Mayor to Form Committee to Address Racism in Scarsdale
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Photo from the Vigil in Scarsdale Village, Sunday June 7, 2020Here are comments delivered by Scarsdale Mayor Marc Samwick at the June 9, 2020 meeting of the Scarsdale Board of Trustees:
On May 25th, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was tragically killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis. This killing, along with the series of senseless murders of black people by white police officers nationwide is unconscionable. It is also unconscionable that racism continues to plague our nation. While we are in the midst of a national crisis of conscience, as well as a pandemic, we should pause to bear witness to this moment in history. We are undoubtedly at a crossroads that hopefully will lead to systemic change and force us to alter what we as a society value and hold dear. We see the next generation rising up to say “enough” and “we must do better.” We must take their lead and strive to once and for all rid ourselves of racism and senseless violence.
Four Scarsdale High School graduates from the class of 2016 organized a vigil for George Floyd this past Sunday evening in Chase Park. The vigil was attended by hundreds of our friends and neighbors, as well as the Mayor of Mount Vernon and a number of her constituents. All but two of the speakers were black. This is not what we are accustomed to in Scarsdale - and that is exactly the point. We consider ourselves a community that highly values justice, both social justice and legal justice. We prize fairness and equity, and we staunchly denounce racism in all of its forms. While our aspirations are in the right place, it became clear to me on Sunday that we have work to do.
Among the most powerful and courageous speakers were five young black women who are current or former students in Scarsdale schools. They each recounted stories of growing up in Scarsdale. Stories of micro-aggressions, underlying racism and a lack of black teachers to serve as role models and to teach other teachers how to treat topics of black history with sensitivity and understanding. I was deeply moved by the stories of these young women, and I am ashamed that these acts continue to occur today in 2020 in Scarsdale. I spoke with the five young women after the vigil, and I told them that I heard them and that I am deeply sorry that these things happened to them here in our community. This is not the Village we know or at least the one we pride ourselves in being a part of.
This vigil was a wakeup call for me and for many others who attended the event. I would like to take this opportunity to announce that I am forming a group comprised of residents, representatives from the School District, local clergy, representatives from the Board of Trustees and Village and other stakeholders. The mission of this group will be to challenge us, to challenge our way of doing things, our way of thinking and our approach to one another. What we heard on Sunday evening was not the Scarsdale we want to be. Frankly, it is not the community I thought that we were. We are better than this, much better than this; and, we cannot get to that better place soon enough.
Change is difficult, but it is clearly important for us to take a hard look in the mirror and start to make necessary changes. Change is also required beyond our Village borders. One of the most effective ways that we may have our voices heard is to exercise our right to vote - one of the most important rights we have as citizens of the United States.
County Legislator Ben Boykin and Carolyn Stevens delivered face masks to Scarsdale Village. The masks were donated to the county by the Hanes Corporation. Pictured above left to right: Steve Pappalardo, Carolyn Stevens, Marc Samwick and Benjamin Boykin.
Today, we have a vote on the School Board and the School budget. On June 23rd, we have an important primary election and on September 15th we have a Village election. Anyone wishing to vote on June 23rd may do so via absentee ballot. You may contact the County Board of Elections to obtain an absentee ballot application. Because of the pandemic, all registered voters in good standing that request an absentee ballot will be issued a ballot. Please vote. Please vote every time you have the opportunity to have your voice heard in the management of our village, county, state or nation. Thank you.
Scarsdale High School Seniors Share Their Thoughts on Virtual Graduation
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Amidst this time of chaos, the Scarsdale High School seniors have been trying their best to preserve the senior year traditions that they looked forward to throughout their high school careers. SHS recently announced that graduation will be held online, with diplomas sent in the mail. We asked 10 seniors to share their final thoughts on their time as Scarsdale students, as well as their opinions on this new graduation plan. Many have mixed emotions. Here is what they shared:
Tara Bleustein
“I never imagined when we left school in early March that we would never return as students. While I’m upset that I can’t celebrate graduation or have prom the way grades before me have, I understand how hard it is to find a solution that is safe and socially distant. I think a lot of us, though, are still hoping that some of the traditional senior events will be postponed rather than cancelled. The administration has tried to make seniors feel special with a drive by which we all really appreciated and are trying to come up with some creative ways to recognize graduation. Hopefully restrictions will ease this summer and we will get to celebrate together!”
Dylan Wasserberger
“The rest of the senior class and I are all very angry and irritated at the way Scarsdale High School is handling our graduation ceremony. Many neighboring towns are doing so much more for their seniors and we believe that if the school would listen to our ideas instead of declining a lot of our proposals that we could have the graduation we deserve. Ending high school like this in the midst of a pandemic is really hard on a lot of us because we never get an actual ending or closure in the slightest. Even though it is annoying that the school may not seem like they aren’t doing anything, it’s still important to remind ourselves that during these times everyone is trying to do their best while being aware of the impact that the pandemic may have if we do an in person graduation.”
Coco Dweck
“Corona in general has been really hard for us seniors... our last days as high school students and our last times with our friends have been taken from us as well as countless traditions like prom, the senior play, senior transition day, and more. And being one of the editors-in-chief of the yearbook, hearing that the seniors wouldn’t get to see it until late August is especially disappointing. We understand how horrible the circumstances are for everyone suffering with loss and illness but we also as a grade have tried to make this time as bearable and positive as possible. Our ability to come up with creative small and safe ways to see each other and celebrate our final year has been a huge part of what makes our class so special. Looking towards graduation with a lot of ideas and passion we were hopeful that SHS would follow in the footsteps of neighboring towns in doing a socially distanced in-person graduation, but were massively disappointed by what we were presented with... essentially a Zoom, a drive by, and being mailed out diplomas weeks later. Our student body, student government, parents, and SHS faculty have been tirelessly trying to find a compromise to make the end of the year special but it’s super unfortunate how dividing and hectic things have become. We are really just looking for something to look forward to and something that we think measures up to how hard we have worked for this moment.”
Rishabh Gharekhan
“In the beginning of the year, no one would have expected that our senior year would end the way it will. That being said, the school has been doing a great job in trying to make us feel special! The signs that they dropped off was a really powerful moment. In the current circumstances, it makes sense to have a virtual graduation but being together while graduating would be awesome. SHS has really made me a better student and friend and I hope that a way can be found to bring our class together one more time to celebrate our achievements.”
Jordan Tepper
“As a senior at Scarsdale High School, it is extremely important to me, as well as my peers, to have a socially distant graduation. I know it is possible, as Yorktown has figured out a similar plan. After all our hard work and determination, I have high hopes that SHS will put in the effort it takes to make for a memorable graduation. Already missing out on so many big events and milestones, graduation is the last chance to remember this year's graduating class. I have had an amazing 3 and a half years at Scarsdale High School and I hope to have a memorable ending as well.”
Brendan Lee
“Although the end of my time at SHS has been quite out of the ordinary, I am very pleased with the way students, student government, and faculty joined together to make our final months at SHS as enjoyable as possible. Yes, we have all been staying in our homes, but Zoom classes quickly became a great way to spend time with our teachers and classmates and continue our education despite the pandemic. The drive-by senior appreciation parade was such a nice surprise. It was great to see our teachers again in person and reminded us of the community bond that we will forever have as SHS seniors. I am so excited for our graduation ceremony. Even though we will be in our cars and not walking up onto the graduation stage, I really appreciate the faculty doing the best they can to still honor the seniors in these times. My four years at SHS have certainly been academically challenging— but most of all fun and memorable.”
Liat Blumenfeld
“Personally, I had the best experience at SHS. I am very upset and let down that my last year has been robbed from me. The faculty and my classmates made it the best 4 years I could have asked for. For graduation, the school sent an email about mailing our diplomas, having a drive by and a virtual graduation. I think that this is the one thing I was disappointed to hear in my years in high school. This year was supposed to be one of the best of our lives and a virtual graduation is not the way anyone thought it would end. I think a better option would be to postpone graduation till it is safe to do it outside and socially distanced. I think having graduation isn’t the same without having the people who made high school so memorable. Overall, I think Scarsdale made my high school experience amazing, but I think it is a bad way to end an amazing 4 years.”
Marc Ifrah
“Many of my classmates and I are vehemently disappointed by the graduation plan proposed by the school administration. I feel that a few seconds of driving past your teachers does not honor and celebrate the hard work and dedication that each and every senior has put into their high school experience. Furthermore, to go through a graduation without seeing your friends and classmates, the very people with which you’ve made so many memories, takes away much of the joy of graduating. While it’s tremendously difficult to devise a graduation plan that would obey state guidelines while still commending the seniors honorably, many ideas presented by Scarsdale parents and students have been both feasible and exciting. For example, having a few different graduations on Dean Field that are based on sign-up dates. Under this proposal, friends would sign up for the same date and attend their graduation standing 6 feet apart from one another on Dean Field, while receiving their diplomas from their family rather than the principal. This proposal pays great respect to the seniors while still following state guidelines to ensure the community’s safety. Overall, I’ve had the best four years of my life at Scarsdale High School and have made unforgettable memories, so I wouldn’t want my last memory of Scarsdale High School to be dull and unmemorable.”
Sammy Rosenberg
“It's been very difficult grasping the fact that all of the senior traditions I have been looking forward to for most of my life will not happen. I wish there was a way to celebrate our accomplishments and graduation like it was before the pandemic, but it seems like the situation is nearly impossible to manage. I really appreciate all of the efforts that the numerous committees, parents, and facility have put in to make the situation less difficult and will always remember the care they have shown the senior class. I wish I could have had a prom, graduation, and other closing ceremonies, but on a positive note, this difficult time has brought me closer to my friends and family and I am grateful for that.”
Ty Kawamura
“Although I am incredibly thankful for all the work and effort that the high school has put into trying to make it feel like the typical end of senior year, I remain deeply saddened about missing some of the key milestones of my time at Scarsdale. The senior class was unable to have assassin, Spring break, the last day of school, prom, and graduation. Missing these huge moments, ones that I have been looking forward to for years, has made me feel as if I am lacking closure from not only my time at Scarsdale High School, but from my entire time living in Scarsdale. Additionally as many colleges are still deciding whether or not they will open in the fall, I am fearful that the beginning of my college experience will also be affected. I deeply hope that the school will revisit their decision to have a virtual graduation and to cancel prom and instead will look to host these events in the future. Without walking on graduation day and experiencing prom, I feel as if my time at Scarsdale is incomplete, and I would much rather have these events in the future instead of not having them at all.”
Scarsdale Village Extends Parking Permit Expiration Dates to September 30, 2020
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(This in from Scarsdale Village)
Village of Scarsdale parking permits deliver great value by offering a range of parking alternatives for residents and others. However, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we realize that our permit holders have not received full value for their investment due to restrictions imposed by the State of New York in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
As a result, we have decided to extend the expiration date for all parking permits to September 30, 2020. New parking permit sales will begin on September 01 and will become valid on October 01. Additional information will be made available as the dates get closer.
As you may be aware, Governor Cuomo announced that the Mid-Hudson Region, which includes Westchester County, has met the metrics to advance to Phase I Reopening. Although NYC has not been authorized to advance to Phase I reopening, we remain hopeful that they will continue to make progress in hitting the necessary metrics.
With our businesses beginning to reopen, parking demands will begin to ramp-up, as well. Once our commuter demand returns, all permit holders will once again realize the full value of their permit investments. As we enter Phase I Reopening, be sure to adhere to posted parking restrictions in order to maximize parking availability for all users.
Finally, we are pleased to be able to offer the extended expiration date to all of our permit holders. Additionally, we look forward to seeing more activity in all our areas of commerce. All residents are strongly encouraged to support our local businesses – they really need your help as they pivot from COVID-19 to reopening.
Questions may be directed to the Village Clerk’s Office by phone at 914.722.1175 or by email using clerk@scarsdale.com.
School Board Leaders Share Facts of 2020-21 School Budget
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Dear Community Residents:
The Scarsdale Board of Education is pleased to present the proposed budget for the 2020-21 school year. It is a budget that acknowledges our community’s concern about the impact of the pandemic and the economic crisis.
This budget preserves class size practices at the elementary level, the house structure and the expansion of the one-to-one computing program to 8th Grade (an iPad for each student) at the Middle School, the tutorial model and a variety of course offerings at the High School maintaining student choice, mandated special education ratios and a continuum of service, and a multi-pronged approach to safety, security, and emergency management.
This budget is lean, but allows for a flexible response to many unknowns. It includes revenue- and expenditure-based strategies to respond to unknowns such as anticipated reductions in state aid, sales tax, and interest income; includes increases in some reserves, and incorporates budget efficiencies and reductions in deferrable expenses presented to the Board throughout March, April, and May. The Board decided to reach into our Unassigned Fund Balance and reallocated $650,000 more than originally planned so that $1,750,000 of Assigned Fund Balance will support 2020-21 budgeted expenses.
This budget includes $700,000 to improve the safety and experience of the students, staff, and residents who use the High School auditorium for academic and extracurricular activities. These expenses, optimized by work process, cost, and safety, do not impact the tax levy. They will be paid for with funds remaining from the 2014 Bond, which were approved by the community, raised for this purpose, and now sit in the Debt Service Reserve available for this particular use.
Barring further direction from the Governor, if the budget put forth to our voters on June 9th is not approved, it is likely we would be required to adopt a contingency budget. For us, that would mean a $2.4 million budget reduction from this already lean budget, which would cause substantial harm to the Scarsdale educational program. At this level of cuts, core educational programs and values, including staff and class size ratios, could be dramatically and radically affected. Equipment and leasing expenditures would be prohibited, and we’d be required to charge building use fees to PTAs.
This year voting will take place by mail only; all eligible voters will receive ballots and postage-paid return envelopes. Completed ballots must be received by the District Office by Tuesday, June 9 at 5 p.m.
Your participation in this process is vitally important to our entire community.
Thank you.
Pamela Fuehrer, Scarsdale BOE President
Alison Tepper Singer, Scarsdale BOE Vice-President
LWVS To Host Online Forum for School Board Candidates
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This year, the Scarsdale School Board election is contested, and the Scarsdale League of Women Voters will host a Candidate Forum on Zoom on Sunday, May 31 from 8:00-9:30 PM. The three candidates running in the upcoming School Board election, Mayra Kirkendall-Rodriguez, Robert Klein, and Amber Yusuf, will be participating in the Candidate Forum. There are two open School Board seats involved in the election, and the three candidates are running against each other for these two seats. The two highest vote recipients will win the seats.
The League encourages members of the public to register to attend the virtual Candidate Forum through this link: Join them to listen to the candidates answer questions and discuss issues.
Members of the public will have an opportunity to contribute questions to be answered by the candidates through this form.
The virtual Candidate's Forum will also be recorded for playback for those who are unable to watch the event live.
The 2020 Scarsdale School Board election and School Budget vote will take place through mail-in ballots, which are due back to the district clerk by June 9th. For more information about the upcoming election, please visit the LWVS Voter Information page.
