Bedford school district officials are possibly looking at filling a $2 million hole in next year's budget thanks to anticipated increases in state retirement system contributions.The news came after state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's announcement last month that the contribution rates for the New York State Common Retirement Fund would increase in 2011-2012. The average contribution rate for the Employee Retirement System will increase from 11.9 percent of salaries to 16.3 percent.For Bedford schools, that means contributions to the state retirement system could increase by more than $2 …

Moving the district's 284 sixth graders from the middle school to the elementary schools is now being considered by the Katonah Lewisboro school board as part of its beleaguered budget process. The decision to move forward with a plan to change the 20-year-old middle school must be made this fall, said Alice Cronin, assistant superintendent for instruction, who presented potential programmatic and financial considerations at the Sept. 23 school board meeting. She said the timing was necessary for the administration to determine the move's impact on staffing, scheduling, and school traditions…

Katonah Lewisboro community members may have weathered a tough budget season just a few months ago, but they should brace themselves for darker days when it comes to the development of the 2011-12 budget, according to the bleak picture painted by district officials at the Aug. 26 school board meeting. "It's going to be a difficult road ahead," said Michael Jumper, assistant superintendent for business, when he presented prelimary budget forecasts for next year. The district expects increased expenses of at least $1 million, resulting from higher retirement costs and a drop in state aid. An …