NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A public hearing on the 2017-2018 proposed school budget was held Tuesday evening in the New Rochelle High School library. The meeting provided an opportunity for city residents to address the Board of Education one last time before the budget vote on May 16. The district had also provided opportunities for public input at three school budget review sessions in March.
Several PTA representatives took advantage of the opportunity to voice their support for the budget, which was unanimously adopted by the board in April. The spending plan maintains programs while holding the tax levy increase under 2 percent.
Kristine Sharp, Davis Elementary School PTA co-president, said, “The Davis Elementary school PTA membership has voted by quorum in favor of approving the 2017-2018 City School District of New Rochelle budget. We are pleased that the board was able to present a budget that stays under the tax cap without raising class size.”
“As a body, we voted unanimously to support the 2017-2018 budget. The budget is sound and aligns with the district’s strategic roadmap,” added Suyen Taylor, president of the PTA Council of New Rochelle, which encompasses members from each of the district’s 11 PTAs. “It meets the PTA mandate to support and encourage the development of the whole child by maintaining safe and secure buildings and sound teaching practices. We appreciate the work that the Board of Education has done on behalf of all students in the City School District of New Rochelle.”
Trinity PTA President Tita Damiani was unable to attend the hearing but provided this statement: “We finally have an administration that is approachable and is willing to speak to the community at their meetings, therefore evoking a feeling of equal inclusion across the district. Any and every concern we have approached the board with has been acknowledged and acted upon to resolve. We are grateful for that.”
The entire budget is posted on the home page of the district website.