Education, Lead Stories

Voters pass $47.1M Bronxville school budget

On Tuesday, May 16, the Bronxville Union Free School District passed its 2017-2018 school budget with 81 percent of the votes.

The $47.1 million budget received 188 votes in support and 37 votes opposing it.

School district officials included $500,000 from fund balance, bringing the overall budget under the tax cap by more than $11,000.

The voter-approved budget, which includes a tax levy increase of 1.57 percent, saw an increase in spending of 1.17 percent over the current year’s budget. A majority of the budget increase can be seen in the allotment of more than $355,000 toward transportation.

According to New York state law, school districts are required to provide transportation to students in kindergarten through eighth grade who live more than 2 miles and up to 15 miles from the school they’re attending. For grades 9–12, students must live more than 3 miles away, and up to 15 miles from their school. This increase in the budget will help to accommodate students who fall under this rule.

On Tuesday, two new residents of the district were elected to the Bronxville Board of Education.

This year, there were two trustee positions open. The two new trustees, Jennifer Russo and Michael Finley, are members of the Bronxville community and were selected by the Bronxville Committee for Non-Partisan Nomination and Election of School Trustees. Russo and Finley ran uncontested and will now serve three-year terms.

Russo, who received 188 votes, has lived in Bronxville for more than 13 years, and previously worked with the Bronxville school district through her work on the PTA.

Finley has lived in Bronxville for more than 12 years, and also secured 188 votes. Finley currently works in private equity as a partner at Court Square Capital Partners.

Trustees Adele Kittrede Murray and Mary J. Giuffra did not seek re-election to the Board of Education.

Also joining the school district shortly will be its new superintendent of schools, Dr. Roy Montesano, who will begin his position on July 1. Montesano will be taking over for Dr. David Quattrone who has served as the superintendent for 12 years. Quattrone announced his retirement in February 2016.

As of press time, Quattrone couldn’t be reached for comment.