From the BOE: Auditorium Project is a Go, State Law May Require More AC and Student Calls for AAPI Inclusion in Curriculum

Even during the dog days of summer, the Scarsdale Board of Education remains hard at work. Though the special meeting on July 24th covered the usual BOE meeting topics like personnel updates, approval of a new textbook, and updates from cabinet and BOE members, Superintendent Dr. Drew Patrick explained that the meeting was primarily called “to discuss and seek Board approval on awarding bids related to the Scarsdale High School auditorium project.”

Before handing things over to Andrew Lennon, Assistant Superintendent for Business, to give an update on the auditorium project, Dr. Patrick thanked Mr. Lennon, the facilities team, and the architects for all of their hard work saying “It is exciting to get this to this point.” Mr. Lennon agreed and said that after a very lengthy review process, he was happy to announce that this past week the District received approval from NYESD to move forward with the auditorium project. Lennon added that the process took longer than anticipated due to the extensively long approval time for projects at the NYESD.

Since the bids for the project were published last April, Lennon was ready to move forward with recommendations for three contracts:

-GENERAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT - Pierotti Corp.
-MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT - Tribeca Air Conditioning Corp.
-ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT - Naber Electric Corp.

In more good news, Lennon announced that bids were received from twenty vendors and that this high interest in the project worked to drive down pricing. In the end, Lennon estimates that the project is about $100,000 below original cost. He explained that the savings will be kept as contingency money in order to address any unplanned conditions.

Although the District had hoped to begin work on this project earlier this summer, Lennon said it is anticipated the project will be completed in the original timeline explaining that work will take place during the day until faculty and students return to the building and then the work will shift to the evening hours. Since the auditorium won’t be ready to host performances until after we return from the Holiday Break, Lennon said the fall theatrical performance will be held at Iona Prep.

In addition to the auditorium project, Dr. Patrick announced that after a year of hard work, the District has officially transitioned to the Envision Financial Management Software with payroll successfully completed on July 15th.

Patrick also took time to describe a few advocacy items:

-NYESD has announced transformations around Regents exams and graduation requirements and the BOE will discuss and consider what that means for our District.

-A bill that requires schools to abandon classrooms when they reach a temperature of 88 degrees or higher has been passed by the legislature but not yet signed by the Governor. Patrick explained that there is already a meeting planned to discuss what impacts this will potentially have for Scarsdale. He stated that they will report their thinking if the bill moves forward.

-Earlier this year our District avoided cuts in state funding but Patrick explained that potential cuts are still on the table in the future. The Rockefeller Foundation is now in charge of reviewing the Foundation Aid Formula and is holding ‘listening sessions' across the state to garner feedback. Edgar McIntosh worked with Superintendent of Tarrytown schools, Ray Sanchez to provide examples of why Westcheter school districts need state funding. One example is that special education costs have significantly increased and even without state aid, districts like Scarsdale are still required by law to meet the needs of these students.

Megahn Troy announced the appointment of new faculty members including:

Alexandra Hughes will be assigned to the Scarsdale District Office as a CSE/CPSE Chair. Alexandra holds a BA from Hofstra University, an MS in Education from Queens College and an Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership and Administration from LIU. Ms. Hughes holds New York State certifications in Middle School Mathematics 5-6, Secondary Mathematics 7-12, Special Education Mathematics 7-12, Special Education Multi-Subject Generalist 7-12, School Building Leader and School District Leader. Ms. Hughes is currently working in the Warwick Valley Central School District as a Director of Special Education.

Anna Tomasini has been recommended for appointment as a .5 Mathematics teacher and a .5 Teaching Assistant. Ms. Tomasini will be assigned to the Scarsdale High School. Anna holds a BA and MA from the University of Delaware. She has been working as a special education teacher at Elkton High School in Maryland.

Madeline Hyde has been recommended for appointment as a Leave Replacement in Special Education and will be assigned to the Quaker Ridge School. Madeline holds a BS from SUNY Fredonia, and MS in Special Education from CUNY Hunter and an MS in Literacy from NYU. Ms. Hyde holds New York State Professional Certification in Literacy Education(Birth-Grade 6), Students with Disabilities (Birth to Grade 2) and Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2). Ms. Hyde has been a teacher at Mt. Pleasant Blythedale Children’s School.

Later in the meeting, rising Junior Arun Nayakkar, spoke during the Public Comment period on behalf of the South Asian Students For Justice and the entire AAPI community to advocate for more representation in the Scarsdale curriculum. In his eloquently written statement, Nayakkar related:

“While we make up just 17 percent of the population in Scarsdale, our voice and representation matters just as much as anyone else’s, and many students and parents have expressed concern specifically with our representation in this school’s curriculum, from the elementary to the high school level. This year was the first year this school has recognized and accommodated for the holidays of Diwali, Eid, and Lunar New Year, but we believe that the school’s strides toward Diversity, Equity and Inclusion shouldn’t simply stop at the calendar. Rather, we should look to see where improvements can be made in every aspect of this school to represent minority students and make everyone feel welcome.

Now, I speak for many students when I say that we in no way are criticizing the school or curriculum, and we recognize how difficult it may be to have to change and expand in accordance with our DEI mission. However, this is something we felt the need to address due to the lack of, or misunderstanding many students have about AAPI history as well as the sentiments of some AAPI students who feel that they don’t belong due to how little their history is talked about. A lack of representation not only marginalizes the experiences of many in history, but also deprives all students of a fuller understanding of our collective history.

If we consider the current state of our curriculum: How many of our students have learned about the contributions of AAPI individuals in the United States and the world beyond a brief mention of the Chinese Exclusion Act or Japanese American internment? These are important events, but they are not the totality of AAPI experiences. For instance, the Supreme Court case Tape v. Hurley, which predated Brown v. Board of Education, was a pivotal moment in the fight for educational equality and yet remains largely untaught. Such omissions contribute to the perpetuation of the "model minority" myth and ignore the varied and rich histories of Southeast Asian, South Asian, East Asian, and Pacific Islander communities.

To address this gap, we understand the school cannot simply change the entire curriculum. However, we wanted to create conversation around this topic and urge the Board to consider either launching a pilot program at Scarsdale High School that integrates AAPI perspectives through something like an elective, or pushing teachers to include lessons on more diverse topics. This could begin with the introduction of literature by AAPI authors in English classes, alongside works from other minority groups. In history classes, we should include a broader range of topics, such as the contributions of AAPI individuals in the Civil Rights Movement and other significant historical events.

In conclusion, including AAPI histories and experiences is not just about adding content; it is about recognizing the full scope of our nation's story and the stories of many around the world, and ensuring that every student sees themselves reflected in what they learn. By doing so, we take a crucial step toward creating a more inclusive and equitable educational environment for all.
Thank you.”

Dr. Patrick thanked Nayakkar for taking the time on a Monday evening in the middle of summer to share his thoughts on a very important subject. Dr. Edgar McIntosh also thanked Nayakkar for his articulate statement and said this topic has been a central part of the District’s mission to engage with more and more texts that show a variety of voices and perspectives. He further explained that just this last spring, he was fortunate enough to engage in a meeting with other folks from the AAPI community along with the SHS Social Studies Chair to explore different organizations that the district can partner with to create more robust representation in our student’s learning.

Nayakkar and the South Asian Students for Justice have also started an online petition to support their efforts: