Mamaroneck School Superintendent Appeals to Parents to Vote May 19

Mamaroneck School Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps Monday sent the following note to parents thanking them for their support of the school district and urging them to vote in next week’s budget election, May 19.

• Related: Mamaroneck Board of Ed to Vote on Proposed 2015-16 School Budget

Dear Community Members,

During my visits this spring to each of our schools and with community members at our many budget meetings, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to serve as Superintendent in a community that cares so deeply about student learning as it relates to the ‘whole’ child. The values this community so ardently upholds are the same values that I believe are critical for engaging students in deep, thoughtful learning that will impact their lives forever.

If you haven’t done so already, please familiarize yourself with our budget information, which can be found in the budget section of our website. Additionally, please take a few moments to catch a glimpse of my recent LMC-TV interview in which I discuss budget highlights and some of the ways in which we have been mindful to the taxpayers, yet stayed true to our mission of continuous improvement in our schools.

While most area school districts are experiencing declining enrollment, Mamaroneck’s enrollment is increasing. To me, this is a positive sign. It means that more people are recognizing the value of a Mamaroneck Public Schools education. At the same time, it means we must invest the resources necessary to add new teachers so that class size guidelines may be preserved.

You may be interested to know that the Empire Center’s recently published School Budget Spotlight -- analyzing 2015-2016 per pupil tax and spending increases proposed by school districts across New York State --reports that the Mamaroneck School District’s per-pupil spending ranks 29 out of 39 districts in Westchester County. While school districts’ total per-pupil property tax levy increase State-Wide will be 2.1 percent, Mamaroneck’s proposed per-pupil tax levy change is 0.2%. (The Hudson Valley’s budgeted change in per-pupil spending will be 2.4% versus Mamaroneck’s 0.2% increase in spending.) I am pleased that we’ve been able to keep our per-pupil spending as low as possible and, at the same time, accommodate our increasing enrollment.

Dollars aside, I couldn’t be more proud of what we (and of course our students) have accomplished over the past several years and look forward to the path that lies ahead. As we inculcate more technology into our everyday teaching practices, look to make STEM/STEAM a vital part of our curriculum, and enrich our literacy initiatives at all levels, I remain committed to working with you, our community partners, to forge ahead in a strategic, enduring manner.

Please remember to vote on Tuesday, May 19th at your local elementary school!

Regards,

Dr. Robert I. Shaps

Superintendent of Schools

Photo: Mamaroneck School Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps

Subscribe to a free email newsletter and news alerts:

BEDFORD-KATONAH • BRONXVILLE-EASTCHESTER-TUCKAHOE • CHAPPAQUA-MOUNT KISCO • HARRISON • LARCHMONT-MAMARONECK • NANUET • NEW CITY • NEW ROCHELLE • NYACK-PIERMONT • OSSINING-CROTON • PEARL RIVER • PEEKSKILL-CORTLANDT • PELHAM • PORT CHESTER • PLEASANTVILLE-BRIARCLIFF • RIVERTOWNS • RYE • SCARSDALE • SOUTHEAST-BREWSTER • TARRYTOWN-SLEEPY HOLLOW • WHITE PLAINS • YORKTOWN-SOMERS