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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 19 November 2025

Created: 19 November 2025

Last Updated: 22 December 2025

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(This is the opinion of Scarsdale10583 Publisher Joanne Wallenstein)

Is the school district budget heading toward a financial cliff?

That was the question parents asked Assistant School Superintendent for Business Andrew Lennon, but when they got the answer, no one seemed to know how to respond.

Late into the School Board meeting on Monday night November 17, 2025, Lennon presented a long awaited 5-Year Financial Plan for the Scarsdale Schools. It showed that the district has been using fund balances and reserves to balance the school budget and bring it in below the tax cap. In fact, $2.472 mm in reserves will be used to balance the 2025/26 school budget.

But draining reserves is not a long-term solution. When we continue to spend more than we take in, we use up our reserves and will eventually head into negative territory. And if Lennon’s projection is accurate, the $22.1 million fund balance as of June, 2025, will be down to just $2.3mm in June 2029.

By June 2030, the district will be $7.2mm in the red, and by June 2031, that deficit will fall to $19mm. See the chart below.

These projections were offered at the same meeting where the administration presented a $113 mm bond proposal that includes additions to Fox Meadow and Edgewood Schools along with a $15 mm air conditioning proposal and wide scale infrastructure improvements.

The catch is that Lennon’s dire financial proposal only included debt service payments on a tax neutral bond, of $40mm, not the $96-$113mm under consideration. With the new proposal approaching triple the tax neutral amount of $40mm, what would be the impact on district finances? Presumably debt service would rise and result in an even higher tax burden, further depleting reserves.

Looking back, how did we get to the point where we’re spending more than we’re taking in?

Staffing

As anyone who studies the school budgets knows, the budget is 85% personnel costs. Salaries, health benefits and retirement costs eat up most of the pie.

In the past ten years, the district has hired 74 more full time staffers while enrollment has declined by 82 students. So payroll costs have risen and we’re spending more per pupil to educate Scarsdale students. At the same time, health insurance costs have risen, the district has more people to insure on their self-insured health plan and there have been recent incidents of very high one time claims for catastrophic events or illnesses. Health insurance costs have been difficult to estimate given the unpredictability of health claims.

Special Education

The Special Education program has also contributed to this increase in costs. Here is a graph of the number of special education students from 2013 – 2024. The program has grown by 50%.

In addition to the teaching staff, the special education administration includes many full time employees. Here is a chart of a presentation in December 2024.

And there are plans to expand further in a chart that the Director of Special Education presented in December 2024.

8:1:2 and 12:1:2 Classes

One program has been launched to serve a very small segment of the population with individualized needs. According to the chart, there were a total of 13 elementary school students enrolled in the 8:1:2 and 12:1:2 program programs last year. These classes are for more disabled students who require therapy and life skills education. They were formerly educated out of district. Each class has a teacher and two aids and requires a classroom along with support spaces for services such as speech and occupational therapy.

Staffing these classes is intensive and the positions are tenured jobs. The population of these classes is highly variable, but the district cannot hire and fire based on the program enrollment.

The decision to bring this program in house was based on the assumption that it is less expensive to educate these students in district rather than pay out-of-district tuition which was estimated at $83,000 per student. The math may work if there is existing space in the district for the required dedicated classrooms and support spaces, but we don’t have the real numbers.

At the BOE meeting on November 17, 2025, the administration presented a proposal to add $14 mm to the upcoming bond, to build six additional classrooms and five new support spaces, much of it to house this special program at Edgewood.

What are the true costs of this program? We have not seen a fully-loaded long term analysis of the cost of the extra teachers and administrators, health insurance, retirement costs, therapy costs and now the $14 mm spatial expansion to accommodate the program. Does it make sense to spend an additional $14 mm to build these facilities when BOCES and other schools already offer what is needed? As another option, why not use rooms at Greenacres School which were proposed to alleviate crowding at Fox Meadow?

We also don’t know parents’ preferences. The results of a special education survey have not been released. Do parents prefer the in-district program to out of district placements that might meet specific needs?

It sounds heartless to discuss the economics of the Special Education program but we cannot be faint hearted about our finances.

Commenting on Lennon’s five-year forecast, Board Member Bob Klein said, “I feel strongly that people should live within their means. You don’t spend money you don’t have. There is an assumption in Scarsdale that we can afford things. Do we need a wake-up call? Do we need to think harder? Are we being naïve about what we think we can afford to do? Some are necessary and some are nice-to-haves. Do we think we can afford things that we cannot afford? Are we being irresponsible?”

To answer Klein’s questions, the Board needs an in-depth analysis of the 8:1:2 and 12:1:2 program costs. It’s clear that the continued expansion of personnel, facilities and services for a very small group of students, will ultimately impact the larger school population. Especially as the administration is proposing to spend $14 mm on new classrooms due to capacity constraints when there is an option to utilize BOCES and other out of district options for students that have very specialized needs.

As Klein said, Lennon’s financial plan should be a wake- up call to the Board of Education. They need to ask for all the numbers associated with the 8:1:2 and 12:1:2 program so that they can determine how much we can provide without putting the overall educational program and our solvency at risk.

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Written by: Sharon Higgins

Published: 12 November 2025

Created: 12 November 2025

Last Updated: 12 November 2025

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Tessa Franco, Lacrosse - SUNY Cortland On Wednesday, November 12, Scarsdale High School’s Learning Commons was packed with proud parents, family, and friends as the school honored 10 student-athletes at Fall Signing Day 2025. These seniors have committed to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level next fall. Athletic Director Cindy Parrott, with Assistant Athletic Director Jeff Weigel, welcomed the crowd and kicked off the celebration.

Before honoring the seniors, Parrott recognized underclassmen who have excelled this fall. Sophomore, Ava Turner won Section 1 in diving and will compete at the state championships on November 21–22. Sophie Rais, Sunny Kang, Ying Fang, and Alex Hormey were celebrated for winning the 400 freestyle relay, and Adrianna Pettinelli was recognized for winning the Section 1 Cross Country championships. Parrott also highlighted the Boys Volleyball team, which will compete in the Section 1 championships on November 13 and automatically advance to states later this month.

Parrott noted that “just under 7% of all high school athletes take their talents to compete at the college level” and praised the seniors for reaching this milestone. “Your hard work and dedication have paid off,” she said. “This commitment marks the beginning of a new chapter, go make Raider Nation proud!” She added that all athletes, whether committing to Division I, II, or III programs, deserve recognition for their achievements.Sophie Lamberg, Rowing - Boston University

The honored seniors are:

Division I

Stella Berry – Rowing, University of Texas at Austin
Sophie Lamberg – Rowing, Boston University
Alex Sharp – Rowing, Yale University

Division III

Colin Brennan – Football, Franklin & Marshall College
Tessa Franco – Lacrosse, SUNY Cortland
Katherine Kendall – Tennis, Williams College
Gil Krause – Baseball, Colby College
Leia Patel – Track & Field, Emory University
Jack Reis – Tennis, Amherst College
Charles Rich – Cross Country and Track & Field, Emory University

Parrott closed the event by thanking everyone for their support and reflecting on a successful fall season. She encouraged families to savor every moment, noting how quickly the past four years have gone and how fast the next four will pass. Alex Sharp, Rowing - Yale UniversityShe also thanked Maroon and White for their generous support of Scarsdale athletics and for helping make the day possible.

Colin Brennan, Football - Franklin & Marshall College

Tessa Franco, Lacrosse - SUNY Cortland

Katherine Kendall, Tennis - Williams College

Gil Krausz, Baseball - Colby College

Leia Patel, Track & Field - Emory University

Jack Reis, Tennis - Amherst College

Charles Rich, Cross Country and Track & Field - Emory University

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 30 October 2025

Created: 30 October 2025

Last Updated: 30 October 2025

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After learning that a recent demographer's report explored the possibility of redistricting sixty Fox Meadows elementary students as a means to ease spatial concerns at the school, parents showed up at the October 27, 2025 Board of Education meeting to voice their strong opposition to the idea.

Before the Board’s presentation of the Demographic Study, several Fox Meadow parents expressed their worry that redistricting students would divide their community without solving the root problem of overcrowding. In addition to social and emotional concerns, many of the speakers also focused on how the loss of being able to walk to school would erode their tight-knit community for the students who all live just a stone’s throw away from their current beloved school. While many of the comments echoed the sentiments of this letter to the editor, throughout the Public Comment period of the meeting, speakers shared a common message: protect Scarsdale’s community bonds, prioritize student safety and well-being, and ensure that all investments and policy decisions serve the district’s long-term educational values.

Purpose and Context of the Study

Opening the Demographic Study presentation, both BOE President, Jim Dugan and Superintendent Dr. Drew Patrick gratefully acknowledged public input and emphasized the importance of helping residents “see themselves in the study.” Addressing the concerns, they also reassured the Fox Meadow families that no redistricting plan is being considered at this time.

They clarified that the new demographic study, which the district received on Friday, October 24th and quickly shared with the broader community that afternoon, included data examining potential boundary adjustments but the analysis was only part of a broader planning process and not a signal that redistricting is planned or proposed.

As was explained, the study which is conducted regularly, was commissioned to support work on the district’s upcoming capital projects bond, which began last spring. A stakeholder committee including parents, staff, and community members has been studying school conditions, enrollment trends, and facility needs across the district.

At Fox Meadow, the committee identified two key challenges: rising enrollment pressure and aging facilities. The group recommended adding classrooms at the school, and that proposal has been discussed publicly as part of the bond planning. During those conversations, some community members questioned whether adjusting elementary school boundaries could be a less costly alternative to construction and as a part of their due diligence, the Board explored all of these possibilities.

The comprehensive demographer’s report, which analyzes current and projected enrollment, was meant to give the Board a complete picture of potential options before making any decisions and to help guide long-term planning.

In addition to the topic of a redistricting analysis, the presentation of the report highlighted a detailed “space utilization analysis” of each school as well as district enrollment trends and projections. On this topic, Dr. Patrick shared that enrollment trends between 2016 and 2026 have remained largely stable, with a temporary dip during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021). Numbers rebounded in 2022–2023 and have since stabilized. Current enrollment stands at 4,678 students, down by about 100 from 2016–2017.

Here is the overall district enrollment for the past 10 years:

Below is a summary of sections by school. At Edgewood, there are 19 general education sections and three special class sections totalling 22. At all other schools, the total number of sections is also inclusive of the ICT sections. The final row in the table identifies the # of ICT sections in that school (special class sections in the case of ED) and the total number of ICT students in parentheses. Below that the grade levels appear.

Looking ahead, projections through 2030–2031 show an increase in the number of elementary sections needed:

The projection calls for 113 class sections in 2029. Note that in 2016-17, before the construction of the eight additional classrooms at Greenacres, there were 113 class sections. However things have changed since then and Dr. Patrick explained why more classrooms are needed now than ten years ago.

The Superintendent said, "The only way we would have enough classrooms is if we did not provide a dedicated space to some number of our so-called specials - music, art, or Spanish. Assigning certain ICT sections does not solve the problem because the majority of the students (at least 60%) in these sections are general education students from that elementary school. We can't tell them to move to another school as they are districted to that particular school. Our program was different in 2006 and 2007. Our Spanish program has grown, we offer instrumental music starting in grade 3, and the growth in the number of classified students requiring related services (OT, PT, speech) has been significant (not just here - across the State). There could be years where we have enough space with just the FM addition followed or preceded by years when that wouldn't be true. Educationally, I cannot support moving the 3 special classes around to different schools in different years to relieve Edgewood's issues, and we currently do not have any school with 3 available classrooms without displacing another part of our program."

Further complicating matters is the fact that the previous demographers report overstated enrollment numbers so it’s difficult to make decisions on increasing school size based on these projections.

Here is a chart showing actual to projected school enrollments from the January 2024 demographers report:

See the presentation here:

Board members and community speakers raised concerns about how redistricting could affect neighborhood cohesion and traffic safety. One participant asked whether the proposed bond project could alleviate the need for boundary adjustments. Board members acknowledged these concerns, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and continued data-driven discussion before any decisions are made.

As the district looks ahead, officials agreed that ensuring sufficient space, particularly at Edgewood and Fox Meadow Elementary Schools, and maintaining balanced class sizes will be key priorities in the next phase of planning.

Capital Bond Projects Update

Concerns regarding the Demographic Study report spilled over into the next part of the meeting when the Board presented a Capital Projects Bond update. Dr. Patrick delivered a detailed update on community feedback regarding the district’s developing capital project plans, as administrators emphasized transparency, equity, and ongoing collaboration in shaping a potential spring 2026 bond referendum.

Dr. Patrick opened the presentation by reaffirming that the planning process remains aligned with the district’s guiding principles. “We’re in an iterative phase between the Facilities Committee, the Capital Project Steering Committee, and the board,” he said, noting that the district is still on track for a possible referendum in the spring.

He also noted that the October 16 public feedback session drew 80 in-person participants and the survey generated a record 828 survey responses, the highest level of community engagement in recent memory. Attendees also submitted 238 written comment cards, offering suggestions, concerns, and questions.

Transparency, Equity, and Facility Priorities

Patrick reported that participants expressed a strong desire to understand how recommendations were made, including the data and equity criteria used. “We’ve been asked to define what we mean by equity in facilities planning,” he said. The district views equity both in terms of ensuring fair distribution of essential infrastructure upgrades, like air conditioning, and maintaining program quality across all schools over time.

Edgewood Elementary emerged as a central topic of concern, with parents and staff citing capacity constraints and the need for additional classroom and therapy spaces.
Field improvements also drew mixed reactions. Some community members worried about costs and priorities, while others emphasized that athletic spaces are integral to student learning. “Fields are places where students learn,” Patrick noted. “They are competition and physical education spaces, part of our program.”

Survey Findings

The 828 survey responses were divided into four categories: spatial projects, building infrastructure, air conditioning, and fields.

Air Conditioning: 66.7% of respondents said cooling large spaces is a necessity; 25.6% called it a “nice-to-have,” while 7.7% said it’s not a current priority. Comments emphasized energy efficiency and equitable distribution, particularly at Heathcote and the high school gymnasiums.

Spatial Projects: Nearly half (47.7%) said proposed projects strike the right balance between need and affordability, though many urged the district to address Edgewood’s space limitations.

Building Infrastructure: 62% agreed that the proposed $33 million in maintenance projects were appropriately balanced.

Fields: Opinions were nearly evenly split — 28.7% supported prioritizing field improvements, 37% supported both major field projects, and 33.9% said they should not be a priority.

Overall, 51.7% of respondents felt the total project scope was “just right,” while 27.4% felt it was too high.

Next Steps and Cost Review

Assistant Superintendent Andrew Lennon said cost estimators from ARIS are refining figures for air conditioning, infrastructure, and field projects ahead of the board’s November 17 meeting. “We believe we’ll be able to share updated, far more detailed cost estimates,” he said.

Administrators have also met with faculty and PTA representatives from Edgewood and Fox Meadow to hear additional feedback. A virtual community session is scheduled for November 6.
Board Discussion: Balancing Space and Affordability

Board members voiced strong interest in reassessing Edgewood’s needs. Board member Bob Klein said, “We need to make sure we can build what we want to build successfully, not just squeeze it in.” Others stressed the importance of prioritizing classroom space and equitable access to therapy rooms for services like occupational and physical therapy.

Member Laura Lui added that the Board must weigh new space requests against overall affordability. “I don’t want this bond to get out of control,” she said. “If there are lower-priority items that can move into budgets, we should look hard at those.”

Several board members agreed the field portion of the bond warrants further review given community ambivalence. “Few things impact kids every day like classroom renovations,” one member said. “But we need to distinguish between what we need and what’s just a bell and a whistle.”

Dr. Patrick concluded that the administration would refine estimates and revisit Edgewood’s options, balancing the addition of classroom space with potential scope reductions elsewhere. “We’ll do the best we can to present a plan that meets educational needs and remains responsible to the community,” he said.

During Public Comment, PTC Budget Chairs, Rachna Singh and Mayra Kirkendall-Rodriguez encouraged the community to attend the second feedback session November 6th at 7pm on Zoom.

In addition, Singh shared a recommendation adding a simple online tax rate calculator or chart to the district’s Capital Bond webpage. This tool would allow residents to enter their home’s assessed value and instantly see their estimated annual tax increase, using the same formulas shared in the presentation.

Kirkendall-Rodriguez also added a few questions regarding the district’s recent audit and the proposed Emergency Plan.

You can see these questions and the entire meeting in this video.   

For the Bond and Capital Projects Presentation see here . 

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 21 October 2025

Created: 21 October 2025

Last Updated: 22 October 2025

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The Scarsdale School District is in the midst of planning for major capital improvements and is requesting feedback from residents on how much should be spent and what work should be done.

Why now? $40 million in debt service is rolling off in the 2027-28 school year, and new bonds will be sold to raise funds for continued improvements at the schools. In order to define district priorities, District Architects BBS conducted a comprehensive facilities survey of building conditions, HVAC, plumbing and electric. Their work was supplied to a Capital Projects Steering Committee comprised of many different members of the community. They reviewed a long list of needs and identified $95.6 million in recommended projects.

The work comprises both spatial improvements and expansion as well as infrastructure needs, air conditioning and field work.

Here is a breakdown of the proposal:

Most noticeable would be the $44.3 million in spatial work which is explained as follows:

Spatial projects directly impact the student learning environment, and the committee prioritized projects that address student enrollment, contemporary program needs, and the creation of highly-flexible multi-use spaces. Five of our seven buildings have spatial construction and/or renovation projects included as summarized below.

- Fox Meadow Addition & Reconstruction - A new two-story addition that includes a new library and lunch/multipurpose room, repurposing the existing spaces to create 4 additional classrooms and work spaces to accommodate a seventy-five year high in enrollment of 516 students. $20,300,400

- Classroom Renovations - Renovation (to include replacement of flooring, lighting, ceilings, painting, and furniture only, creating an updated physical environment) of 29 classrooms at Edgewood and 27 at Fox Meadow. Budgeted at $175,000 each, the work will include new floors, ceilings, lighting, paint and classroom furniture. $9,650,000

- Library Renovations - Full renovation of Heathcote and Scarsdale Middle School Libraries to reflect the kind of dynamic, multi-use learning environments students and teachers need now and in the future; creation of small group study spaces with glass walls at Scarsdale High School. $10,260,000

- High School Art Room, LRC, & Little Theater - Renovation and reconstruction of the long-outdated 3D art room, reconfiguration and reconstruction of the learning resources center (LRC), renovation of the Little Theater for flexible use, and addition of two bathrooms. $4,847,200

- Multipurpose Space Improvements - The addition of storage at Edgewood to increase flexibility and improve lunch service in the Old Multipurpose Room and renovation of all four dining rooms at SMS to increase flexibility for a variety of purposes beyond lunch service. $2,180,000

Infrastructure work comprises the second biggest portion of the proposal, totaling $33.5mm. These items include flooring, ceilings, pipes, improvements for ADA compliance, ventilation fire alarms and more.

Another $12 mm will be spent to air condition large spaces including gymnasiums, auditoriums, cafeterias and multipurpose rooms across the district along with the Heathcote School classrooms.

Last the proposal includes construction of a multiuse synthetic turf field at Scarsdale Middle Schools for $4mm and softball or multi-use rectangular field at Fox Meadow for $1,699mm.

However, all this comes at a cost. If the district spent only $40 million, the bond would be tax neutral. However, the proposal to spend $96.5 million will mean a tax increase of $500 per household for the average homeowner in Scarsdale. This is in addition to the regular tax increase each year.

Each $10mm in spending above the $40mm tax neutral project translates to a $100 per year tax increase per household, for the average household.

Not included in the plans are two proposed large projects: Advocates at Edgewood School are calling for an $18.8 mm addition to include new classrooms and a multi-purpose room. Also discussed, but not adopted, was a new cafeteria at Scarsdale Middle School to accommodate lunch for an entire grade at a cost of $15-$36 million. Currently students eat in their individual house cafeterias.

See details of the proposal here:

What do you think? In order to assess community opinion on the bond referendum, the district has posted a survey and invites you to participate.

Click here to take the survey: