PT Council Supports Proposed Budget But Expresses Concerns About Reserves and Elementary School Math Program

Here is the PT Council Executive Committee and Budget Study Statement on the Proposed Budget for Scarsdale Schools, 2025-26, read at the Board of Education meeting on March 24, 2025.

The PTC thanks the District and the Board of Education for their ongoing efforts in developing the 2025-26 Scarsdale School Budget. We appreciate the District’s formulation of a budget that stays within the tax cap, a limit that is widely supported by the community.
This proposed budget reflects many goals shared by the PTC, including maintaining small elementary class sizes, and supporting a broad range of course offerings at the high school.

Furthermore, the proposed budget acknowledges the importance of maintaining both sanctioned and non-sanctioned sports programs, recognizing their role in promoting not only physical health and fitness but also supporting student mental well-being, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging.

The mental health and physical safety of our students remain priorities for the PTC. We value this proposed budget’s continued investment in social work support across all grade levels, as well as the presence of safety monitors within the schools. We appreciate the District’s sustained efforts to enhance the safety of our school buildings and buses through infrastructure improvements.

The PTC acknowledges the District's efforts to advance the upcoming bond initiative. We commend your commitment to involving the community in the process, ensuring that the bond addresses the needs of all stakeholders. As the District’s work progresses, we encourage thoughtful consideration of the long-term operational costs associated with these bond-funded improvements, particularly in regard to their potential impact on both current and future budgets.

The PTC is appreciative of the effort that has gone into formulating a budget that stays within the tax cap, but we also have concerns regarding the increasing use of Fund Balance. The current practice of using a fixed amount to balance the budget each year, coupled with the dependence on these funds to cover budget shortfalls, is unsustainable. Persisting with this approach will ultimately compel the District to either exhaust the Fund Balance or propose budgets that exceed the tax cap—both undesirable scenarios.

The PTC believes that our teachers are the heart of our schools. Salary and wages, along with employee benefits, accounted for 80% of our current budget. As such, the PTC respects the District’s thoughtful attention to staffing, as it works to provide a rich academic experience while also being mindful of cost.

We share the District’s concern about the rising health insurance costs. These costs represent a large portion of the budget, and all efforts must be taken to control and manage spending in this area. The PTC applauds the decision to include a member of the Board of Education on the Health Advisory Committee.

Additionally, the PTC recognizes the importance of supporting students with diverse learning needs and appreciates the District’s continued investment in Special Education. We have noticed an increase of nearly one million dollars in the Special Education budget. We urge the District to carefully consider costs while expanding the program, both in this budget and in future budgets.

The PTC values continued transparency and communication regarding the intersection between curriculum and budget. There is community concern related to the Reveal Math Curriculum, including its efficacy and whether the program has the continued need for a second math coordinator. Specifically, what will this second coordinator do to address the ongoing concern about the program and for what period of time will the District require a second math coordinator? We request that the District more clearly articulate steps that will be taken to assess the elementary math program and remediate any program weaknesses.

In conclusion, the PTC thanks the District and Board of Education for your work to date. We recognize and appreciate your efforts to support the personal and academic growth of our students; however, we are concerned about the continued depletion of the Fund Balance. We urge the District to explore ways to balance future budgets with more limited use of the Reserve Fund. Thank you for prioritizing transparency and communication with our community as you continue your work.

We encourage the community to actively engage and ask questions regarding the proposed budget before the vote on May 20, 2025. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

The PT Council Executive Committee and Budget Study Chairs

Meryl Satler, PTC President
Erica German, PTC President-Elect
Jeanette Rosen, PTC Secretary
Shilpa Spencer, PTC Treasurer
Jessy Li, Edgewood School PTA Co-President
Katie Garvey, Edgewood School PTA Co-President
Eul Hui, Fox Meadow PTA Co-President
Katy Goldman, Fox Meadow PTA Co-President
Tulika Khemani, Greenacres School PTA President
Andrea Burinescu, Heathcote School PTA President
Lindsay Forschner, Quaker Ridge School PTA President
Emily Hira, Scarsdale Middle School PTA President
Cindy Yau, Scarsdale High School PTA President
Irena Spiegel-Turner, Budget Study Co-Chair
Ranjana Saini-Chandarana, Budget Study Co-Chair