Jun. 25, 2014:  The Bronxville Board of Education, at its June 19 meeting, approved the appointment of Dr. James Hudson, poised to leave the school board after six years of service, to fill the unexpired term of board trustee Ruth Wood, who recently resigned.

At this last regular board meeting of the 2013-2014 year, the board accepted Wood's resignation, effective June 30, 2014, in anticipation of her family's move to Europe. Hudson will serve the second year of Wood's elected service, July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015.

Wood expressed regret at having to tender her resignation after only one year of serving on the board. "I'm looking forward to our family adventure," she said, "but, on a sad note, I will not be able to continue or see the good work going on here. I can say that the school is in good shape and it's because of what's going on in the board."

Dr. David Quattrone, superintendent of the Bronxville schools, described Wood as being "very grounded in what's really happening school by school." He expressed appreciation for her ability to anticipate and identify problems and for having a keen sense of what people over several constituencies are most concerned about.

At the same meeting, the board also approved an amendment to its employment agreement with Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone extending that agreement by one year through July 31, 2016.

In summing up the board's 2013-2014 year, outgoing board president David Brashear focused on the effective stewardship of the district's resources, including finances and the school's physical plant.

"Funding is not unlimited in Bronxville," Brashear noted. He acknowledged that taxes in the village are perhaps as high as is feasible for homeowners and emphasized that the board recognized its duty to taxpayers to keep the community affordable. "After a decade where operating costs of the school essentially doubled," Brashear said, "we have been able, over the past five years, to bend the cost curve back a bit."

Brashear pointed to the substantial increase in enrollment at the school over the last three years as an issue that will drive future decisions about management and best uses of school personnel resources and its building and grounds.

The board, Brashear said, has worked closely with the administration over the 2013-2014 year to facilitate the evolution of the district's administrative structure. He described the recruiting season, which resulted in the hiring of Patricia Murray as the permanent elementary school principal and Dr. Mara Koetke as director of curriculum, as successful. Murray and Koetke will join the district on July 1, 2014.

In light of the need to examine available physical resources, Brashear stated that the board continues to spend much effort to secure more field hours for the school's athletic teams, including supporting efforts to improve upper Scout Field, exploring options to install artificial turf on Hayes Field in conjunction with the flood mitigation plan, and investigating field availability at Concordia College.

"Although we're actively working on alternatives," he said, "there are no definitive arrangements in place at this time that will remedy the situation. Brashear emphasized that all options, including installing permanent lights on Chambers Field, remain under consideration.

Brashear stressed the board's commitment to support the district's educational mission and the curriculum in all three schools. "We have appreciated the administration's work to resolve issues and expand opportunities," he said. "We will continue to work in tandem with the administration and faculty to ensure that The Bronxville School is the best it can be."

The board commended Pierre de Saint Phalle, whose term ends on June 30, 2014, for his six years of service as trustee. Dr. Quattrone described de Saint Phalle's private sector point of view and his questioning of public sector premises as helping to put the district's work in perspective. "That is really a fundamental element of the critical thinking we like to value, so thank you," Quattrone said.

The Bronxville Board of Education will hold its reorganization meeting on Tuesday, July 15, at 6:00 pm in the school's board room.

Pictured here:  Standing (L to R) are trustees Jeff Rohr and Dr. James Hudson, board vice president Denise Tormey, and trustees Ruth Wood and Christopher Atayan. Seated (L to R) are board president David Brashear and trustee Pierre de Saint Phalle.

Photo by Carol P. Bartold