Community Stunned by Resignation of School Superintendent Dr. Thomas Hagerman
- Details
- Category: Schools
- Published: 24 January 2022
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
Even the Board of Education looked surprised at their January 24, 2022 meeting when Scarsdale Superintendent Thomas Hagerman asked to open the meeting. After some perfunctory updates he stunned the room by announcing that he would resign at the end of the school year. His words left the Board speechless.
The news came out of left field. Hagerman received a lucrative contract extension in July 2021 from a lame duck Board, making him the second highest paid superintendent in New York State. As of January, he was only a half year into that four year contract so there was a general perception that he intended to stay on. Though he had met with considerable resistance from a vocal segment of parents during the pandemic, it seemed that with the easing of the COVID crisis, the district would be in for smoother sailing.
Why did he step down and why now? It is hard to know. Observers had a difficult time assessing his reaction to community opposition or gaging his relationship with the Scarsdale faculty. If he was affected by angry parents or staffers he maintained a calm façade behind his mask so it was difficult to see what he was thinking.
Dr. Hagerman was recruited to come to Scarsdale in 2014 and will have completed eight years on the job this June. He followed Dr. Michael McGill who held the reins for sixteen years but decided to retire one year earlier than planned due to pressure to curb tax increases from a different vocal minority.
During Dr. Hagerman’s term, he was successful at keeping tax increases below the state tax cap, completing major infrastructure projects, passing two major bond offerings and navigating the district through the COVID crisis, remote learning and compliance with myriad and often changing state mandates and health department rules.
In fact, following his resignation on January 24, he had to step out of the Board meeting to attend a phone call about masks, when a state judge overturned the Governor’s order for masking in schools.
He ran a tight ship, which was too tight for some.
For example, in order to hunt down children who were attending the school district while living out of town with a divorced parent, or staying elsewhere while their home was under renovation, the district hired private eyes to track the children. Parents, some who were divorced, or moved in after the school year began, received steep and unexpected tuition bills.
In December when the NYS Department of Health mandated that school children wear masks, Dr. Hagerman also announced that children would wear masks, without a break, even outside. After an outcry from parents he reversed course.
Most recently, Scarsdale Schools were off limits to visitors or spectators at performances and sporting events. Parents, who felt that they had already missed years of their children’s performances were enraged. They showed that other districts were letting parents inside and demanded that the district change course, which they did the following week.
He also undertook the job of reviewing every board policy, a multiple year job that often seemed out of sync with what was on the mind of the community.
In January, the School Board Nominating Committee held an election for a committee that would nominate the next members of the school board. Several of the people who were elected to the committee were among the most vocal critics of the district during the pandemic. Perhaps the superintendent saw this as a sign that he might have to deal with a Board of Education that sought more accountability down the line.
Whatever his reasons, the superintendent did not say what his next move would be, only that he had accepted an offer. In a gracious letter that he read at the meeting and entered into the online agenda, he said the following:
January 24, 2022
Dear Scarsdale Board of Education,
I am writing to you today to officially tender my resignation as superintendent of schools, formally effective at the end of this academic year.
When I came to Scarsdale eight years ago, the District was yearning for academic improvement, curricular consistency, clear communication, operational transparency, facilities and grounds improvements, financial stewardship, strategic planning, policy revision, and so much more. As I reflect over these many years and prepare to say goodbye to our students, faculty, staff, and parents, it is with the hope that these and many other areas have significantly improved, and that Scarsdale is positioned to continue on a positive trajectory of growth.
The heartbeat of this District has and always will be the people, starting with our incredibly capable and talented students. They are, and must always continue to be, our first priority. The extraordinary teaching and learning that happens in our schools is, of course, credited to some truly remarkable staff members, educators, and leaders. I hope that their skill, dedication, and expertise continue to be recognized and lauded by both the community and the Board as they are uniquely qualified to make the best educational decisions for students, both individually and collectively.
Finally, I would like to thank both our parent leadership groups and the Board of Education—both those currently in place and those that I have had the good fortune of working with throughout my tenure here in Scarsdale. With few exceptions, these individuals have understood their roles as school community leaders; stewards of our resources; defenders of excellence in public education; and avid supporters of students, staff, and the broader school community.
Historically, our educators and many leadership teams have worked together collaboratively to balance the voices and needs of our schools' many stakeholders while also ensuring that our students remain the focus of our most meaningful work and decision-making. As Scarsdale’s schools continue to progress through a time of significant change and transition, it is imperative that these individuals and groups work closely together to preserve the best of what Scarsdale’s schools have always been: places of great teaching and learning; places that support its students, teachers, and leaders; and places that create a sense of community and camaraderie.
Know that I will always hold fond memories of my time here in Scarsdale. I wish nothing but the best for all that lies ahead.
Warm regards,
Dr. Thomas Hagerman
Wrestlers, Challenged by COVID and Quarantines, Look to Divisionals
- Details
- Category: Shout it Out
- Published: 24 January 2022
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
Scarsdale Wrestling Team pictured after Scarsdale TournamentEven experienced wrestlers will sometimes admit that competitions are arduous. But one event teammates look forward to is the annual Scarsdale tournament. The Scarsdale tournament marks the beginning of the end of the regular season for Scarsdale wrestlers. This is followed by tournaments that focus on individual-oriented rather than team-oriented competitions and provide wrestlers the chance to prove their skills to gain seeding for the sectionals.
The beginning of this season has been rough for Scarsdale, primarily due to quarantine and COVID. To start the season, Scarsdale went 2-3 in the yearly Rye tournament. After that point, everything fell apart. These results were more a function of COVID and quarantines rather than wrestler’s skill. Things came to an all-time low when Scarsdale traveled to Nanuet on December 18, 2021 for a tournament with only six wrestlers rather than the normal complement of 16.
“It has been mathematically impossible to win matches with the number of kids we are bringing to tournaments. With the number of forfeits we give up every match, even if the wrestlers there pin their matchups, we still lose,” says senior and captain Michael Mancusi. The transition from team tournaments to individual ones is actually very beneficial for Scarsdale as the number of kids who need to quarantine does not matter for these tournaments.
Despite the challenges, several Scarsdale wrestlers placed in the Scarsdale tournament on January 15, 2022 when 16 teams participated.
Captain Jack Byers picks up a victory in the 145lb weight class, one of which would lead him to 3rd at the tournament
-Junior Ryan Chase took home 6th place from the 215lb weight class.
-Sophomore Matthew Hill came in 4th place from the 138lb weight class.
-Senior and Captain Jack Byers finished in 3rd at the 145lb weight class.
-Freshman Tommy Iasiello performed the best out of anyone else on the team at this tournament, coming away with 2nd place in the 110lb weight class.
Freshman Tommy Iasiello takes on Tappan Zee en route to his 2nd place finish in the 110lb weight class
Even though these four placed, credit is due to all Scarsdale wrestlers as they were in charge of keeping score of matches and cleaning while also taking part in the tournament. Without these wrestlers doing the dirty work, the tournament would not have been successful.
As the Scarsdale wrestling team looks to the future, individual aspirations for placements at the county tournament are at an all-time high. The Scarsdale tournament is the first step on this tough journey which every wrestler will take.
Captain Thomas Kuo pins wrestler on Harrison in his first match back since being quarantined
Commenting on the team’s performance to date, Coach Jeremy Szerlip said, "The one thing each wrestler needs to do is show more effort. We have to do a better job fighting in neutral and doing whatever you can to get off your back. When you [wrestler] gives up on the mat, they are not only letting themselves down, but also the rest of the team. This year may have been rough, but we have a lot of young talent and I am very hopeful for the future."
Next up the team will compete at divisionals on February 5, 2022.
Photo Credit: Sherwood Kuo
CNC Nominates Whitestone, Mazer and Gans for Village Trustee
- Details
- Category: People
- Published: 20 January 2022
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
On Thursday January 20, 2022, the Citizens Nominating Committee (CNC) announced the candidates it selected for the Scarsdale Citizens’ Non-Partisan Party slate for the following Village offices:
-Randy Whitestone of 94 Sprague Road, a Village Resident for 26 years, Trustee
-Ken Mazer of 47 Church Lane, a Village Resident for 25 years, Trustee
Randy Whitestone has been nominated for a second term as Village Trustee.
-Jeremy Gans of 45 Harvest Drive, a Village Resident for 14 years, Trustee
Whitestone is currently a Village Trustee serving his first term and has been renominated for a second term while Mazer and Gans will be new to the Village Board if elected. Village Trustees Justin Arest and Lena Crandall will both complete two terms as Village Trustee in April.
Commenting on his renomination, Whitestone said, "Amid the challenges of the past two years, we’ve made significant strides in aligning the strategic direction of Scarsdale Village government to the needs of our residents. We have more to do to complete important budgeting, quality of life, and infrastructure initiatives, and I look forward to seeing them through."
Gans introduced himself saying, "I have lived in Scarsdale since 2006 and have served in a number of volunteer roles in the Village. I joined the Zoning Board of Appeals in 2016, and have served on that board for nearly 5 years. I also serve on the Executive Committee of the Scarsdale Forum and I am a member of the Scarsdale High School PTA Scholarship Fund Committee. From 2016-2019, I was President of Scarsdale Youth Soccer Club. Professionally, I worked as a corporate lawyer for seven years and currently serve as President of JDJ Capital Management Company."
For over 20 years Ken Mazer has been a member of the Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Department, serving as lieutenant and president of Company #2. Outside of town, he was president of the New York Association of New Americans, which resettled refugees and immigrants in the New York area. Ken also chairs a grant-making foundation at UJA-Federation of New York.
Ken MazerIn his professional life, Ken is a co-founder of Global Textile Partners, a producer and importer of textile products since 2005 that has offices in New York, Shanghai and Seoul. He also serves on the board of Atlantic Footcare, Inc., a Rhode Island manufacturer of insoles.
Ken, raised in Harrison, received his BA in political science from the University of Vermont in 1985 and his MBA from New York University in 1990. He lives in Fox Meadow with his wife Melissa and has 3 children.
Ken said, "I am honored that the CNC has nominated me to serve as Trustee and I thank them for their service. If elected, I look forward to collaborating with the Board and Village staff so that I can continue serving my community. I expect that we will work together to find the most effective ways to improve our village and maintain the level of excellence residents expect."
“I have lived in 3 Scarsdale neighborhoods for 25 years with children of a wide range of ages. As such, I am connected to and understand the priorities of many different segments of our diverse community. If elected, I look forward to the opportunity to help make decisions that both improve daily life in our village and shape our long term priorities, with an eye to balancing the needs of all residents."
The General Village Election will take place Tuesday, March 15, 2022. The Election will be held at the Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmsted Road in the Scott Room. Voting hours will be from 6:00 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Jill Spielberg served as Chair and Jon Krisbergh served as Vice Chair of the CNC. In addition to the candidates for Village office, the CNC selected Omer Wiczyk as Chair and Janet Han-Youm as Vice Chair for next year’s CNC. The CNC also elected Michelle Sterling to serve as Chair and Peri Zelig to serve as Vice Chair of the Procedure Committee.
Jeremy Gans“Starting in late November 2021, the CNC searched for potential candidates and then conducted extensive diligence. While deliberations and reference conversations are not shared publicly, the CNC considered and carefully researched the background, experience, and qualifications of each trustee candidate and engaged in significant deliberation,” stated Jill Spielberg, Chair of the CNC. “We thank the CNC Members for their hard work and diligence in selecting this strong slate of candidates,” she continued.
Letter to the Editor: Reduce the Number of Half Days on the School Calendar
- Details
- Category: Neighborhood News
- Published: 25 January 2022
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
I urge the school to reconsider the number of half days in elementary school in the proposed schedule, as it places a meaningful burden on parents, is a hindrance to children’s learning, and is excessive compared to other districts. In some cases, the number of half days results in Scarsdale having fewer instructional hours than peer elementary schools. Throughout a kids Scarsdale elementary education, a graduating Scarsdale 5th grader will have had a month (24 days) less of instructional hours than Rye or Chappaqua.
Based on the proposed schedule, students in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade have thirteen early dismissal days planned. These half days place an undue burden on working parents and raise issues of equity, as irregular school schedules often require parents to have a nanny to pick the kids up early or a working parent to take time off.
In addition, excessive half days for young children aren’t good for their education. Kids five to seven years old thrive on consistency for learning and mental stability. A Scarsdale teacher recently told me that weeks with half days are the hardest because the kids are thrown off their schedule. Kids also can’t get any learning in on a half day- imagine getting twenty three five year olds to take off their jackets, put their backpacks away and get seated only to ask them to do all that again three hours later!
We have heard that this is the best that we can do within the requirements, but that does not appear to be the case. Our district is a significant outlier compared to our peers. I have reviewed the publicly available school calendars of six other highly regarded neighboring public schools. Scarsdale has significantly more half days, sometimes as many as five times more frequently than other schools. I could only find one other schools that came close: Larchmont with ten. In looking at other schools, most of our peers take two days off for conferences yet we have three instructional days spread out of six work days. I have found only two peers that have the last week of school off as half days.
Many of our peers do not have half days during the last week of school. There are other ways to utilize this time and one is to move it to Winter Break. December is a very hard time to have school. Kids can't enjoy outdoor recess or lunch. The windows of the classrooms are open and kids are freezing while learning. In contrast, June typically has record low COVID case volume and weather conducive outdoor activities. If limiting the spread of COVID is a concern, I suggest that we maximize the amount of school that we have in June and minimize school in the winter months.
With this in mind, I'd like to make the following recommendations for the 22-23 calendar,
(1) Condense the number of half days into a smaller number of full days off to better support working parents and kids
(2) Move the June half days to Winter break to reduce teachers and students risk of COVID spread and infection
(3) Reconsider if we want to lag other schools in instructional hours
Dianna Cohen-Irom
Meet Hank of Crane Berkeley
- Details
- Category: Pet of the Week
- Published: 25 January 2022
- Written by Katy Goldman and Dara Gruenberg
Meet Hank! He is a four year old yellow lab mix who was adopted by the Schwartz family almost a year ago. He was found living on the streets of Louisiana, but now he loves the streets of Scarsdale. You might spot Hank playing fetch by the pond in Crane Berkeley, walking around Fox Meadow and Edgewood, and driving around town with his family (he loves to sit up front).
Hank loves treats but also eats pencils and stuffed animals when given the opportunity! He is a friendly dog who brings a lot of energy to the Schwartz's home, although he does enjoy winding down at the end of the day by listening to Amazon music's "Meditation" station! Hank's siblings, Jake, Carrie and Anna, are all in love with him.
