkRevFebruary2017.pdf
Scott, M. D. The history of black history. Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Retrieved from http://www.blackpast.org/perspectives/history-black-history-month
Other February Recognitions this Month in Our Schools!
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Promotional activities are available on the American Dental Association (ADA) Web site: www.ada.org.
February includes National School Counseling Week. We all value the important work of our counselors to support students' social, emotional wellness, and college and career goals.
February 11th is Thomas Alva Edison’s Birthday. Edison was a great American inventor who patented more than 1,000 inventions, including the phonograph, the microphone, and the incandescent electric lamp. He lived from 1847 – 1931.
February 14th through 20th is National Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Week. This recognition is always the second full week in February and focuses attention on the activities and goals of FCCLA, www.fcclainc.org.
February 15th is Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday. Anthony was a crusader for the abolition of slavery and women’s rights. She lived from 1820-1906.
February 20th is Frederick Douglass Day. Douglass was an African American journalist and antislavery leader who died in 1895. His birthdate is unknown.
February 23rd is W.E.B. DuBois’ s Birthday. DuBois was a scholar, social critic, and African American Leader who lived from 1868 to 1963. He helped organize the Niagara Movement, http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_niagara.html, the first Black protest movement of the 20th century and the forerunner of the NAACP. He was the first African American to hold a doctoral degree.
Student and Staff Recognitions
FLHS Science Research Students
On Saturday, February 3, 2018 , 2nd and 3rd year Fox Lane High School Science Research students participated in the Westchester-Rockland Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (WR-JSHS). The symposium is designed to challenge and engage high school students in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). Individual students competed for awards and recognition by presenting the results of their original research efforts either via PowerPoint before a panel of judges and an audience of their peers, or through a judged poster presentation. Congratulations to all participants!
A special acknowledgement goes to our award winners:
Competitive Poster Competition:
Madeleine Sleeman – 2nd Place in Biology IV
Speaker Competition (PowerPoint):
Simon Peck – 2nd Place in Biochemistry/Neuroscience II
Kyle Rowley – 5th Place in Cell and Molecular Biology I
Michelle Paolicelli – 5th Place in Medicine and Health I
On March 7 and 8, Simon Peck will be moving on to the Upstate New York JSHS at the University at Albany to give his PowerPoint presentation on his research titled Use of a Novel Peptide-Based Assay to Determine Potential Risk of Reaction to Lupine in Peanut Allergic Patients. Winners from this regional symposium will move on to the National JSHS to be held in Hunt Valley, MD in early May. Good luck!
FLHS Students Competed at Lower Hudson Valley Regional Science Competition
On February 10th, 40 students from Fox Lane High School competed in the Lower Hudson Valley Regional Competition. The day was a complete success! Students from Fox Lane, working in pairs, earned 23 medals. After enjoying the satisfaction of earning medals for the events, the team was thrilled to find out that Fox Lane was 2nd place overall out of 47 teams from our region. This is the 5th time in seven years our school has qualified for the New York State competition. Approximately 50 teams from throughout the state will now complete on March 9th and 10th at Le Moyne College in Syracuse NY.
FLHS Science Teacher selected to present at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education
Fox Lane High School Science Research teacher, Stephanie Peborde and her husband, Andrew Burke, an Upper School STEAM teacher at the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester were recently invited to present at the upcoming 2018 SITE (Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education) Conference in Washington, DC. The SITE Conference is an annual event dedicated to teacher educators and their affiliated organizations across all disciplines interested in the creation and dissemination of knowledge related to the use of information technology in education and staff development. On March 30th, the pair will present their paper titled Developing Maker Activity Models Across the Curriculum as a roundtable to foster conversations and ideas about infusing Making into all disciplines. Stephanie and Andrew’s paper combines expertise gained through their teaching and work as doctoral candidates in Educational Technology Leadership (New Jersey City University) and Computer Science (Pace University), respectively.
Link to paper: https://www.academicexperts.org/conf/site/2018/papers/52497/
Link to the conference: http://site.aace.org/
BCSD Improving its Fiscal Health
You will be pleased to know that from last year to this year, Bedford CSD has gone from being the 3rd most fiscally stressed school district in the State of NY with a designation of “Moderate,” (score of 45-64.9) to now having “No Designation” (score of 0-24.9). Last year, was at the top of this list of districts in “Moderate” fiscal stress, and there were two districts in the State of NY designated at in “Significant” fiscal stress.
This was a result of the collective work and tough decisions of past and present administrations and Board of Education members. We should all share pride in this significant step forward. BCSD must continue to exercise fiscal discipline and continue our thoughtful, incremental, and sustainable plan to rebuild, grow, and enhance programs and services for students.
What's Happening in BCSD?
The BCSD Foundation Working to Support Teaching and Learning
Important Parent Engagement Opportunities and Calendar Information
- March 29: Third Marking Period Ends
- March 30: First day of Spring Recess
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April 2 - 6: Spring Recess
Emergency Closing/Delayed Opening Procedures
In the event of inclement weather or other circumstances that would cause the closing of schools, a delayed opening, or an early school closing, communication with staff and families occurs in multiple and redundant ways.
Families and staff members will get notified via phone, email, and text using our School Messenger system. Please make sure your school has up-to-date contact information .
The District also posts delay, early dismissal, or closing information on the District Website, BCSDTV, and uses WHUD, News 12, NBC-TV, CBS-TV, FOX 5, and ABC-TV to broadcast school closings, late arrivals, and early dismissals.
On days when inclement weather is predicted, the decision to close school could be made the evening prior. If not, the decision-making process begins at 3:30 a.m. and includes research on weather conditions, assessment of site conditions for our schools, consultation with the highway departments of our towns, and a conference call with regional superintendents of schools. A decision will be made by approximately 5 a.m. and the communication process will be initiated.
Some important information:
- A "Delay" means a 2-hour delay for students and staff. Students report to their bus stops or arrive at school 2 hours after normal time.
- When a "Delay" is called, please continue to be alert for communications, as a "Delay" can become a "School Closing."
- For "Early Dismissals," the earliest bus runs for the high school/middle school would begin at 10:20 a.m. Elementary students would be dismissed at 11:30 a.m.
- If schools are closed, facilities are not available for use for after-school or evening activities by internal or external organizations; therefore, all after-school activities are canceled, with the exception of after-care occurring in schools.
- For "Early Dismissals," staff members are dismissed after students have left the campus.
- If schools are closed or there is an early dismissal on a Friday, please check the District website for the status of weekend activities.