Our Mission: To mobilize and support community stakeholders to ensure that all students in the Beacon City School District are provided with an excellent public education. more
The Board of Education unanimously passed the following Resolution on 7/5/17:
Resolution 20170705A:
Whereas the Beacon School District is obligated to serve all school-age children resident within its bounds, and
Whereas the number of actual and potential resident students at present and in future years is of practical concern to the board, staff, taxpayers and voters of the district, and
Whereas the Board of Education is aware that enrollment projected by the Cornell Program on Applied Demographics do not consider sudden deviations from past trends, and
Whereas the City of Beacon has granted and is currently considering variances and site plan approvals for new multi-unit residences that will create a surge in it’s population, and
Whereas such surges in population may create a negative impact,
Therefore, be it resolved,
That the Board of Education feels that it is prudent and responsible that we voice our concern to the City of Beacon’s governing body, planning board, and zoning board of appeals on the pace of the growth that can be overwhelming, and
Formally request that the Beacon School District be designated as an interested agency under SEQR and provided with ample time to review and comment prior to variance and site plan approval the projection of school-aged children for the multi-unit residences being considered,
And directs the District Clerk to forward this resolution upon it’s approval to the Mayor of Beacon, to the Chair of the Planning Board of the City of Beacon, and the Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of Beacon.
Whereas, the Beacon City School District is keenly aware of its obligation to provide a quality education to school-age children residing in the District while addressing its fiscal obligations to its residents in consideration of the constraints imposed by the current tax cap structure; and
Whereas, sudden and unanticipated increases in student enrollment will adversely affect the financial and physical capabilities of the District to educate its students; and
Whereas, the municipalities served by the District, including the City of Beacon and the Towns of Fishkill and Wappinger, have recently experienced an increase in housing construction and development proposals that would significantly increase multi-housing units and the corresponding population; and
Whereas, the Board of Education, in proactively planning for such future increases, has initiated an enrollment study in order to project the potential student population and impact on infrastructure and staffing over the next ten years; and
Whereas, in addition to the enrollment study, the District must also closely monitor and collaborate with the municipalities served by the District in order to identify areas of potential growth.
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Education of the Beacon City School District hereby authorizes the Superintendent to request that the City of Beacon, Town of Fishkill and Town of Wappinger identify the District as an interested agency in all reviews under the State Environmental Quality Review Act for multi-family developments and residential subdivisions of land; and
Be it further resolved, by the Board that the Superintendent is further directed to request that said municipalities notify the District when such applications are received for review; and
Be it further resolved by the Board that the school attorneys are hereby directed to review and draft a response on behalf of the District to the School Impact Study dated June 26, 2017 for the multi-family Edgewater project in the City of Beacon, to be presented to the City of Beacon Planning Board at its meeting on July 11, 2017.
Whereas the number of actual and potential resident students at present and in future years is of practical concern to the board, staff, taxpayers and voters of the district, and
Whereas the Board of Education is aware that enrollment projected by the Cornell Program on Applied Demographics do not consider sudden deviations from past trends, and
Whereas the City of Beacon has granted and is currently considering variances and site plan approvals for new multi-unit residences that will create a surge in it’s population, and
Whereas such surges in population may create a negative impact,
Therefore, be it resolved,
That the Board of Education feels that it is prudent and responsible that we voice our concern to the City of Beacon’s governing body, planning board, and zoning board of appeals on the pace of the growth that can be overwhelming, and
Formally request that the Beacon School District be designated as an interested agency under SEQR and provided with ample time to review and comment prior to variance and site plan approval the projection of school-aged children for the multi-unit residences being considered,
And directs the District Clerk to forward this resolution upon it’s approval to the Mayor of Beacon, to the Chair of the Planning Board of the City of Beacon, and the Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of Beacon.
Whereas, the Beacon City School District is keenly aware of its obligation to provide a quality education to school-age children residing in the District while addressing its fiscal obligations to its residents in consideration of the constraints imposed by the current tax cap structure; and
Whereas, sudden and unanticipated increases in student enrollment will adversely affect the financial and physical capabilities of the District to educate its students; and
Whereas, the municipalities served by the District, including the City of Beacon and the Towns of Fishkill and Wappinger, have recently experienced an increase in housing construction and development proposals that would significantly increase multi-housing units and the corresponding population; and
Whereas, the Board of Education, in proactively planning for such future increases, has initiated an enrollment study in order to project the potential student population and impact on infrastructure and staffing over the next ten years; and
Whereas, in addition to the enrollment study, the District must also closely monitor and collaborate with the municipalities served by the District in order to identify areas of potential growth.
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Education of the Beacon City School District hereby authorizes the Superintendent to request that the City of Beacon, Town of Fishkill and Town of Wappinger identify the District as an interested agency in all reviews under the State Environmental Quality Review Act for multi-family developments and residential subdivisions of land; and
Be it further resolved, by the Board that the Superintendent is further directed to request that said municipalities notify the District when such applications are received for review; and
Be it further resolved by the Board that the school attorneys are hereby directed to review and draft a response on behalf of the District to the School Impact Study dated June 26, 2017 for the multi-family Edgewater project in the City of Beacon, to be presented to the City of Beacon Planning Board at its meeting on July 11, 2017.
IMMEDIATE ACTION for ALL:
Action: Please vocally support a local law supporting a MORATORIUM in Beacon until there have been more reliable studies conducted by objective organizations (read: not employed by developers) on the following:
• City and school population projections based on real data and trends rather than estimates provided by parties with financial interest.
• Traffic
• Parking
• Impacts on infrastructure such as -- electric grid, water, snow removal, etc.
We are writing with some news that should be of concern to all parents of Beacon students. We are extremely alarmed at how development is being managed by the City. This is shaping up to have an extremely negative impact on our district.
The city needs to coordinate with the district and plan for the future together. Presently, they are accepting studies and claims from developers about possible population impacts that appear to be inaccurate. They are focused on current lower than maximum enrollment as a justification for building more new development in the interest of a few and at the expense of the district.
What is being omitted from the discussion is that currently we have the lowest per pupil spending in the county. We have balanced our budgets over the years by cutting back to the bone. The BCSD has some of the lowest pay scales for staff and teachers. With the tax cap, the lower enrollment and smart management to improve efficiencies we were hoping to increase programming and pay over time.
The argument is that more residences = more tax dollars. This is not really true because there are associated infrastructure costs with increased residential development. Commercial or light industrial such as Niche Modern, Tallix, Hudson Valley Brewery, the Roundhouse etc. contribute to the economy and tax base with less drag.
Overheating development is leaving the district vulnerable at this critical juncture. Just as new leadership is taking over and we seek to finally move the district forward in a positive direction.
In addition to plowing ahead without accurate or impartial studies, the Planning and Zoning Boards have been directed by city officials to approve variances that deviate from the Comprehensive Plan.
Specifically:
1) Waiving setback requirements- allowing excessively large footprints and essentially allowing buildings to come right up to the property line. A single family homeowner would NOT be able to do this with a shed!
2) Allowing developers to present incorrect, inaccurate, or incomplete renderings (plans) in public meetings (e.g. see last 15 minutes of the May 9 Planning Board Meeting where builder and City Building Inspector casually tell the Planning Board that the building will be taller than what is shown. No other details were provided.).
3) Waiving planting and landscaping requirements around buildings.
4) Waiving off street parking requirements.
5) Failing to pursue agreements with developers to construct the community green spaces recommended in the Comprehensive Plan.
6) Most alarmingly - allowing for increased units (density) than was originally prescribed in the Comprehensive Plan.
While we are pleased there was an enhancement to the City’s Comprehensive Plan in recent months. We know it did not go far enough to reflect what should be achieved in terms of sustainable development, which embodies a much heavier emphasis on holistic planning and impacts of population on resources.
Call or contact your city council representative as well as the Mayor. Please feel to use any of the information included in this letter to email your representative. Also please check the city website for upcoming City Council, Planning and Zoning Board Meetings. As we know from BOE meetings, showing up is important.
Peggy Ross Ward One
Phone: (845) 440-6475
pross@cityofbeacon.org
Omar Harper Ward Two
Phone: (845) 857-0826
oharper@cityofbeacon.org
Pam Wetherbee Ward Three
Phone: (845) 838-1921
pwetherbee@cityofbeacon.org
Ali T. Muhammad Ward Four
Phone: (845) 245-5741
amuhammad@cityofbeacon.org
George Mansfield At Large
Phone: (718) 781-0216
gmansfield@cityofbeacon.org
Lee Kyriacou At Large
Phone:(845) 838-8318
lkyriacou@cityofbeacon.org
• City and school population projections based on real data and trends rather than estimates provided by parties with financial interest.
• Traffic
• Parking
• Impacts on infrastructure such as -- electric grid, water, snow removal, etc.
We are writing with some news that should be of concern to all parents of Beacon students. We are extremely alarmed at how development is being managed by the City. This is shaping up to have an extremely negative impact on our district.
The city needs to coordinate with the district and plan for the future together. Presently, they are accepting studies and claims from developers about possible population impacts that appear to be inaccurate. They are focused on current lower than maximum enrollment as a justification for building more new development in the interest of a few and at the expense of the district.
What is being omitted from the discussion is that currently we have the lowest per pupil spending in the county. We have balanced our budgets over the years by cutting back to the bone. The BCSD has some of the lowest pay scales for staff and teachers. With the tax cap, the lower enrollment and smart management to improve efficiencies we were hoping to increase programming and pay over time.
The argument is that more residences = more tax dollars. This is not really true because there are associated infrastructure costs with increased residential development. Commercial or light industrial such as Niche Modern, Tallix, Hudson Valley Brewery, the Roundhouse etc. contribute to the economy and tax base with less drag.
Overheating development is leaving the district vulnerable at this critical juncture. Just as new leadership is taking over and we seek to finally move the district forward in a positive direction.
In addition to plowing ahead without accurate or impartial studies, the Planning and Zoning Boards have been directed by city officials to approve variances that deviate from the Comprehensive Plan.
Specifically:
1) Waiving setback requirements- allowing excessively large footprints and essentially allowing buildings to come right up to the property line. A single family homeowner would NOT be able to do this with a shed!
2) Allowing developers to present incorrect, inaccurate, or incomplete renderings (plans) in public meetings (e.g. see last 15 minutes of the May 9 Planning Board Meeting where builder and City Building Inspector casually tell the Planning Board that the building will be taller than what is shown. No other details were provided.).
3) Waiving planting and landscaping requirements around buildings.
4) Waiving off street parking requirements.
5) Failing to pursue agreements with developers to construct the community green spaces recommended in the Comprehensive Plan.
6) Most alarmingly - allowing for increased units (density) than was originally prescribed in the Comprehensive Plan.
While we are pleased there was an enhancement to the City’s Comprehensive Plan in recent months. We know it did not go far enough to reflect what should be achieved in terms of sustainable development, which embodies a much heavier emphasis on holistic planning and impacts of population on resources.
Call or contact your city council representative as well as the Mayor. Please feel to use any of the information included in this letter to email your representative. Also please check the city website for upcoming City Council, Planning and Zoning Board Meetings. As we know from BOE meetings, showing up is important.
Peggy Ross Ward One
Phone: (845) 440-6475
pross@cityofbeacon.org
Omar Harper Ward Two
Phone: (845) 857-0826
oharper@cityofbeacon.org
Pam Wetherbee Ward Three
Phone: (845) 838-1921
pwetherbee@cityofbeacon.org
Ali T. Muhammad Ward Four
Phone: (845) 245-5741
amuhammad@cityofbeacon.org
George Mansfield At Large
Phone: (718) 781-0216
gmansfield@cityofbeacon.org
Lee Kyriacou At Large
Phone:(845) 838-8318
lkyriacou@cityofbeacon.org
Submit your comments to your BOE:
President Anthony White: boewhite@beaconk12.org
Vice President Kenya Gadsden boegadsden@beaconk12.org
Meredith Heuer: boeheuer@beaconk12.org
Georgia Patchen: boepatchen@beaconk12.org
Michael Rutkoske: boerutkoske@beaconk12.org
Antony Tseng: boetseng@beaconk12.org
Bill Zopf: boezopf@beaconk12.org
Craig Wolf: boewolf@beaconk12.org
Kristan Flynn: boeflynn@beaconk12.org
Submit your comments to your Interim Superintendent Anne Marie Quartironi:
quartironi.a@beaconk12.org
A Message from IEP/504 Parent Support Group:
Beacon City School District
PARENTS and CAREGIVERS
of STUDENTS with
Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
or 504 plans
Please join us!
Our parent-led support group meets every third Thursday during the school year*. Come to meet other parents and caregivers, learn about your rights and responsibilities, share triumphs, struggles, tips and tricks, and hear presentations by District and area professionals. Parents with children in Early Intervention, who are just starting the IEP process, or who just want more info are welcome, too!
Upcoming meeting schedule (more topics TBD): click here for schedule and more
PARENTS and CAREGIVERS
of STUDENTS with
Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
or 504 plans
Please join us!
Our parent-led support group meets every third Thursday during the school year*. Come to meet other parents and caregivers, learn about your rights and responsibilities, share triumphs, struggles, tips and tricks, and hear presentations by District and area professionals. Parents with children in Early Intervention, who are just starting the IEP process, or who just want more info are welcome, too!
Upcoming meeting schedule (more topics TBD): click here for schedule and more
