r December 2, 2014 To Our Fellow Community Members, Recently, there have been negative comments made in the local media and at Board of Education meetings about Dr. [ere Hochman, Superintendent of the Bedford Central School District. We wish to express our support and respect for Dr. Hochman, and to thank him for his work in this district over these seven years, including: • Presenting six consecutive fiscallyresponsible budgets with a tax levybelow 2% -long beforeAlbanyestablished the 2% tax cap in 2011- in contrast to the previous decade where we saw increases in the range of 5% to 9%; • Under his leadership, the 2013-16 teachers contract is breaking new ground by effectivelyeliminating "step and scale" and replacing it with a structure for increases that keeps salary growth under the tax cap; • Seeking feedback by establishing numerous resident Advisory Committees and making an unprecedented effort to engage the community through comprehensive public outreach efforts, giving residents multiple opportunities to voice their opinions on district priorities; • More than a third of the Class of2014 graduated with Honors, including 5 National Merit Scholarship Commended Students and 2 National Merit Scholarship winners; • During his time here,participationin AP classeshas increased,with two-thirds ofthe Classof2014 taking AI> classes, a largenumber takingmultipleAP coursesand one-third named AP Scholarsand AP Scholarswith Distinction. The College Board has listed Fox Lane High School as one of 477 schools nationally on its AP District Honor Roll. There are many challenges facing the district, but there is also much to commend. We look forward to Dr. Hochman leading us for many years as a visionary educator and an involved community leader. We are privileged to have him as our Superintendent with the vision "Every single student, every single day:' Signed, Rocio Alay [olikha Ali Karen Allison Elyse Arnow Brill Joshua Arnow Maria Aveiga John Bailly Mary Bailly Whitney Barbera Bill Barrett Ienn Bennis Jon Bennis Jay Berger Mel Berger Diana Binger A1isonBoak Tara Bongiorno Carola Otero Bracco, Executive Director, Neighbors Link Mark Brauning Rebecca Brauning Sanjay Brooks David Buchwald, New York State Assemblyman Christopher Burdick, Supervisor, Town of Bedford Christine L. Carmichael Richard S. Carmichael MaryAnn Carr Sorvina Carr Natasha Cohen Gary Cohn Vivian Cohn Rebecca Cohn Lila Cummings Poppy Cummings Robert Cummings Barbara Cutri Marianne Delaney Molly Delaney Paula Desperito Christina Dochtermann Andrea Eigel Ted Eigel Michelle Fass Daniel Feintuck Heather Feldman Rich Feldman Amy Ferguson Kerry Flynn Barrett Elizabeth Mary Frei David Gabrielson, Bedford Town Board Margaret Gaffney Daniel Gagliardi Jennifer Gagliardi David Grant Dylan Grant David Griff Kurt Grossberndt Barbara Grossman Kathy Grummon Regina Haddad Marion Halberg Peter B. Harckham, Westchester County Legislator Christopher Hayden Barbara Ingraldi Ellen Ivens Barbara Jackson Kenneth T. Jackson Althea Johnson Ellen V. Kearns Eileen Kensing Henry V. Kensing Alex Kozersky Lara Kozersky Harry Krensky Linda Krensky Sue LaColla Bill Lang Carolyo Lang Debra Lang Raimundo Langlois George Latimer, New York State Senator Kristy Lavinsky Amy Lerner Laurie Lichtenstein Kim Manocherian Adrienne Marcus, Executive Director, Lexington Center for Recovery Michael Markhoff Nancy Markhoff Marvin Markowitz Roberta Markowitz Donna Marino John Marino Beverliz Martinez Sarah Matthews Stephanie Mendez Eric Meyers JenMeyers Dawn Meyerski, Executive Director, Mount Kisco Child Care Center Joe Mokey Prisca Mokey AlyseMoore Dan Moore Jennifer Morello Maurizio Morello Nellie Myrie Kristen Oden RobOden AmyOringel GinnaOrtiz Martha Palomino Rafael Palomino Carol Pantel Daniel Paschkes Gina Picinich Ann Price Fred Price Alan Raboy Jessica Rappaport Emily Rauch BeaRhodes Mary Ann Robinson Beth Romski Gerard Romski Patty Rosati Helene Rosenhouse-Romeo Jennifer Saine Elida Sanabria Gustavo Sanabria Joel Seligman, President & CEO, Northern Westchester Hospital Joyce Seligman AmalShady Marilyo Shapiro Clare Sherwood Jenny Shevick Scott Shevick Brian Skanes, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester Jean Skanes Waeil Soliman Randi Sperber Liz Stein Alexander Stein Julie Stern Debbie Stickler Steve Stickler Dan Stoller Jeremy Sussman Rebecca Sussman Dolores Vidal Roy Meredith Wallace Liz Walsh Arthur Weise . Kristina Nye Weise Mary Weiss Leslie K. Williams StaceyWitz