Letters to the Editor & Poll: Will You Vote "Yes for Progress" and Eastchester MS Bond?

Dear Editor: 

Eastchester School District has experienced a significant increase in student enrollment in the past 10 years. Expansion of the Middle School is needed to accommodate the over capacity in school buildings. To keep the standards high, remain a competitive district in Westchester County and maintain our property values, we must say yes to a vote on Oct. 12^th.

Some of the reasons to say yes: 14 new classrooms, 5 bathrooms, expanded cafeteria, 2 science labs, and elimination of lost instructional time. It also allows Eastchester to maintain Advanced Placement courses (AP) and electives to help students prepare for college and keep up with the NYS education standards which recommend additional space. Let’s maintain access to after school help, sports programs, and extracurricular activities and avoid a staggered schedule at both the Middle School and High School.

Eastchester School students need space and need it now. Let’s vote yes on Oct 12^th.

Savitri Ramsingh, Scarsdale NY

Dear Mr. Editor, 

Although our children will not benefit directly from renovations and expansion to Eastchester’s Middle School (they will have graduated before its completion), we favor the passage of the bond proposal scheduled for a vote on October 12, 2011 for the following reasons:

Urgency:  We can’t wait for the economy to recover to educate children. The documented enrollment in Eastchester schools is over-capacity and will remain high for, at a minimum, the next twelve years. 

Quality:  Quality education can’t be achieved in substandard conditions. Students sitting on window sills are unlikely to engage in classroom learning. A gym renovated for temporary classroom space 10 years ago is still "temporary.”

Taxes:   New York metropolitan area suburbs with effective school districts pay high taxes. Of all of Westchester’s school districts, Eastchester ranks among the lowest with regard to its cost per student expenditures (33rd of 43 districts). The additional estimated cost of the bond is an average of $138 per taxpayer per year, only pennies per day. This is a small price to pay to ensure Eastchester remains a desirable community in which to raise families.

Borrowing:  Passage of a bond now would allow the district to take advantage of historically low interest rates so it would cost less to borrow now rather than after an economic recovery when interest rates will rise.

Vote “yes” for progress.

Sincerely,

Rita Mastroberardino, Tuckahoe

Susan Kutzin, Scarsdale

Angela Cascione, Eastchester

MaryAnn Michels, Eastchester

Jeanne Alter, Scarsdale