Three Elected to Scarsdale Board of Education

Though voters turned down the proposed 2013-14 Scarsdale School budget on May 21 they did give the nod to the three school board candidates on the ballot. Current School Board Vice President Suzanne Seiden was re-elected to a second three-year term with 2,318 votes and new board members William Natbony and Lelia Shames Maude were welcomed to the seven-member board with 2,270 votes for Natbony and 2,315 votes for Shames. These counts do not include absentee ballots and write-in votes. Traditionally the Board Vice President serves as Board President the following year, however it is too early to know whether or not Seiden will lead the Board next year.

The two new board members will replace Board President Elizabeth Guggenheimer and former two-year Board President Jill Spieler in June. However, both Guggenheimer and Spieler will remain on the Board through June and will be involved in the process of proposing a revised budget by June 3 to be voted on by June 18.

With some calling for the Board to drain more of the existing reserves to fund the revised 2013-14, next year's school board may have an even harder time formulating a budget. The state shows no signs of repealing the tax cap, easing mandates or instituting pension reform -- and all of these factors will continue to play a pivotal role in local discussions.