Supt's Scoop
Dr. Manno's E-Brief, Jan. Edition, #7 2017-18 School Year
A message from the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools
Dear BCSD Families,
As we welcome the New Year, we are at a very busy point in our school year cycle. While there are always numerous projects, initiatives, and operations we manage, this time of year our attention focuses intensely on the development of the 2018-19 School District Budget, and we also evaluate and assess our progress on our District Goals - our 2017-18 BCSD Success Plan.
The Superintendent's Budget will be presented during our regular Board of Education meeting on February 28, 2018. We are preparing a budget which is within the New York State property tax levy cap, while also meeting the needs of our students and programs. As we achieved last year, we anticipate another year of incremental and sustainable growth in our programs and services. We will remind the public numerous times during this budget cycle that this is the year that BCSD must begin paying on the Bond Referendum approved by the voters on (October 22, 2013). This will increase BCSD's allowable property tax levy cap; however, "the mortgage must be paid."
This month, a brief presentation will be provided updating the Board of Education and community on our Success Plan progress. Detailed information about the Success Plan can be found on our website under Board of Education. This link will take you to a snapshot of our progress in a dashboard format. This link will take you to the actual action plans for each objective in our Success Plan, which are listed under the "Big Goals" of:
- Improve Programs for Students
- Improve Climate and Safety
- Improve Communications and Community Engagement
- Improve Fiscal and Operational Mangement
We hope you take the time to review what is happening in BCSD to achieve continuous improvement.
Best Regards and In Service,
Brian Sheerin, President
Michelle Brooks, Vice President
William Canavan
Colette Dow
Pam Harney
Edward Reder
Beth Staropoli
Dr. Christopher Manno, Superintendent of Schools
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.
The BCSD Foundation Working to Support Teaching and Learning
The BCSD Foundation is excited to announce three new, innovative academic programs in our district which are being funded by the Foundation for Bedford Central Schools. We are grateful to all of you who support the Foundation and make these types of programs possible. To learn more about the Foundation, visit their new website here!
The first is a literacy program for 6th graders. This program incorporates general reading and writing skills into the science curriculum (so while students are learning about science topics, they are also becoming better readers and writers).
The second is the first annual Capstone Project for 7th Graders. This is a multi-discipline research project that results in an in-depth understanding of a specific topic and culminates in a hands-on experience. The 2017-2018 project will be based on a book all 7th graders will read about the conflict in the Sudan and its impact on the water supply. The project also involves ELA, Social Studies, and Science where research will highlight political conflict and water as a limited, natural resource. The Capstone experience will culminate with a trip to Albany to meet legislators and lobbyists and discuss their roles in setting legislative agendas and policy. The students will also take a cruise on the Hudson to incorporate their research on water and understand it in context as a limited resource.
Finally, we will be launching a social sciences enrichment program for all K-5 students throughout the five elementary schools. The programming focuses on environmental sciences and social studies and will be incorporated into the curriculum.
What's Happening in BCSD?
Important Parent Engagement Opportunities and Calendar Information
- Thursday, January 25 at 7 pm- 8th grade parent orientation in FLHS Mary Lou Meese Theater
- Tuesday, January 30 at 7 pm - MKES Kindergarten Parent Engagement Meeting
- Thursday, February 1 at 7 pm- 11th grade Parent College Planning
- Friday, February 2 -District-wide Half Day of School (second. dismissal at 10:20 / elem. dismissal @ 11:30)
- Thursday, February 15 at 7 pm - FLMS Fox Factor Talent Show
- Monday, February 19 - Friday, February 23 - Mid Winter Recess- Schools Closed
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.
What happens when bad weather is expected?
When inclement weather is expected, the process of evaluating BCSD's opening status begins many hours prior to that phone call. The day and evening prior, the Superintendents receives frequent notices from Fleet Weather, the District's weather service, and utilizes other weather forecasting tools, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Weather.com, and other local sources.
The morning of a potential weather event begins at 3:30 a.m. with the Superintendent of Schools again reviewing weather data from various sources. The District Facilities Director collects information from regional road departments, and about conditions at each district school facility. The Superintendent and Facilities Director talk before 4:30 a.m. The Superintendent participates in a regional Conference call with Northern Putnam-Westchester Superintendents at 4:30 p.m. The Superintendent not only needs to consider conditions in BCSD communities but also must consider decisions of surrounding school districts.
A decision is made by approximately 5 a.m., and then the work begins. The Superintendent crafts the appropriate message and records and scripts the message to be sent in English and Spanish. A complex communication system is enacted, including text messages, emails, and phone messages to administrators, service providers such as transportation services, food services, and buildings and grounds staff, news media, private schools, before-school program providers, and of course notification to families via phone, email, text, BCSDTV, and the District website. Each of these steps is assigned to specific individuals and are carefully coordinated and executed.
If all goes well, the Superintendent and others involved in the decision are enjoying a cup of hot coffee by about 5:30 a.m. or so. Decisions and correspondence must occur at this early hour because buses begin to roll on a normal day by 6 a.m.
We hope this is helpful to our families and community members to know and understand what is involved in a weather decision.