Administration Proposes 4% Increase for 2022-23 Scarsdale School Budget

With a proposed increase in staffing of 10.5 full time employees for the 2022-23 school year and a projected decline of $1.9 million in the projected fund balance as of June 30, 2022, this could be a challenging year for the Scarsdale School budget.

At a budget study session on Monday February 14, 2022, the administration presented their first draft of the proposed 2022-23 school budget. Though projected revenues from the 2021-22 school year were up $2.9 mm or 1.82% over the prior year, expenses were also up by $3.7 mm or 2.31%. Assistant Superintendent Stuart Mattey projected that the district would end this financial year with $1.96 mm less in fund balance then they had on June 30, 2021, completing the year with $23,577,258 in fund balance which is 3.05% of the 2022-23 draft budget. State law allows the district to maintain up to 4% of the subsequent year’s budget in fund balances.

The most significant change in the proposed budget is staffing. In this initial budget the district is proposing to add 10.5 full time employees, including psychologists and social workers in the middle and high schools, two special education teachers, clerical support for the high school psychologist, a half time CPSE Chairperson for case evaluations along with an elementary school math teacher, a computer science teachers, a grounds person, a cleaner and the transition of clerks from part time to full time.

District enrollment is estimated to decline by 63 students from a total pupil population of 4,609 in 2021-22 to 4,546 in 2022-23.

The initial proposed budget for the entire district is $174,379,876, which is 4.5% higher than the 2021-22 budget and would mean a 4.04% increase in the tax levy. This translates to a 3% increase of Scarsdale taxpayers and a 4.28% increase for those in the Mamaroneck strip. The projected tax cap is 3.5%, so this would exceed that limit and be a good deal higher than the 2.54% increase for 2021-22.

However, that same night, realizing that this increase may be too high for some to support, the district also presented a list of reductions to consider, including $141,000 in efficiencies, $547,483 in new items that would not be included and another $168,501 in savings from the Employee Retirement System from a refined calculation. Combined, these three savings lines total almost $857,000 and would reduce the budget to $173,291,393. That would mean a tax levy increase pf 3.45% which falls just below the estimated tax cap.

Commenting on the proposed budget, both the presidents of the high school and middle school PTA’s supported the additional mental health staffing.

High School PTA President Joey Silberfein said, “The pandemic has left its mark on students and faculty. We strongly encourage the board to keep all resources in the budget. We are advocating for mental health professionals who are district employees ... and staff to conduct more in depth IEP’s. Current staff is stretched beyond their band width… Having someone who can work with students and staff can lead to resolution in a timely manner.”

Leah Dembitzer, speaking on behalf of the PTA executive committee concurred. She shared the following remarks for publication:

The Scarsdale Middle School PTA Executive Committee (SMS PTA EC) and Budget Study Chairs strongly support the increase in staffing related to Mental Health support at Scarsdale Middle School as requested by Principal Troy at the January 10th Board of Education meeting.

These needs include staffing for an Emotional Support Program as well as an in-house Social Worker.

As Principal Troy previously explained, “we have seen a rise in the number of students managing depression, anxiety and other mental health issues, which limits a student’s ability to access an equal education.” The support and structure that the High School Emotional Support Program has given students for six years is a model for the Middle School. Bringing this program down to the Middle School will give students who are struggling to access the general education curriculum due to emotional difficulties the support necessary to succeed.

Principal Troy also requested an in-house social worker as a result of the significant rise in students currently struggling with mental health issues. Through the addition of a social worker to the SMS staff, the Middle School would be able to foster a greater degree of familiarity, continuity and a consistent touch point for both families and students. Due to the increase in mandated counseling and the significant, growing mental health needs, current social workers do not have the time to focus on proactive, preventative work, rather they are addressing students in crisis.

The impact of living through an ongoing pandemic upon our student community is immense. Our Middle School students require more mental health staff time and support than is currently available to them. The SMS PTA EC and Budget Study Chairs strongly support an additional school-based social worker in order to meet the mental health needs of students before they enter crisis mode.

Thank you for your time and consideration and we beseech you to contemplate the very real and immense mental health needs at Scarsdale Middle School in your budget process.