To Save Programs, Bedford Central Eyes Outside Funding

As the Bedford Central School District faces cuts to its programs in the proposed 2013-14 budget, cost sharing with outside entities is being looked at as a way to salvage some items.

Briefing the school board on the initiatives at a Wednesday meeting, Superintendent Jere Hochman outlined efforts that are being made, or will be attempted, for outreach.

One example is television programming, as the budget calls for cutting a technician job. Hochman suggested an approach similar to PBS, where outside underwriting or advertising is accepted. Hochman also raised the ideas of contracting TV service with BOCES and supporting the Town of Bedford to record local happenings; the superintendent recently reached out to the BOCES superintendent and Bedford Town Supervisor Lee Roberts. Hochman added that Mount Kisco and Pound Ridge officials will be approached about similar proposed arrangements.

Hochman also raised the possibility of collaborating with Northern Westchester Hospital, noting that he talked with CEO Joel Seligman.

“We have a great partnership and so we think that this is an opportunity for them to get their message out and they're part of the community and so we're just beginning to have some really good conversations, that's all,” Hochman told Patch.

The fate of Fox Lane High School Student Assistance Counselor Lauren Beeson, whose job is among the 21.5 proposed job cuts in the budget, could improve. Hochman noted that outreach is being made to outside groups, such as drug councils for Mount Kisco, Bedford and Pound Ridge, to see if the district could either get financial support or in-kind contributions. If shared support is gathered, it is possible that Beeson’s job could be saved for at least a year.

Meanwhile, a series of modified sports teams that could be axed - they total four full teams and part of a fifth, the superintendent said - are being eyed by the Fox Lane Sports Boosters Club to save through private financing.

“I'm very confident that they will figure out a way to fill in that gap for one year,” Hochman said.

An analysis of clubs at the middle and high school levels will be done, as officials grapple with which ones to cut. Hochman suggested that this will include looking at clubs that are instructional in nature, whether some can be consolidated and whether clubs can take a “junior achievement” approach where they operate like businesses and raise funds.

The discussion of shared services comes a week after dozens from the community turned out for a board meeting, with several students and adults expressing concern over the fate of Beeson and the proposed cuts to rotational music time at Fox Lane High School and Fox Lane Middle School.

In the case of the rotationals, which are small group lessons that focus on specific instruments and can overlap with other class times, Hochman reported that there are no changes for the budget. However, district officials are considering whether small-group support can be offered after the regular school day or during lunch. Additionally, inquiries into how other districts fare will be done. The proposed cuts of rotationals also come as additions of band, chorus and orchestra are being considered for the high school due to a rise in enrollment.

School board members appeared to be receptive to Hochman’s plan.

Board member Suzanne Grant noted that for items such as TV, Beeson’s job and sports “seem to have a direction for raising money there.”

Fellow board member Jennifer Gerken suggested the approach could serve as a precedent for other school districts looking for ways to share services and cut costs, “without just having to just lop off entire programs.”

Board President Susan Wollin, mindful of community angst over cuts, noted that not everyone will be pleased with the budget, but that there is a need to have a collective balance.

“That said, we're all part of the same team.”

Wollin also felt that “The potential is great,” for outside support. While the school board itself is unable to fundraise, Wollin noted that parents can do so.

The proposed budget calls for spending $124,853,000 and an increase of the tax levy, which is the amount of tax revenue to be collected, of 3.37 percent. The amount technically complies with the tax levy cap, which is the lesser of 2 percent or the inflation rate, because of exemptions such as some pension contribution payments and changes to the local property tax base.

The budget’s projected tax rates, which represent the costs owed by taxpayers per $1,000 of assessed value, are set to rise by 4.56 percent for Bedford, 0.68 percent for Mount Kisco, 2.30 percent for New Castle, 3.07 percent for Pound Ridge and 5.51 percent for North Castle. The tax rates vary among towns because of a formula called the equalization rate, which is used to reconcile differences in how property values are assessed and to apportion the levy’s value.

The school board is set to adopt a budget next week at its April 17 meeting, which must be approved in a public vote, scheduled for May 21, in order to go into effect.