A New Law Requires Student Representation on the BOE: Board Considers the Process
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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There will be a young new face at the table at Board of Education meetings beginning in September 2025. Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed a law that requires the addition of an ex-officio student or students to school boards for the coming school year.
In order to draft a policy for Scarsdale, Board President Suzie Hahn, Superintendent Drew Patrick, Board VP James Dugan, Board member Colleen Brown, and SHS Principal Ken Bonamo met to draft the language. The Board has a great deal of discretion about the definition of the role and how the students would be selected.
The subgroup considered a possible proposal that they shared with the board at their meeting March 10, 2025. Introducing the conversation, Board President Suzie Hahn said, "The Scarsdale Board of Education exists to support the Mission of the Scarsdale Public Schools to sponsor each student's full development, enabling our youth to be effective and independent contributors in a democratic society and an interdependent world. To this end, the New York State law to appoint a student or students to serve as ex-officio members of the Board is viewed as an opportunity both to inform and enrich discussions at the Board table, as well as to provide students with opportunities to participate in civics and local government, promoting student growth towards the goals outlined in Scarsdale’s Profile of a Graduate. The Board invites all interested students to apply for this role.”
The responsibilities include attending BOE meetings and school government meetings. At least one student would act as a liaison between the student government and the board. The student will be invited to attend the opening session of the Board meeting and to provide an update. They could remain as long as they like at the meetings or be excused so that their service does not interrupt homework, extracurriculars or family activities.
Based on the SBNC model, the nominating committee would be the student government as they are elected by their peers.
Qualified applicants must have good academic standing, good citizenship, the recommendation of their Dean, enrollment in the school for at least a year and residency in the school district.
Students seeking to apply will be asked to fill out an application to the Board.
Students will make presentations to and be interviewed by the nominating committee with oversight from the SHS Principal, Assistant Principal for Student Life and advisors.
There would be a minimum of two candidates for each position proposed, with a cap of four candidates for each position which the committee can choose to exceed. These candidates would then go out to election by students in grades 9-11.
In the discussion that followed many questions were posed:
Amber Yusuf asked if teacher’s children would not be qualified to run?
Leah Dembitzer said, “I like the idea of a school election during the same time as the BOE election. She said, “I think it’s important that there is more than one candidate.” She asked for a post process review to see how it worked.
Ron Schulhof asked questions about the nominating committee and asked if the Board wants to ask the students how they choose to elect the Board member. He said, “Can students who are not nominated run outside the system?”
Jim Dugan said “There is a wide range of student behaviors and some may not be appropriate BOE members, and that’s where the recommendation of the Dean comes in.” He said, “It would be problematic if anyone who wants to run could run.”
Suzie Hahn explained, “We want to have this process to protect the child and make sure they don’t get in over their head. That’s why we would like a Dean’s recommendation.”
Colleen Brown said, “We looked at how other districts are doing it. We felt that any student who wants to should have the opportunity to apply and reflect on why they want the role. We put structures in place in terms of the Dean’s recommendation. We want to be sure that the member is chosen by the students.”
Schulhof asked what does “good citizenship” mean. Does this mean a U.S. citizen?” The response was “no.”
Board members also asked how “good academic standing” would be defined. Hahn clarified the intent, saying, “Can the student dedicate themselves to this role and still succeed in school.”
There was more discussion on whether or not children of faculty and tuition paying students who are non-residents should be permitted to run along with children of current or former Board of Education members. About the voting, the Board considered whether it should be done be popular or rank-choice voting.
Hahn asked if there was a general consensus on the process as outlined.
Schulhof thought the students should define the process.
Brown thought the students would need more structure for this first year.
Dugan said, “We need to set this up for success…. setting up the structure makes perfect sense.”
Hahn agreed that a structure should be set up for consistency year to year.
Yusuf asked if there was time to complete this process this year. Suzie Hahn discussed some possibilities to condense the process given the timing.
150 Gather in Scarsdale for a Vigil for the Bibas Family in Israel
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- Written by: Sharon Higgins
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No government officials, political figures or even a rabbi led the Bibas Family Vigil held in Scarsdale Village’s Chase Park on the evening of February 26, 2025. In just 24 hours, community member Michael Levinson organized the event for other like minded locals to come together to express their horror, outrage and sadness over the deaths of Israeli hostages Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, originally taken on October 7, 2023.
In his opening statement Mr. Levinson remarked that this was not a political event and although he held his rabbi in high esteem, this was a time for the community to show each other support and mourn together. He described the event as “participatory, with no leader” and encouraged attendees to come up and share their prayers, poems and feelings. He said “sometimes we need to speak up for ourselves, become our own voice…we gather together as one person with one heart to mourn”.
Vigil attendees did come forward to speak from their hearts. One woman spoke about trained psychologists that support IDF soldiers and hostages stressing that “we are not alone”. Another spoke about how we all “need to shine more brightly in this time of darkness, shine our lights together.” Israelie citizen, Tomer Sinai, spoke the moving and sad words of Yarden Bibas, the husband and father of the murdered hostages whose bodies were returned to Israel last week. More speakers came forward including an American IDF soldier, a tween and an elderly woman who all expressed their pain and sorrow over this event. The Scarsdale community joined a movement of Bibas Family Vigils that have been happening around the globe.
Pictures of the Bibas family were held up by members of the Run 4 Their Lives Organization, Westchester Chapter (run4lives.org). Attendees were asked to wear orange and many held orange balloons. The color orange has come to represent the advocacy of the Bibas family, most likely due to the bright redheaded hair of the Bibas children.
Commenting on the vigil the following day, organizer Michael Levinson said, "“I am immensely grateful to everyone in the community who showed up at the height of rush hour, some clad in orange, some with kids in tow, some rushing from the train and weary from a long workday. We were a bit more than 150 people strong – an excellent turnout for a gathering that was planned only 24 hours earlier. It was healing and meaningful not to be alone in our sorrow, and it was particularly heartwarming that many non-Jewish members of the community came to stand by our side and cry with us. Above all, the far-reaching impact of this small gathering has been profound. Many of the participants, including my Israeli husband, and I have sent videos and photos of the gathering to our friends and families in Israel – a nation in mourning. The heartfelt gratitude the recipients of these videos and photos have expressed is as impactful for those who participated in the vigil as the footage was for the Israelis who received it. At a time when so many of us are rendered crestfallen by our news cycle and feel helpless to do anything about it, when words fail us and our resolve is tested and we feel alone – how moving to send love and support halfway around the world; how nourishing for them and for us that we could show them they are not alone, for in our small town, thousands of miles away, a whole community is grief-stricken with them.”
The event closed with the Mourner’s Kaddish and singing of Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem.
New Playground, Fieldwork and Tennis Court Repairs Planned in the Proposed 2025-26 Village Budget
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With a $1.178 mm budget gap between projected revenues and expenses for the 2025-26 fiscal year, at a work session on February 11, 2025 the Village Board and Village Treasurer examined options for how to balance the budget. How much of the fund balance should be used in the 2025-26 budget and should the budget exceed the state tax cap? Were there any expenses that could be cut?
The Village tax portion of a homeowner’s tax bill is not as steep as it is for school taxes. The treasurer’s report shows that if the Village Board keeps the increase in the Village budget to the tax cap limit of 3.01% the increase for the average taxpayer would be $125.25/year. If the Board opts to pass a budget that exceeds the tax cap with a 4.57% increase, the average taxpayer would get a $249.20 increase in their tax bill.
The Village Treasurer presented the Board with four budget scenarios that varied the use of the unassigned fund balance and estimates for sales tax revenue, interest earnings and even the cost of snow removal, which has been less than anticipated in the last few years.
The Board appeared to favor a scenario that exceeded the tax cap but preserved fund balance for upcoming projects such as the restoration of the Scarsdale Pool Complex. The Board will meet again to finalize the numbers.
While they were discussing finances we took a look at the capital projects that are in the proposed 2025-26 budget and noted, the following items for the Parks Department. While the budget could change, this is what’s now planned:
-Aspen Park Playground Renovation: $300,000
-Winston Field Improvements: $600,000
-HS Platform Tennis Court Improvements: $30,000
-HS Tennis Court Crack Repairs: $90,000
-SMS Tennis Court Crack Repairs: $75,000
-Crossway Tennis Court Crack Repairs: $120,000
There’s lots more allocated for storm drainage, curbing, sidewalks, Freightway Garage repairs, Village Hall and more. Take a look at the budget here:
Following the work session, there was a meeting of the Village Board.
Here are a few of the resolutions that were approved:
Emily Giovanni was appointed as an Assistant Village Manager. She comes to Scarsdale from a position at Croton on Hudson.
Also appointed was a new Lieutenant of Police to fill the shoes of Lieutenant Steve DelBene who was promoted to Chief of Police.
Tax Cap Override
The Board scheduled a Public Hearing on a resolution to authorize a real property tax levy that exceeds the NYS Tax Cap. The hearing will be held on February 25 at 8 pm at Village Hall. Mayor Justin Arest said, “this does not mean that we will go above the tax cap,” but gives them the flexibility to do so if they adopt a budget that does exceed the cap.
Tennis Court Fence Height
Another resolution was passed to hold a public hearing on a law affecting the height of fences around tennis courts on February 25, 2025. According to a memo from the Village the Board of Zoning Appeals has adopted guidelines to allow 10 foot high fences around courts but this does not concur with Village Code that forbids fences higher than seven feet. This new law would make the zoning code and Village code consistent.
Appointment to the Board of Architectural Review
Jason Young was appointed as an alternate to the Board of Architectural review for the unexpired portion of a term ending April 6, 2026.
Recreation Fees and Charges
The Board of Trustees approved a schedule of Recreation Fees and Charges for 2025-26. You can review the fees here:
The Board approved a license to allow Verizon vehicles to park on the lower level at Scarsdale Village Hall.
Written Communications
The Board received a report from the Scarsdale Forum on artificial turf. Click here to read the report:
Tax Collections
Village Treasurer Ann Scaglione reported that tax collection rates were the highest they have been in four years with 99.7% of county taxes, 98.52% of school taxes and 99.09% of village taxes collected as of January 31, 2025.
Enterprising SHS Juniors Launch Hoops for Change
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Zachary Kirschner and Jacob Friedland
Two SHS juniors, Zachary Kirschner and Jacob Friedland, have found a way to make a meaningful impact on their community and the causes that are important to them while doing something they enjoy. "Basketball has always been something we both love," says Jacob, "so we thought, why not combine that with our passion for giving back?" Through their nonprofit organization, Hoops for Change, Zachary and Jacob have been able to do just that—organizing local tournaments that have raised over $4,000 for various charities, including Backyard Sports Cares, IDF Brothers for Life, Soles 4 Souls, and most recently, Altadena Boys, which supports the relief efforts of the recent California fires.
By securing the courts, promoting the tournaments, managing sign-ups, collecting donations, creating the teams and tournament structure, and even refereeing the games, Zachary and Jacob are not just raising money, but also educating their peers about these important charities.
"We want people to understand that it's not just about playing a game—it's about making a difference” says Zachary. "It’s been awesome to see our friends get involved and support and learn about the causes we care about." Through their efforts, they’re fostering a spirit of generosity and unity within their community.
36 people played in a tournament on the Lunar New Year organized by Hoops for Change.
For these two students, this is only the beginning. “We’ve got a lot of exciting plans ahead,” Zachary shares. “We’re already working on more tournaments this spring, and we hope to keep growing and helping as many people as possible.” With big ambitions for the future, Zachary and Jacob are determined to continue using basketball as a force for good.
Want to get involved? Follow @_hoopsforchange on Instagram to stay updated on their upcoming events and see firsthand how two high school students are changing the game—on and off the court.
CNC Nominates Arest for Mayor and Goldschmidt, Gruenberg and Kofman for Village Trustee
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Justin Arest
Mayor Justin Arest has been nominated by the Citizen's Nominating Committee to run for a second two-year term as the Mayor of Scarsdale. This may be the first time in Scarsdale's history when a Mayor was nominated to serve a second term. In addition, Deputy Mayor Dara Gruenberg received the nomination for a second term as Village Trustee and David Goldschmidt and Jason Kofman were selected to run for their first terms on the Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees.
Current Village Trustees Karen Brew and Sameer Ahuja will complete their service in March, 2025.
Commenting in his nomination, Mayor Arest said, "I am profoundly grateful to the members of the Citizens Nominating Committee for their service to our community and their commitment to Scarsdale’s longstanding nonpartisan system of government. While I did not anticipate seeking another term, I am deeply honored to have been renominated to run for a second term as the Mayor of Scarsdale.
The past two years have been incredibly productive for our village—adding services like weekly recycling, addressing critical flooding infrastructure, hiring a new village manager, and advancing major capital projects that improve our quality of life. These accomplishments are the result of collaborative efforts among our talented and dedicated village staff, my fellow board members, and countless volunteers whose commitment to Scarsdale is what makes this such a special place to live.
I look forward to welcoming the new trustees and continuing to work with the Village Board to serve our community."
See the announcement from the CNC below:
(The following was submitted by the Scarsdale Citizens Nominnating Commiittee on January 23, 2025)
The Citizens Nominating Committee (CNC) is pleased to announce its selected slate of candidates for the upcoming Scarsdale Citizens Non-Partisan Party election, scheduled for March 18, 2025.
The nominated candidates are:
Village Mayor:
Justin Arest, a Scarsdale resident for 12 years, currently serving as Village Mayor.
Village Trustee:
David J. Goldschmidt, a Scarsdale resident for 22 years
Dara Gruenberg, a Scarsdale resident for 13 years, currently serving as Village Trustee and seeking a second term.
Jason Kofman, a Scarsdale resident for 12 years
Dara Gruenberg
The general election will take place on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmsted Road, in the Scott Room. Voting hours are from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Raju Sitaula, Chair of the CNC, and Vice Chair Scott Harris led the committee in selecting this slate. Additionally, the CNC has elected Amy Frank as Chair and Liang Leon Xi as Vice Chair for the upcoming year, with Dan Besikof serving as Vice Chair of the Procedure Committee.
Beginning in early December 2024, the CNC conducted a thorough search for potential candidates, engaging in extensive due diligence. While deliberations and reference conversations remain confidential, the CNC meticulously evaluated each candidate's background, experience, and qualifications.
"We extend our gratitude to all candidates who submitted application and to the CNC members for their dedication and diligence in selecting this exemplary slate of candidates,” said Raju Sitaula.
David Goldschmidt
The Citizens Nominating Committee (CNC) is a non-partisan committee composed of 30 elected Scarsdale residents dedicated to identifying and nominating highly qualified individuals for village offices to ensure effective and representative local governance. The CNC process is conducted with strict confidentiality to maintain fairness and integrity and is guided by the rules set by the Procedure Committee and the Non-Partisan Resolution.
This year, the CNC has made the decision to nominate Justin Arest for a second two-year term as Village Mayor. This decision marks a departure from the CNC’s tradition of nominating Mayors to one two-year term. During the CNC’s rigorous review process, which included an examination of Village statutes and historical documents, it was confirmed that this tradition is a customary practice 
Jason Kofmanand is not a requirement. After extensive deliberation, the CNC members voted to nominate the candidate they felt is best positioned to lead our village for the next two years.
Additionally, the Chair and Vice Chair of the CNC have recommended to the Procedure Committee a review of term limits for Village elected officials to ensure that CNC policies align with the evolving needs of the community.
- Village Board Appoints New Police Chief and Recognizes Holocaust Remembrance Day
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