Board Cuts Wellness Center and Vows to Bring In Budget Under Tax Cap
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With the June 3rd budget deadline just days away, the Board got down to business on Wednesday night May 29 for frank discussion with the community at an open budget forum. Filling in for Board President Liz Guggenheimer was V.P. Suzanne Seiden who said, "we got a strong message from the community on May 21," and we "understand we need to do a better job." She thanked the community for their feedback via email, letters and phone calls and said they identified three themes from the communications:
- Lower taxes
- Eliminate the Wellness Center
- Make structural changes to control long-term costs
Before discussion began, the Board signaled their willingness to adopt a budget that critics could embrace by unanimously passing a resolution to eliminate the proposed wellness center and to put forth a revised budget that falls below the tax cap.
Seiden asked the group to be open to looking at the issues from all sides and rally around the second proposed budget. She also raised issues about the development of the budget in the future and the role of the Board of Education in the process, suggesting that the board might play a more proactive role i in governance and mediation between the school administration and the community.
In response to community requests, the Board asked Superintendent McGill to provide options for the new budget to bring it in under the cap.
On his list were the following:
- Take an additional $100,000 from reserves
- Reduce the special education budget by $100,000 as costs are running lower than originally estimated
- Realize a savings of $136,500 due to negotiations on life insurance
- Reduce the proposed full time drama teacher at the high school to a .6 position ($40,000 in savings)
- Save $100,000 by eliminating the new position of District Network Administrator
- Eliminate some or all of the funding for the Center for Innovation – currently budgeted at $90,000
- Eliminate the $25,000 in funds planned to upgrade the district website
- Cancel asbestos tile abatement project at the high school as well as two concrete boiler pads for a total savings of $160,000
- Eliminate $65,000 in funding for the Teen Center
- Eliminate $131,000 for security "greeters" at the high school and the middle school
- Eliminate the full time secretary in the Athletic Office and replace the AV department's secretary with an aide ($60,000 in savings)
- Eliminate additional high school librarian ($100,000 in savings)
- Eliminate unassigned funds in the budget that could be used for an additional teacher if needed ($100,000 in savings)
- Eliminate a District Helping Teacher, reducing the number of District Helping Teachers to only two, math and science ($100,000 in savings)
- Eliminate funding for a Special Ed Psychologist who was formerly funded through a grant ($150,000 in savings)
After Dr. McGill presented these options for cost savings, Board members weighed in the reductions. While many members agreed with Dr. McGill's proposals, several members advocated to maintain funding for security, the Teen Center, the librarian, the District Helping Teacher, and the Special Education Psychologist.
After discussing their own opinions of the proposed cuts that would bring the budget under the tax cap, Board members gave community members the opportunity to speak on the budget. Unlike the first community budget meeting, the first ten contributions were from people who voted for and are in support of the budget.
Here are excerpts from select speakers:
Gail Hutcher, President of the PT Council urged the Board to focus on class size and extracurricular programs. Dorian Glickenhaus agreed with Hutcher saying "People look at class size when considering the reputation of the district, so I urge the Board to consider maintaining class sizes."
Debbie Rapport said, "We should focus on providing the best education to the most children and we should not throw the baby (our reputation) out with the bathwater." She warned the Board "not be penny wise and pound foolish."
Former Mayor Carolyn Stevens said, "Everybody moved here because of the schools. They want the best public education available. That unites everybody who voted yes and everybody who voted no. Most still want the best education for the children in the community regardless. But that said, they want the best value for the best education. They want more security and transparency so that people don't feel that their money is being wasted."
Diane Greenwald spoke in favor of the elementary school "Teachers in Charge," saying that they "provide tremendous support for teaching staff and should really be called Vice Principals. They manage bussing, dismissal and scheduling and back up the Principal."
David Brodsky spoke in support of the faculty, saying, "Teachers have great influence on kids. I supported the first budget even though I had reservations. I urge the elimination of the first six items totaling $700k but want to keep funding for the Teen Center, librarian and the other items that make Scarsdale the special environment it is. "
Phyllis Perkins, an empty nester whose three daughters attended Scarsdale schools from kindergarten through high school said, "their educations were supported throughout by other empty nesters. Today's empty nesters have a responsibility to give back to help support and maintain the level of education that Scarsdale has provided for this past century."
Heather Gilchrist told the group, "During the 1970's in California, Proposition 13 slowly strangled schools for funds. It took about two decades for schools to recover. I fear that we are setting a precedent that we will always have to be under the cap."
Penny Bauersfeld commented that, "Nobody who voted "no" has come forward tonight so I hope people who voted "no" don't just vote "no", but come out and express their opinions."
Nina Ross said, "I support most of the cuts but not the security one. Pension and health insurance costs are getting out of control and we need to lobby Albany for more local control."
Critics did speak up:
Phillip Sanchez told the group to "deal with short term then the long term. The long term issue is that this document stating what could be cut should have been made available earlier before the public backlash. We should be given more options and transparency for the budget and we need to understand where the money is going."
Jim Labick who said he voted no due to the teacher's contract, suggested that we re-examine the length of the contract and Bob Harrison, spoke about teacher's salaries, saying, "Our teachers are very well paid. $131,239 is the median pay per year. Edgemont voted no on their school budget several years ago and continues to be a good school district."
The Board has only a few days to make revisions before the June 3 deadline for the second proposed budget. From the conversation it appeared that both sides were cooperating and narrowing their differences in an effort to agree on a budget that could garner widespread support on June 18.
Scarsdale Budget Vote Aligns With Statewide Trends
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The "no vote" on the Scarsdale school budget on May 21 aligns with statewide trends. In Scarsdale, the proposed 2013-14 school budget exceeded the tax cap by $701,267 which would have meant a 3.93% tax increase, or .55% above the adjusted cap of 3.38%.
According the NYS School Boards Association, 98 percent of proposed school budgets that contained tax increases within the allowable tax cap passed on Tuesday. The relative few districts that tried to override the state's tax cap saw a pass rate Tuesday of just 30 percent.
The New York State School Boards Association says its preliminary analysis shows that more than 630 budgets were approved. On average, they increase the tax levy by 2.8 percent for the next school year while increasing spending by about the same percentage.
Twenty-seven districts asked voters for a tax levy increase exceeding what was allowed under the 2011 tax cap formula. Of them, 70 percent saw their budgets fail.
In Scarsdale, the Board based the proposed budget on "educational goals and fiscal prudence, not on an arbitrary budget or tax limit." However, they may have failed to acknowledge the importance of the tax cap legislation which served to focus voters on this "arbitrary" number. Since 70% of the increase in the budget was due to state-mandated increases in retirement costs, the board and administration had little flexibility to fund programs and new initiatives. They made the decision to exceed the cap and expected voters to override it with a 60% vote of approval. In hindsight, perhaps they did not recognize the symbolism of the state cap or assess the tenor of the community.
Prom Fashion 2013
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It's the beginning of May ... a time when high school girls thoughts stray from schoolwork and finals to the beach and prom. Tis the season for dressing up and Pinterest is currently swarming with weddings, cocktail attire and details of what to wear for all types of party-goers. To give you a better idea of what's in for Prom 2013, Scarsdale resident, stylist and fashion hunter Stephanie Unter enlisted three Scarsdale High School girls who were willing to strut their stuff for photographer Jim D'Angelo. They borrowed dresses from The Look to showcase prom styles for this season.
The fashion shoot features the girls in three different looks and price ranges. Though these young stars never modeled before they posed like pros. It was a day of girly fun beginning at the hair and makeup station at 8AM, getting lost en route to their location and eventually taking the perfect final shots.
Unter asked each girl what prom meant to them and she is happy to report that nothing has changed since the dinosaur age of her prom days. It's all about top 40 remix heaven, the getting ready beforehand, and of course, stashing the heels and enjoying the after party. Take a peek below at the lovely girls and what they have to say. Notice a similar thread running though each of their minds.... "Say yes to the dress, and the date takes second place by far."
Prom girl one, Sarah (pictured above) says, "Getting dressed and looking pretty for the picture is the biggest thing. The date doesn't matter, ... that is just a detail."
Michelle says prom is "glamorous, magical, and fun. Getting dressed up is definitely the best part ... hair, makeup, and nails — it's fun being a girl! It's special, the one night you can let loose!"
For Olivia prom is about "spending the night with a guy that you have a good time with." She says, "You never really get the chance to get all dressed up and really look nice. Even better? Your favorite teachers can come and see you at your best."
Pretty in pink, was the theme of the day because they looked like princesses getting dressed for the ball. And frankly, in the end, it fit their ideal prom look. They lived in the moment and laughed the day away. And then the fun happened. As you can see from the pics below, those sky-high shoes were ditched for bare feet. 
A shout out to intern Carina, for helping out with hair, makeup, and assistance on-set, to Jim D'Angelo for taking fantastic magical pics, and for all the lovely girls for making this day possible.
Photography: Jim D'Angelo
See more style and find out where to buy on Stephanie Unter's blog, New York Fashion Hunter.
Seniors Explore the Work World During Senior Options
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For the past two weeks, seniors at Scarsdale High School (including myself) have gotten a taste of what many of our parents do every day. In the Senior Options Program, students get real-world work experience during the final weeks of senior year. For some, this means grabbing a gardening hoe while for others it means grabbing a movie camera. Students have been able to find interesting internships, community service, and independent projects all over, with many here in Westchester and others in New York City. While each student may have very different experiences and learn about working in different environments, one thing all students have in common is a hands-on learning experience that goes beyond the classroom.
Jose Lamela, the current Senior Options coordinator, is in his first year running the program. I got a chance to interview Sr. Lamela who said: "my favorite part of doing Senior Options is getting to meet senior I've never taught or gotten to know previously. Visiting the seniors and seeing them work is great too, some of them come back and say how much harder it is than being back in school." I also asked him which projects he thought were the coolest and most unique this year to which he responded, "this year there are a few kids working on movie sets who have actually had to sign confidentiality contracts, which is really interesting because they have insight into movies coming out in the future." For Sr. Lamela, Senior Options is a great and important program because of how it opens student's eyes to the world and exposes them to so much more than they would have been in the classroom.
I caught up with a few fellow students of mine at their Senior Options projects and found out a little bit more about what they are doing.
Jacob Kirschenbaum, who is interning at Westchester Boxing Club, spoke about his experiences there: "At Westchester Boxing Club, I've learned about both boxing as a sport and as a business. I've learned how to train clients in personal training sessions, including various boxing techniques, punches, safety precautions, workout regimens, etc. It's an extremely complex sport that requires a lot of practice and repetition, which we've certainly gotten a lot of in a hands-on sort of way.
On the business side, we've been focusing on the marketing of the gym through social media sites. We've been managing the gym's Facebook and Twitter pages, revamping their marketing approach to try to appeal to a younger demographic."
Eliane Englehard and Mayra De Gouveia are interning at Lulu's bakery and explained how their opinions of the project changed once they started working: "At first it seemed like a dread to go because neither of us wanted to work but surprisingly it's been an unbelievable experience. Everyone who works at Lulu's is very welcoming, funny, and nice. We both look forward to going and sometimes we even go earlier. They have taught us a lot about how to deal with rude people and let us do a lot more than we expected. For example: they let us help make decorations for wedding cakes as well as design cake toppers made of fondant. We would 100% recommend future seniors to consider Lulu's. It's really been a great experience."
I also met with Jono Gruber and Isabel Steckel at their Senior Options site at Stone Barns. 
Both Jono and Isabel are having fun and taking advantage of the farming experience. They explained what they've taken away from the program thus far: "At Stone Barns we have learned farming techniques, how to plant, how to talk to people in the workplace. It's been a great experience because we get to be outside and it's a rare opportunity to get to work on a farm. We've gotten to meet really cool people who we otherwise wouldn't typically meet in Scarsdale. The first week was hard because it was tough physical labor, but we've gotten the hang of it and its gotten better. One thing we have definitely learned through the program is to stick with things until we figure them out."
Unlike many students, Jen Eisler and Caroline Rodman have chosen to pursue an independent project for their senior options. While editing and compiling their photos, they elaborated on their first photojournalism project and what they've learned: "We are doing a photojournalism project and our first project was on the Wonderful Women of Scarsdale. Our first project was to photograph the involved women in the community of Scarsdale and interview them about their role in the community. We wanted to show a diverse group of women within Scarsdale, and learn about what living or working in Scarsdale is like for them. We've learned how to ask people the right questions, how to make them feel comfortable in an interview, how to use lighting in photography, and honed our people skills."
Jake Gibson, who is interning at Macguffin Films in New York City reflected on his time there and what he has learned so far: "I've had a great time interning for Macguffin Films because I'm learning both the foundations of and new creative techniques for film and television. Although I'm only on the set of commercials, everything done here which includes filming, rigging, directing, producing and editing goes into all forms of cinematography and I really enjoy learning what it takes to output professional media."
Jacob Cannon chose to intern at the Shell Gas Station on Weaver Street in order to learn hands on about cars and how they function. He described what a typical day at work is like, his favorite parts of the job, and what he hopes to learn: "On a typical day at the Gas Station I get a chance to learn about and handle several different processes. I do two or three New York State inspections, put the car through the computer, and check the tires, wheels, brakes and lights. On most days I'll get to do an oil change or two, and on some days I get a brake job, where I take out the old brakes, put in new ones, and then take the car out for a test drive, which is awesome. I am also learning how a small business functions through the convenience store. The hardest part is running the register, which can be impossible at times. It's a pretty awesome internship and I'm learning a lot. Not only am I learning the physical stuff and the different processes for the cars but I am also learning vernacular in terms of cars, the differences between different types of cars and how to take care of my own car. In the future I hope to learn a few more complicated jobs, like taking out a motor."
At the end of the six-week program, students will create presentations summarizing their newly acquired skills and work opportunities. Although one downside to the program is that seniors are off working on their own projects and do not get to see everybody in school during the last weeks of senior year, all students seem to be happy with how Senior Options has turned out and are learning every day. Whether working on cars, making artisanal cakes, or creating a photojournalism project, Scarsdale High School seniors are out in the workplace and are learning how to get things done.
This article was contributed by Brian Shabto, a senior at Scarsdale High School.
Why Become A Girl Scout Leader
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Leadership skills, community connections, friendships, fun trips, laughter, toasted marshmallows--- and watching your child and her friends turn into capable young adults right before your eyes. If these are some of the things you’ll get out of scouting—think about what your daughter will gain!
When my good friend, Miriam Beveridge, asked me if I wanted to be a Girl Scout Leader and start a Brownie Troop at Greenacres, the first thing I thought of was the fact that I had been a Brownie “drop-out.”. I grew up in the 60’s and being in Brownies back then seemed very “Betty Crocker-ish” to me--cooking, sewing and not much else. But since Miriam and I really enjoyed spending time together anyway, I thought, hey, why not? We could make our troop more interesting than that.
Our troop loves trips---so over the years we’ve gone rock climbing, snowshoeing, sailing, scuba diving, geocaching, horseback riding, kick boxing and kayaking. We’ve camped in tents and in cabins, in all four seasons. Cooked on an open fire, in an underground pit and in an oven made from a cardboard box and tin foil. We’ve learned about water safety, bird watching, forensics, fashion, film editing, woodworking and fish seining.
As you might imagine, the girls in our troop have become close friends. They are all very distinct personalities and while their “best” friends in the troop may change over time, they are fiercely loyal to one another. Sharing all these life experiences has created a bond between them. They know each other’s foibles and accept them; they know each other’s strengths and depend on them.
Many little girls in our community want to become scouts, but not enough parents are willing to take 
on the role of troop leader. For Miriam and myself it’s been a terrific ride that’s not over yet. Looking in from the outside it may seem daunting, but with the many talented people involved with Scarsdale/Edgemont Girl Scouts, if you were even thinking of starting a troop, you would have a lot of help. The leaders meet once a month at the Girl Scout House and are always available to give advice and may even come to each others troop meetings once in a while to help in various ways. Older scout troops will come to work with younger ones--great for both age groups as well as the leaders. And, if you need to slow things down and meet less frequently, it is perfectly fine. Your troop is what you make of it.
We asked a couple of girls from other Scarsdale troops, who are now grown, to tell you why they liked scouting. Samantha Ellis, age 23 and working for Marriott International said “Girl Scouting was one of my favorite activities. I started in kindergarten as a Daisy and continued through 12th grade. My mother was a leader, so we went on many trips with all my scout friends. I loved camping, building fires, running leadership activities, and bonding with my Girl Scout sisters. When I earned my Gold Award, I learned that one person can really make a difference; it allowed me to help other people but it also helped me. I learned that community service and volunteering make you feel good. Girl Scouts taught me how to be organized so I could lead activities. I became an effective communicator, which has served me to this day. From camps to badges to community involvement--Girl Scouts turned me from a shy girl into a confident woman.”
Mary Crawford, age 21 and studying for her Masters at University of Edinburgh, told us, “I loved getting together with my fellow Girl Scouts---just hanging out, talking, laughing and helping each other. I also enjoyed all the fun outdoor activities like camping, orienteering and hiking - hobbies I continue to enjoy. Girl Scouting taught me to be organized, self confident, to work with others and yet make my own decisions and stand on my own. As a scout, my mom made me call our relatives to sell cookies, I didn't like it but it taught me to handle a telephone conversation. Several years ago I interned in Congressman Crowley's office, where one of my responsibilities was to answer the telephone and talk with constituents, another life skill I leaned from Girl Scouting! I was also an intern one summer at the GSUSA National Headquarters working in the archives with old documents. This experience helped me secure my current internship with the National Library of Scotland.”
Jordana Cooper, age 17 and currently a senior at Scarsdale High School, has been a girl scout for the past 12 years. “Having my mom as the leader of my troop and watching her in a leadership role, has taught me that I, too, can be a leader. I definitely think having this relationship with my mom has encouraged me to step up and be a leader in school and in my community. I know that I will have the confidence and skill to continue to step up as a leader in my future. Thanks mom!”
Pat Cook, a leader of an Edgemont sixth grade Troop has noted: "My daughter Grayson and I have been doing scouts together for six years. What it means for me is that I know she is learning how to be a strong young woman and leader by being exposed to new experiences that physically challenge her such as camping, scuba diving, and ice carving and mentally challenge her through creative projects like designing scavenger hunts for a younger troop and observing the media in a critical way. What it means for me as a parent is that I have special time set aside for my daughter -- to do unique activities, to observe firsthand what is going on with her peers, and to earn her admiration as the cool mom who does scouts.”
“Over the past six years, our troop has practiced more compassion than many adults do in their lifetime,” Pat continued. “They've held a shoe drive for children in Uruguay, made cards for men and women in the armed forces, visited and donated supplies to a no-kill animal shelter, planted a garden at their elementary school, held a bake sale in honor of a friend who was fighting leukemia, worked at a soup kitchen, and made fleece blankets for fellow scouts in a troop that was displaced by Hurricane Sandy. At Village Government Day in Scarsdale, one of my scouts left Village Hall proclaiming she wanted to become a Defense Attorney. To me, that is what scouting is all about: finding one's voice and then shouting."
Without parents to become leaders there would be no scout troops. There are girls right now in our elementary schools asking to be part of a troop but we need parents to come forward to lead them. Please think about becoming a troop leader at your elementary school. It’s really an incredibly rewarding experience for everyone involved. I know that my daughter’s life would be very different had she not been in our troop. Miriam and I wouldn’t have the many memories we now share or the light in our eyes as we watch our daughters learning to become accomplished young women.
This article was submitted by Lisa Furgatch. (Lisa is a co-leader of a girl scout troop currently in seventh grade at Scarsdale Middle School) If you are interested in learning more about becoming a leader, please contact Carmela Crawford or Miriam Beveridge at Scarsdale/Edgemont Girl Scouts at [email protected] or click here to visit their website.
