Editor's Note:  This is the first of two articles on the new school year focusing on school administrators.  An article focusing on Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone will appear next week.

August 31, 2011:  "Generally, what we're trying to do here is to maintain what we believe is an excellent school system," said Dr. John Kehoe, assistant superintendent of The Bronxville Schools.  "We work to allocate our resources in a time of [budget] declines to keep the programs going that have been successful."

Despite damage from Tropical Storm Irene over the weekend, school is set to begin on Tuesday, September 6.  Orientation for new teachers will proceed as scheduled on Wednesday, August 31, and Thursday, September 1.

Dr. Kehoe stated that this year the school will see the least number of new staff members in several years.  "We have downsized in general in that regard," he said.  "We have some new staff members replacing recent retirees on a "one out-one in" basis."  Kehoe stated that in a move to economize and cut spending, the school has not replaced some positions.

"We're not starting this school year with any kind of faculty meetings or staff development days," Kehoe said.  "We will start directly with instruction."

Kehoe said that school enrollment is holding fairly stable at approximately 1,530 students from kindergarten through twelfth grade.  "We've been in that vicinity for the last five years."

The school has performed some technology upgrades in anticipation of the new academic year in the quest to stay current in an ever-changing technological environment.  New servers and new laptop computers have been purchased.

New telephone and public address systems were installed.  The telephone system is operational, and the public address system should be operational this week.  "We're pleased with the vendors and support for the new phone system," Kehoe stated.

"Given the history of this building and the fact that it was built in so many different stages, we're always moving around the complex to make sure we use our resources in the best possible ways," Kehoe said.  "We put our rehabilitation work on a cycle to keep everything as fresh as we can.

Work done to the auditorium stage was preliminary to an anticipated remodeling of the whole auditorium.  Parts of the building were painted and re-floored, and new furniture was purchased.  "We did the kind of work over the summer that revitalizes the building.  Our outside cleaning service has done a great job coming in and working with staff," Kehoe said.

Kehoe said he's confident The Bronxville School will have a strong opening on September 6.  The administration spent about two weeks at the beginning of summer and now two weeks at the end of summer in meetings to discuss operations and curriculum instruction.

"I'm very pleased," Kehoe stated.  "Everyone has done a great job, and when the teachers return, they'll be greeted by a bunch of kids ready to get back to school."

Pictured here:  Dr. John Kehoe, assistant superintendent of The Bronxville Schools.