Voters Approve New Rochelle School Budget: Board Bavosa, Ross, Cooper

Written By: Robert Cox

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Voters yesterday approved the City School District of New Rochelle’s $290.7 million 2021-2022 budget, which maintains programs, adds 18.5 positions and addresses students’ academic, social and emotional needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The vote was 2,245-887 according to unofficial figures.

Also, Margaret E. Bavosa and Roshanie Ross were elected to full five-year terms on the Board of Education, beginning July 1, 2021. Adam Cooper received the third-highest vote total among candidates and immediately joins the Board, filling out the remainder of a term that expires June 30, 2022.

Final results will become official when they are approved by the Board of Education, scheduled for a meeting at 8 p.m. today, Wednesday, May 19.

The budget carries a spending increase of $6.7 million, or 2.37% over the current year, nearly all of it covered by a $6.6 million increase in state aid. The tax levy increase is 2.29%, under the state cap.

“We thank the community for supporting this fiscally responsible budget,” said Board of Education President Rachel Relkin. “This plan meets the increasing academic, social and emotional needs of our students while minimizing the impact on taxpayers. With this plan, we will continue to provide a high-quality education for all students, and recover from the past year, which challenged us all.”

The passage of the budget was a requirement for the contract agreement reached last week between the Board of Education and the New Rochelle Federation of United School Employees (FUSE) to move forward. That agreement has been ratified by FUSE.

The three-year deal is retroactive to July 1, 2020. It gives employees raises of 1.5% for the current school year and again for 2021-2022 followed by a 1.35% raise for 2022-2023.

The Board is expected to vote on its ratification – the final step to making the agreement official – at tonight’s meeting.

The budget is supported with $54.5 million in state aid and the appropriation of $4.6 million from the fund balance. It does not tap into the District’s reserves.

Most of the positions added – 13.5 – are included to comply with requirements in academic intervention services, English as a New Language and support for students social and emotional needs.

A breakdown of all the added positions:

• 12.5 teachers.
• 3 teaching assistants.
• Teacher aide.
• Theater manager/media technician.
• Clerical assistant.

The budget is aimed at recovering from the “COVID slide,” with several strategies to address students’ needs toward that goal. The plan ensures access to District social workers, psychologists, guidance counselors and support staff; deploys instructional coaches to strengthen mathematics education in the elementary schools; and reinforces the District’s Response to Intervention approach to closing achievement gaps.

The theater manager/media technician will oversee the use and operations of the Whitney M. Young Jr. Auditorium and Linda E. Kelly Theater in New Rochelle High School, while also livestreaming Board of Education meetings, recording major high school events and more.

Funds from the American Recovery Plan Act will help enhance technology to support teaching and learning in flexible environments and also support summer school for students who would most benefit from additional instructional time.

The plan takes effect July 1, 2021.

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