Edgemont Incorporation Redux
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Seven years has passed since a group of Edgemont residents created the Edgemont Village Exploratory Committee (EVEC) to study the possibility of the incorporation of Edgemont and now the idea is back on the table. At the October 3, 2011 meeting of the Edgemont Community Council (ECC) directors voted unanimously to form a committee to investigate whether it makes sense to incorporate Edgemont now as Greenburgh's seventh village.
Why revisit this idea and why now, On the ECC Facebook Page , ECC president Geoff Loftus, cites a number of concerns, including escalating town property taxes over which Edgemont has no control, the Town's 56-year failure to conduct a town-wide reassessment which is costing the Edgemont school district millions of dollars annually, and the absence of any Edgemont control over zoning and planning. Greenburgh is now considering a comprehensive plan that is expected to call for substantially increased housing density along Central Avenue that could swamp the school district with a substantial increase in enrollment.
Loftus stressed that what is being considered is not "secession" from Greenburgh which is not legally or economically practical. Secession was a term used by opponents of incorporation in 2005 to scare residents. Appointed to the ECC committee to study the issue were ECC directors Marc Ackerman, Peter Mellis, Aubrey Graf, and Greg Adams.
In June 2005, the EVEC published the Report to the Community on Village Incorporation, and found that the cost of an Edgemont Village would be higher than the expense of remaining as part of the unincorporated area of Greenburgh. There were numerous issues including the ability to acquire land and create the village infrastructure. The EVEC report can be viewed here:
In taking the pulse of the community on this issue this week, I found that many had no idea that this committee had been formed -- and most admitted that they did not understand what it means for Edgemont to become a village. A relative newcomer in the community was curious about the discussions and wondered why she knew nothing about it. She said, “I feel that the debate has not been fairly disseminated to all of Edgemont, especially those new to the area who have the most to gain/lose by such a move. The membership of this village committee should be open to the Edgemont community more broadly so that we are insured of an unbiased report at the end.”
Another well informed community member said that he recalls that the EVEC report indicated that “Edgemont Village” taxes would be 33% higher than the current (in 2005) Greenburgh Town taxes. He felt that at this time, when real estate agents say that Edgemont properties are not selling as quickly as Scarsdale properties, the last thing we need is higher taxes. Common sense dictates that a small village cannot provide infrastructure and municipal services as efficiently as a l
arge town. He believed his taxes would go through the roof, just when Edgemont can least afford it.
A third community member said that if it would ultimately lower her family's taxes, she would be in favor of becoming a village but would like to hear more about how being a village would affect the schools. She worries about her kids' classes getting more crowded so if becoming a village could help in that aspect, she would like to hear more about it.
John Sganga of Edgemont has mixed feelings about the move. He said, “I am intrigued by the idea of a village. However I need to see how this will occur without additional costs to the homeowners of Edgemont. All types of governments today are being challenged to reduce taxes and increase services! I just assume that the village of Edgemont will add an additional layer of taxes to edgemont denizens. This will be unacceptable. However, I look forward to the findings of this new committee and I will review the results with an open mind!”
Personally, I would like to see more concrete information presented in open community meetings about whether or not Edgemont would be better off as the seventh village within Greenburgh. I also need to know how this will affect the Edgemont schools, if at all. I need to know that no school land will ever be used for village purposes. I need to know what my taxes will be under a new village and most of all, I need to know who will run this Edgemont Village.
Caroline Tzelios is a "stay at home" mom of three kids who never stays at home. She has spent the past thirteen years volunteering in the Edgemont Schools and recently completed her two year term as PTSA co-president of Edgemont High School. She is the current co-chair of Edgemont's ACE Theater Committee and serves on the Edgemont School Foundation and E Club boards.
Scarsdale Cheerleaders to Perform in London
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Two cheerleaders from Scarsdale have been selected to travel to London to participate in the New Year’s Day parade. Sophomores and good friends Lauren Wang and Alex Faegenburg will be going to London from December 26th to January 2nd, traveling with a group of cheerleaders and dancers from all over the United States.
The two attended the UCA Cheer Camp, Pine Forest at Trails End this summer where they entered a contest and were among the lucky few selected to go on the trip and participate in the parade. During their time in England they will rehearse, sightsee and perform.
Faegenburg explained how the two friends ended up qualifying for the trip. “This summer at Pine Forest Cheerleading Camp Lauren and I tried out for All-American, where we had to do our best jump, an Xtreme Routine dance, and the All-American cheer. The song that we danced to was a remix to "More" by Usher. We both qualified to go on the trip. I'm so excited that I got this opportunity to go to London! I've never been there before, and I can't wait to experience it with my best friend. My family is coming on the trip for their December vacation, so I can enjoy London with them as well. I can't wait. It's a great privilege and I get to do what I love to do, which is cheerlead!"
Lauren Wang has been on Scarsdale’s Varsity team for two years where she is a base. The team practices and cheers 5-6 days a week from mid-August through June, but Wang still makes time to be an officer of the Charity Water club and help out with Midnight Run. Alex Faegenburg started cheering as a seventh grader in the Middle School and is now on the JV team where she is a flyer.
Police Nab 24 Underage Drinkers in Edgemont
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On Friday night September 16, following the homecoming football game at Edgemont High School police received a complaint about a large, loud party at 60 Seely Place in Edgemont.
Members of the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force and uniform patrol officers went to the home and found a number of young people entering and leaving an open attached garage. Police found numerous teenagers inside the garage and open beer containers.
As a result of continued investigation twenty four (24) under aged teens were determined to be present and found to be in possession of alcoholic beverages. All were issued a summons for “Possession of Alcohol by a Person Under the Age of 21”, Section 65-c of the Alcohol and Beverage Control law. The minors were released to the custody of their parents or guardians. Court dates are scheduled this month at Town of Greenburgh Court and the investigation is continuing.
Also on Friday, September 16, 2011, members of the Greenburgh Police Drug and Alcohol task force conducted an investigation into the sale of alcohol to under aged minors in 19 locations throughout the Town of Greenburgh and the Villages of Irvington and Tarrytown. An underage agent was sent into stores in order to attempt to purchase an alcoholic beverage without proper identification. Though the agent was denied purchase in 16 locations, three stores sold alcoholic beverages to the agent without asking for proper identification. Two of the locations were in Tarrytown, but the third was the new Walgreens at 870 Central Park Avenue in Scarsdale.
The defendants were issued summonses under the Alcohol and Beverage Control law, section 65-1 for selling an alcoholic beverage to a person under the age of 21 and are due to appear in Town of Greenburgh Court later this month.
Perhaps, the kids who were partying in Edgemont bought their beer at Walgreens?
Six More Teens Caught Drinking in Edgemont
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For the second weekend in a row, teens have been caught drinking in Edgemont by the police. Most recently, on Saturday, September 24 at 7:30 pm. the Greenburgh Police Department received a complaint that several teenagers were drinking alcoholic beverages in front of a house at 14 Scarsdale Farm Road. Members of the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force went out with the police to investigate and found a number of young people with beer in front of the house. Police found that the youths had also consumed it. The parents of the teen who hosted the party were not home at the time of the incident.
As a result, six teenagers, all sixteen years-old were issued a summons for “Possession of Alcohol by a Person Under the Age of 21”, Section 65-c of the Alcohol and Beverage Control law. They were released at the scene to the custody of their parents or guardians and court dates are scheduled for October at Town of Greenburgh Court.
According to Lt. Brian J. Ryan, Public Information Officer for the Greenburgh Police, police were not out looking for underage drinkers at the time, but were required to investigate the complaint. Along with the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force, police are pro-active in enforcing the law. Based on his experience, the punishment for those with no prior record is usually education and community service.
Parents were divided in their reaction to this latest incident. Some were not surprised that the teens were gathered at this particular home and felt that when parents fail to supervise their children the police should step in. One mom speculated, “What could have happened if one of these kids got behind the wheel of a car?” Others were critical of the police and thought they should be concentrating on catching the burglars that have been a problem in the neighborhood for the past few years, instead of breaking up drinking parties. Still others said that the school should be more proactive about educating students on the dangers of teenage drinking.
Commenting on the two incidents, Edgemont’s Bob Bernstein said, "Underage drinking has been taking place in suburban communities for decades, and Edgemont is no exception. It's just that high tech communication being what it is today, Edgemont kids can get together very quickly in a very large group and not go unnoticed. We as parents must therefore reinforce what our kids are taught in school: underage drinking, even in the privacy of your own home, is illegal; an arrest and conviction could put your future in jeopardy; binge drinking can be fatal; and drinking and driving can make you a danger to others as well as yourself. That said, every town and village in Westchester County offers programs and facilities for teens so that there's always a safe and alcohol-free place for kids to "hang out" after an event, like a big football game. But we in Edgemont have nothing like that, and that's wrong. Scarsdale has a very successful teen center, Greenburgh's villages each have programs for their own teens, but even though we pay for it, Greenburgh only provides teen programs for those in the northern part of the town. These programs don't stop teenage drinking, of course, but they do offer kids a reasonable alternative to avoid the peer pressure that starts the moment "instant messages" lead to "instant partying."
Enrollment Trends, Class Sizes and Teacher Hires from the Scarsdale BOE
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It was back to work for the Scarsdale School Board on Monday September 12. The meeting covered a broad range of topics, and here are the highlights: School Board President Jill Spieler announced the names of appointees to the new Education Foundation Steering Committee which will be chaired by Ellen Miller Wachtel. Committee members will include, Joyce Hirsch, David Shuster, Joshua Silverman, Eric Staffin, Florie Wachtenheim and Beth Zadek. The Committee’s Board liaison will be Liz Guggenheimer and Dr. McGill will serve as the administrative liaison.
The Steering Committee already held their first meeting and reviewed their charge. In the coming month they will identify school needs that could be funded by a foundation, fundraising strategies, community relations and governance and legal steps necessary to launch the foundation.
In addition, Spieler reported that the Board considered closing Huntington Road in between the Greenacres School and the Greenacres field during school hours per parent’s requests. However, the Village Attorney has determined that this is a state issue and that the Village does not have the authority to close the street without state legislation. The road closing would require a vote from the State Senate and Assembly and the Village has reached out to Amy Paulin and Suzi Oppenheimer.
In his remarks, Dr. McGill reported a smooth school opening and relayed that for the most part the schools were untouched by the storm. However, there was flooding in the Scarsdale High School basement.
Speaking about college admissions McGill reported that 66% of the SHS graduating class of ’11 were admitted to schools ranked “the most competitive in the country.” He said, “This is a very impressive statement about our families, athe students, and the school district – where teachers and administrators are determined to get the best out of each student.”
Joan Weber provided the personnel and enrollment report, and said that during the spring and summer the district hired 16 teachers, one nurse, and two civil service staff. At the high school, Fred Goldberg and Kelly Hamm are serving as co-principals and Chris Renino is a new assistant principal, Ann Liptak, a long-time English Teacher at SHS will now replace Renino’s as English Department Chair and former math teacher Doug Vermese is now a co-head computer teacher. In total, there were 11 retirements from the professional staff .
On enrollment, Weber provided the following numbers:
- 190 children left the district and 185 entered
- In the five elementary schools, 2143 students were projected and as of now there are 2,118 students. The district had projected 108 elementary school sections and there are currently 107. At Greenacres, the kindergarten split into four sections as did the fifth grade at Quaker Ridge.
- At the middle school 1,188 students were expected and there are now 1,158 and at the high school, 1,449 were projected and there are now 1,404. Overall the district has 4,715 students versus a projection of 4,769. The numbers are now in a state of flux and will be finalized in October.
It is interesting to note the following enrollment trends:
- The entering kindergarten class included 303 students, while the high school graduating class of 2011 had 374 pupils.
- Overall, enrollment is expected to decline by 15 students per year over the next five years.
- 74 new international families moved to Scarsdale this year from 23 countries.
In terms of class size, Weber provided counts on class sizes at the middle school and the high school. Average class sizes at the high school are as follows:
- English 22.4 students
- Social Studies 22.5 students
- Math 20.9 students
- World Language 16.6 students
- Science 21.8 students
Overall 7.7% of high school classes have over 25 students which is an improvement over last year.
Rather than supply average class sizes at middle school, Weber provided stats on the percentages of students in classes of various sizes.
- For Spanish 6.5% of students are in classes of 26 students and 3% are in a class with 27 students.
- In French classes, 18.8% have classes of 26 students
- In math, no sections are larger than 25 students.
Retirements: Edgewood School Principal Scott Houseknecht offered remarks about retiring third grade teacher Margaret O’Farrell who taught there for 24 years. Saying “she will be remembered with great fondness,” he told the group that O’Farrell “made a point of knowing everyone: and was “truly everybody’s teacher.” Among her contributions to the school were the Chinese New Year parade and the third grade musical production, a favorite among students. O’Farrell acknowledged everyone with a birthday card and had more visits from returning students than any other teacher.
Weber ended by reporting that the District will be actively recruiting a new Principal for SHS and hopes to announce an appointment by the Spring of 2012.
Last, the state’s new Race to the Top legislation will require Scarsdale to develop teacher evaluations and evaluate all teachers on a 100-point scale. A certain number of points will be derived from student performance on state tests and local assessments will account for 20 points of the 100 points. Scarsdale is now in the process of developing our own assessments for this portion. The November Board of Education meeting will be devoted to a discussion of this topic.
