Outcries of Support Given for Bedford Music Programs, Counselor

The Bedford Central School District's board of education meetings are typically quiet occasions. On Wednesday, the board's meeting was anything but, as dozens of people turned out for discussion about the proposed 2013-14 budget.

Notably, several attendees got up to the microphone during public comment and voice their opposition to proposed cuts of music rotational class time and to the student assistance counselor job at Fox Lane High School, which is held by Lauren Beeson.

Beeson had numerous supporters, who noted her work as an advisor at the high school's Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club that deals with troubled kids, to providing personal support with students dealing with problems such as substance abuse.

Christina Ingraldi, a Fox Lane student and SADD member, asked the school official to keep Beeson, noting her role in the club.

“Ms. Beeson is really instrumental” in this, she explained.

Oscar Flores recalled how he coped with alcohol abuse and how Beeson helped him improve his life.

“Alcohol almost destroyed my life and it got to a point where I could not control it," he said. "But there was someone there willing to listen and help me.”

Flores added: “Ms. Beeson is not only a student helper. She's also a friend, someone who cares for her students and someone who fights for them.”

For student Emily Anderson, Beeson was someone who helped make her more ongoing.

“She has helped me growth into myself & feel more comfortable around other people.”

Adults who sit on the Mt. Kisco Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention Council also came out to support Beeson, who sits on its youth committee and works on teen outreach. 

“Her accomplishments are many and her success in reaching the students is evident," said Fran Seeve, who works with the council. 

Nan Miller, a co-coordinator with the council, noted that she recently met with SADD, and felt that Beeson fostered an atmosphere where students feeling more trusting and are opening about discussing the issue of drug use.

“She can direct them to get some help, and she does do that,” said Mel Berger, who chairs the Mount Kisco council.

Mount Kisco Police Officer Edwin Ramirez, who sits on the council, echoed Miller's sentiments.

Meanwhile, concerns about music rotational cuts brought out many passionate supporters.

Ingraldi, also a student musician, described relying more on large music ensembles, which include multiple instruments, as like having a foreign language class with several languages. She noted the differences in dealing with unique instruments.

“It's a whole ordeal that I don't think people who don't play an instrument understand.”

“It's a really important part of orchestra, very important," said student Peter Malinverni about rotationals, which are supplemental classes with small groups that having learning for separate instruments.

Student Silas Grossbendt felt that there is a "marked improvement" in his music from the day after a rotational versus the day before.

Rotationals are being cut from the middle school and high school, according to the proposed budget, but will be kept in the district's five elementary schools. However, at the secondary level, breaking up the ensembles into smaller groups is also being eyed.

“You can't have that many kids," said parent Susie Vallon, whose daughters, in middle school and elementary school, then spoke with their thoughts.

Some, meanwhile, also worried that a rock ensemble extra-curricular club could be at risk.

Izzy Jordan, a student at the middle school, gathered quotes from several of her fellow students, speaking out against getting rid of the rock ensemble or music cuts in general. She read the quotes aloud to the board, and said that she got 57 signatures in support.

Kenneth Schonberg, a Millwood resident and former Chappaqua school board member whose grandkids are students in Bedford Central, said that with the rock ensemble, his granddaughter has learned “the crucial lessons of team work, leadership, and the rewards of hard work and practice.”

“It is much more than simply dancing, singing and playing guitar," he added.

Whether the beloved rock ensemble actually does get cut does not appear likely. Mark Betz, assistant superintendent for business, explained to Patch that programs with strong demand and that have an instructional component are unlikely to be cut. Officials have not decided with middle or high school clubs to cut yet.

With regards to staffing for secondary level music programs, Superintendent Jere Hochman outlined the competing priorities presented with providing education in general, noting that there is an inequity in staffing between subject areas. As an example, he noted a need to deal with classes at the high school that have student enrollment in the high 20's range.

The budget could potentially be changed again between now and April 17, a cut off date for the board adopting a budget that would be put up for a public referendum on May 21,