Dear City School District of New Rochelle Community:
At last evening’s Board of Education meeting, I was pleased to present an updated City School District of New Rochelle 2022-23 budget proposal, “Reimagining the Whole Child: Forging a Path Forward.” It reflects valuable input from our community and our Board of Education, who provided thoughtful comments, questions, feedback, and support in the development of this proposal.
This budget proposal builds off of the findings in my 100-day plan with a laser focus on our priorities of unfinished learning and wellness and adheres to values stated in the 2020 strategic roadmap. The proposal is consistent with the school district’s values of excellence and equity for all students, and makes judicious use of federal, state, and local resources to advance learning for all our students.
The proposed budget:
- covers contractual responsibilities to our faculty and staff, which account for nearly three-quarters of our total budget, and provides a modest pay increase.
- invests in special-education teachers to bring our school district into compliance with state regulations and supports English-language learners.
- leverages federal grant funding to address unfinished learning and the social and emotional needs of our students brought on by the pandemic.
- makes strategic investments to eliminate transportation as a barrier to school attendance for students in need.
- helps make our schools safer.
- adds a dance teacher at Isaac E. Young Middle School and a New Rochelle High School science teacher to deepen access to some of our best programs (Performing and Visual Arts Education and Science Research).
This budget calls for investment in additional laptops, iPads and smart boards for our students and classrooms, enriching afterschool and summer programs, 24-7 tutoring resources, and more opportunities and resources to authentically engage families through a Parent University and home visiting program.
It also includes a bond proposition to complete post-Hurricane Ida repairs at our high school library and pool, and at Isaac E. Young Middle School by allowing for cash flow between when we complete the projects and when we receive state and federal reimbursement.
I thank the Board of Education, our dedicated team of educators, and the community for their input, and I look forward to meeting with students, community members, and other stakeholders throughout the budget process as we prepare for the public vote on May 17.
Sincerely,
