Community Calendars Available from Scarsdale Security
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Dear Editor:
At Scarsdale Security, we value our connection with the community and our participation in Village life. This year, we are proud to be one of the sponsors of the Scarsdale Community Calendar, compiled and distributed by the Scarsdale Council of Parent-Teacher Associations. These calendars correspond with the school year (September through August) and include all school closings and events, as well as community meetings and information related to village organizations. A telephone directory for the school district, local government, village services and community organizations is also included in the calendar.
As a sponsor, Scarsdale Security has a supply of calendars available for distribution at no cost to you. If you would like a calendar, please contact our office’s outreach liaison at 722-2321.
We look forward to serving you – not only as the northeast’s premier boutique for security, fire, camera and home automation systems – but also as your neighbor. Together, we all make our community a great place to call home.
Very truly yours,
David Raizen
President, Scarsdale Security Systems, Inc.
132 Montgomery Avenue
Scarsdale, NY 10583
914-722-2321
From the BOE: Auditorium Project is a Go, State Law May Require More AC and Student Calls for AAPI Inclusion in Curriculum
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- Written by Wendy MacMillan
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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:
Five Fifth Grade Quaker Ridge Classes Move Up
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On the warm, sunny morning of June 14, the five classes of Quaker Ridge 5th grade had their moving-up ceremony. It was held outside on the blacktop and field so as to not be space-limited. The fifth graders walked out of the school to a clap-out – with students from the younger grades lining the hallways and the outside pathway, cheering the fifth graders on. The students sang two songs from their fifth grade concert, “Banaha” and “I Can See Clearly Now,” led by music teacher, Andrew Brown.
Principal, Felix Gil gave his message of appreciation to the QRS Class of 2024. Members of the fifth grade student council took turns giving thanks to their teachers and then presented a class gift. Each of the fifth grade teachers then presented certificates to their respective classes: Mrs. Burns; Mrs. Gega and Mrs. Geraghty; Mrs. Kenney and Ms. Smith; Mr. Liebowitz and Mrs. Meade; and Ms. Marty. It was a celebratory experience for all.
Congratulations to the QRS Class of 2024! Now onto Scarsdale Middle School!
The class made a gift of a framed and signed photo of the graduating class for the school hallway.
Hahn, Dugan and Dembitzer Sworn In, District Retains Consultants to Provide Training on Bullying, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct
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- Written by Wendy MacMillan
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Andrew Patrick, Suzie Hahn and James DuganWhile most folks here in Scarsdale were easing into their summer schedules and gearing up for the Fourth of July, the Board of Education got right down to business with their first BOE meeting of the 2024-2025 school year. Before announcing new hires, new consulting partnerships, and approving a long list of action items, the Board held its annual Organizational Meeting in which they swore in the newly elected board members and then elected new officers for the upcoming school year.
First to take the podium was returning board member, James Dugan. Mr. Dugan was sworn in by Dr. Patrick after being re-elected to serve a second term. Later in the Organizational Meeting, Dugan was also elected to be this year’s new BOE Vice President. Dugan’s fellow board member, Amber Yusef nominated him for the position saying that Dugan has proven to be a steadfast supporter of our district and brings a powerful perspective to the Board table.
Next to be sworn in for her first term as a BOE member, was former PTC President and consummate district volunteer, Leah Dembitzer. Joined by family members for the special occasion, Dembitzer said that she is excited to serve our schools and to work collaboratively with each of the board members toward our district goals. Later during the business meeting, Dembitzer asked thoughtful questions and offered reflective comments wasting no time proving she is going to be an exceptional addition to the BOE.
Last, but certainly not least, former BOE Vice President, Suzie Hahn, was elected as this year’s president. Hahn was nominated by outgoing president Ron Schulhof who said that Hahn works tirelessly to achieve goals on behalf of our students and schools and will positively move our district forward. In her first meeting as president, Hahn exuded the kindness and grace with which she will lead the board this year.
Business Meeting:
Jim Dugan was sworn in for a second term and will serve as Board Vice PresidentPerhaps one of the most noteworthy announcements of the business meeting came from Superintendent Dr. Drew Patrick who described a new partnership with McGrath Training Solutions While Patrick described that this new partnership is coming at an opportune time for a number of reasons (including updated state laws), seeking out the help of McGrath also proves that as Superintendent, Patrick is listening to parent feedback and trying to respond with resolute actions. Though the District already has policies and procedures in place to address issues like bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct, work with McGrath will hopefully bolster these policies and guide the district in improving their responses if such unfortunate behaviors should arise. Specifically the District will work with McGrath on five key components: “Staff awareness and response training, student training, an administrator intake and investigation course, parent training and resources, and an instructor certification course.”
Along with outlining the benefits of working with McGrath, such as their knowledge of federal and state laws and the flexibility in their deliverance of training, Patrick highlighted that the work with McGrath will be covered by a federal grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance at the US Department of Justice.
Leah Dembitzer was sworn in to the Board of Education
Before congratulating the graduating class of 2024 and acknowledging the rising 6th and 9th grade classes, Patrick asked the Board to observe a moment of silence in observance of the passing of SHS student Lucien Oades. Patrick echoed the sentiments he shared via email earlier in the week:
“It is with deep sadness that I am writing to our community today to once again share terrible news. We learned earlier today that Lucien Oades, a rising senior at Scarsdale High School, passed away following a medical incident. Our thoughts, prayers, and love are with Lucien's parents and sibling; his extended family; his teachers; his friends, their families, and the Scarsdale High School community. We also extend our love, care and concern for those grieving with and for Lucien's brother Sebastian.”
During his cabinet update on instruction and curriculum, Dr. Edgar McIntosh described that many of our teachers are engaging in summer learning and taking part in Scarsdale Teachers Institute courses such as “Responsive Classroom” training. McIntosh went on to detail that educators are also engaging in “program improvement” work which “provides educators the opportunity to collaborate, review, align, enrich, and integrate their curriculum.” McIntosh further explained that it is important to be responsive in the adaptation of curriculum and to make sure that changes are “being responsive to student’s needs and the evolving landscape of technology and research.”
In addition, McIntosh detailed the importance of teachers exploring the impact of AI and being up to speed with all the latest research and tools. This was a central theme of the recent “Future Forward Symposium '' organized by our own William Yang, in which school districts from around the area came together to share their latest thinking and research around technology and innovation.
Later in the meeting, it was announced that the BOE would be appointing a Board Liaison to our district’s technology department. Since the use of technology in our schools and at home is a top concern for many parents, this new liaisonship should be welcomed news for the community.
Amy Cermele is the new Assistant Director of Special EducationIn other big news, Meghan Troy, announced that, “Amy Cermele has been recommended for appointment in the tenure area of Assistant Director of Special Education, with a four-year probationary period commencing on July 1, 2024, and ending on June 30, 2028. Dr. Cermele earned her Ed. D. in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher University, an M.S. in Building Leadership from the College of St.Rose, an M.S. in Special Education, and a B.A. in Adolescent Education/History from Pace University. Amy holds permanent certification in School District Leader, Social Studies, and Students with Disabilities in Grades 7-12. She is currently employed as a Special Education CSE Chairperson with the Scarsdale School District.”
Troy also announced the appointments of fourteen new employees which include:
Brian Bernarducci has been recommended for appointment in the tenure area of Elementary Education.
Lauren Bookin. Ms. Bookin will be assigned to general special elementary education at Quaker Ridge Elementary School.
Kayla Glaser has been recommended for appointment in the tenure area of Mathematics. Ms. Glaser will be assigned to Scarsdale Middle School.
Cynthia Gorney has been recommended for appointment in the tenure area of Music.
Olga Jubinville has been recommended for appointment in the tenure area of Elementary Education.
Michael Mammola has been recommended for appointment in the tenure area of Health. Mr. Mammola will be assigned to Scarsdale Middle School, filling the position vacated by the resignation of Brooke Busi.
Beau Morimando has been recommended for appointment in the tenure area of General Special Education, Mr. Morimando will be assigned to Scarsdale High School, filling the position vacated by the retirement of Joseph DeCrescenzo.
Kara Oliveri has been recommended for appointment in the tenure area of General Special Education. Ms. Oliveri will be assigned to Scarsdale Middle School, filling the position vacated by the retirement of Yurry Buckler.
Jenna Riefenhauser has been recommended for appointment in the tenure area of General Special Education. Ms. Riefenhauser will be assigned to Greenacres Elementary School, filling the position vacated by the resignation of Sahar Miandoabi.
John Speedling has been recommended for appointment in the tenure area of Elementary Education.
Jamie Thomas has been recommended for appointment in the tenure area of Library Media Specialist.
Jennifer Campo is recommended for appointment as a Leave Replacement French Teacher. Ms. Campo will be assigned to Scarsdale Middle School and is replacing Elizaveta Dukalsaya.
Nicole DeAngelis is recommended for appointment as a Leave Replacement Math Teacher. Ms. DeAngelis will be assigned to Scarsdale Middle School and is replacing Cynthia Parrott.
Matthew Peters is recommended for appointment as a Leave Replacement Social Studies Teacher. Mr. Peters will be assigned to Scarsdale Middle School and is replacing Marci Rothman.
You can find more detailed information about each of the new employees by reading their bios here.
Before the Business Meeting the Board held a Public Hearing on our Code of Conduct. It was explained that,
“Each year the Code of Conduct must be re-adopted by the Board of Education. A committee of parents, students, faculty, administration, and Board members met to discuss and review the Code. The Committee did not suggest any changes to the current Code and there were no required changes due to legislative or regulatory changes.”
The current Code of Conduct can be found here:
While there were no changes made to this year’s Code of Conduct, Mr. Eric Rauschenbach explained that review of the Code of Conduct did spark discussions regarding the use of AI as a means to cheat and how our current Code of Conduct can cover such behavior incidents.
During the Business Meeting there was also an update about the SHS Auditorium (Andrew Lennon announced that the bid process will take place later this month), a brief Treasurer’s Report, an overview of seven new proposed STI courses, the announcement of a new Physics textbook, and more. To learn more about each of these items and to see the meeting in its entirety, please click here.
STA Signs 4-Year Contract, Sharon Hill to Retire, Board Announces Leadership Plan for Next Year
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From welcoming new employees to updates on the auditorium project, the Board of Education left no stone unturned as they wrapped up the 2023-24 school year in a lengthy meeting on Monday 6/10.
The meeting, which began with a special ceremony recognizing the district’s retirees was packed with information, including new contracts signed. Here are some of the highlights:
New Contracts
New employment agreements were signed for everyone from the Superintendent and administration to the teachers and civil servants. All salary negotiations are collective bargaining agreements conducted in executive session so the public is not in on the discussions. Meghan Troy, in the job of Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources for her first year, presumably led the negotiations and she appears to have navigated the process with finesse.
At the final Board of Education meeting of the 2023-24 school year, she announced the highlights of these contracts which can be viewed in Board Docs here.
Below are some of the salient points:
The Scarsdale Teachers Association signed a four year agreement that calls for salary increases of 1.75% per year for the next four years. School nurses and occupational therapists will receive 2.5% salary increases per year for the next four years. Under the new contract, the number of half days for parent teacher conferences has been reduced to two half days for elementary schools and calls for additional conferences to be conducted after school from 3:15 – 5:15 on one afternoon in the fall and another in the spring. This change was presumably made in response to parents’ complaints about the difficulty of half day programming for working parents
The Scarsdale Principals signed a similar 4-year agreement for 1.75% salary increases over the next four years. One year agreements were made with the Superintendent and the district administrators and you can view them here:
In other news, Greenacres Principal Sharon Hill will retire in January 2025 and will be eligible for post-retirement health insurance from January – June 2025 provided that she will be available for up to 80 hours to assist with the transition of a new principal.
Updates from Dr. Patrick
As it was the last meeting of the school year, Dr. Drew Patrick took time to express his gratitude for all the District’s essential partners including each of the BOE members, the entire administrative team, all faculty and staff members, the PTA and PTC, parents and caregivers and expressed that he sincerely appreciates everything they do. Dr. Patrick also congratulated Scarsdale’s students for their hard work and accomplishments this year, but gave special recognition to the 5th, 8th and 12th graders reflecting on these milestone achievements.
Dr. Patrick went on to discuss ParentSquare, the District’s new notification system. He made reference to an email sent out to all parents in the district which states:
“Our emergency notifications will be sent from ParentSquare. In the fall, we will use ParentSquare to share both emergency and non-emergency communications from the District. We will send instructions in September to help you use the ParentSquare app to view District communications, manage your notification preferences, and set up your preferred default language for District communications.”
New Hires
After honoring several retirees earlier in the meeting, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Meghan Troy, had the pleasure of announcing quite a number of new hires for the 2024-25 school year. Perhaps one of the more significant announcements was the appointment of Cindy Parrot as the new Athletic Director. As was announced last week, because the athletic department has grown tremendously over the last several years, the District worked to reorganize this department and is having Ray Papallardi focus solely on PE and Health with Cindy Parrott joining the department as the Athletics Director. Troy described Parrot by saying:
“For over twenty years, Cindy has worked at SMS as a math teacher, math department chair, and Teacher in Charge of CHOICE. In addition, she has been the modified volleyball coach for over a decade in Scarsdale. Prior to Scarsdale, Cindy coached volleyball and softball at Westport High School. Cindy is a skilled leader with a high level of organization and communication. These are just a few of the many skills that will help Cindy lead the athletic program. Cindy holds an M.S. in Education, Administration and Supervision from Fordham University, an MS in Education, Secondary Education from the University of Bridgeport and Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting, from Pace University.”
Other new hires and new roles include:
Marci Rothman will be taking on the role of Middle School Assistant Principal. She has been serving as the interim Assistant Principal at SMS for the past year. For over twenty years, Marci has been a social studies teacher, social studies department chair and modified coach. She holds an M.S. in Leadership from LIU-CW Post (School of Education), an M.S. in Education from Dowling University, and a B.A. in Sociology from Dickinson College.
Laura Burns will be joining the Heathcote School as an ICT teacher. She is currently teaching at Bronxville Elementary School. Laura holds an M.Ed. in Childhood Special and General Education from Bank Street College, an M.A. in History of Art and the Art Market from Christie’s Education, and a B.A. in Art History from the College of the Holy Cross.
Neil Epstein will continue in his role at Scarsdale Middle School as a social studies teacher. During his time, Neil has established strong connections with his colleagues over the past year and has fully immersed himself in the Scarsdale school community. He holds an M.Ed. in Secondary Social Studies Education from Queens College and a B.S. in Finance from the University of Delaware.
Kathleen Grieve joins the district as a special education teacher at Scarsdale Middle School. She currently teaches at Eastchester High School, but looks forward to engaging with our middle school students in their formative years. Kathleen holds an M.A. in Educational Technology, an M.A. in Special Education, and a B.A. in Secondary Education from Pace University.
Emilia Hogg will be join the Physics Department at SHS. She is currently teaching Physics at DreamYard Preparatory School, Bronx, NY. Ms. Hogg brings a warmth and energy that will support our Scarsdale students during their learning of physics. Emilia holds an M.A. in Science Education: Steam Teaching and Learning from Adelphi University, and a B.A. in Physics from Binghamton University.
Claire Hollocou will serve as a technology teacher at Fox Meadow. Ms. Hollocou is currently teaching at Bronxville Elementary School. She brings a wealth of experience and ideas to the position and is a lifelong learner. Claire holds an M.S. in General and Special Education from Hunter College and a B.S. in Cognitive and Brain Science from Tufts University.
The math department welcomes Daniela Maddaloni as a math teacher at Scarsdale High School. Ms. Maddaloni is currently teaching at Archbishop Stepinac High School. Daniela holds an M.A. in Pure Mathematics from CUNY Lehman College, an M.A. in Secondary Education, and a B.A. in Mathematics from Quinnipiac University.
Jared Torres will be joining the middle school as a technology teacher. He is currently a computer science teacher at Fox Lane High School.. Jared holds an M.A. in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.
Former Scarsdale grad, Lilly Savastano, will join the high school as a math leave replacement. She is currently teaching at Ossining High School. Ms. Savastano earned an MA in Mathematics Education from Teachers College Columbia and a BA from Iona College.
Aimee Baez will be joining Fox Meadow as a school psychologist. She is currently serving as a leave replacement at Scarsdale Middle School. She holds a PhD in Psychology from St. John’s University, a M.S. in General and Special Education from Bank Street College, and a B.A. in Psychology from Bard College.
Emily Preston will be a choral teacher at Scarsdale Middle School. Ms. Preston is currently teaching at Boynton Middle School, Ithaca NY. She holds an M.M. in Choral Conducting from Ithaca College, an M.M. in Music Education from Queens College, and a B.M. from Oberlin College Conservatory.
Edgewood teacher, Kim O’Connor, will be taking on a new role as the Reading Teacher at the Edgewood School. Kim has worked in the District for 7 years and is excited to take on the position vacated by Sarah Tucker.
Madolyn Accola will bea choral teacher at the Heathcote School. Madolyn holds an M.A. in Music Education from Hunter College and a B.M. in Music Education from Steinhardt School of Education. She is currently teaching at Friends Seminary, Lower School, New York, NY.
Brandon Shea will continue as a leave replacement science teacher at SMS. He has made strong connections with his colleagues and students and looks forward to the continuation of his role. He is the science teacher on the Cooper 7 team.
Nadia Kemp will continue as a leave replacement school psychologist at Scarsdale High School. Dr. Kemp will be assigned to Scarsdale High School and is replacing Peter Faustino who will be out on a one year leave. During her time in Scarsdale, Dr. Kemp has embraced her new role and expanded to it as a softball coach.
Daniel Kaye will be joining Scarsdale as a high school math teacher. He is currently teaching at Honeoye Falls-Lima School. Daniel holds a B.S. in Adolescence Education from SUNY Cortland.
Auditorium Project
Assistant Superintendent for Business, Andrew Lennon introduced Ken Schupner from BBS Architects who gave an update on the SHS auditorium project. Though the District had hoped to accept bids on April 25th of 2024, they have not yet received permit approval from the state. Schupper reported that the SED (who grants the permits) has been incredibly backed up. However, Schuper is hopeful that the district will have the permit soon and will still be able to begin work this summer. If work isn’t able to begin this summer, the team will introduce a contingency plan such as working in the evening hours and over school breaks.
Chartwell
Lennon also announced that the Food Service Committee and the administration has made the recommendation to extend the Contract with Chartwells (our food service providers) citing the “quality program that we have seen them put forward.”
Cenergistic
Representatives from Cenergistic, the company the district has partnered with in order to reduce our energy use and costs, were on hand to discuss what we were able to accomplish this first year of working together. See the presentation here.
Though the district was able to accomplish a decrease in energy use, some of the savings initiatives they hoped to have originally obtained during the first year, weren't fully reached. Lennon referred to some of the challenges (such as the age of the buildings and some of scarsdale’s infrastructure) as reasons they were not able to obtain all of the savings. In light of the first year performance, Cynesrgistics has offered a contract reduction for year two.
Annual Gift Giving Report
During the discussion about the Annual Gift Report, board members discussed the idea of trying to make sure that gift giving by the PTAs is equitable amongst all of our schools, and especially across the five elementary schools. Amber Yusef thanked all the donors for their contributions but also expressed concern about some of the large gifts received over the past few years. Going forward, she wants the board to consider ensuring parity across the elementary schools.
Colleen Brown agreed with Amber and added her concern about the lack of equity at each of the schools noting a stark difference in donation amounts. She would like all of the elementary schools to have the same amount of opportunities to create learning opportunities despite what their PTAs can donate.
Ron Schulhof acknowledged that each of our schools are different and perhaps more information from each school about their needs for gifts or their plans to save up for bigger projects might be helpful.
Susie Hahn agreed with all and added, “Each school is distinct, they are their own organization, they have their own priorities, they have their own specific layouts and buildings and grounds challenges. Having said that, it is a board's responsibility to ensure some comfort that there is equity in terms of gifting.”
First recognizing a need for thoughtfulness around gift giving, Dr. Patrick also reminded the board that there is a policy for gift giving in place and perhaps the policy needs clarification or updating. He also assured the board that the cabinet gives a great deal of careful consideration to the gifts they recommend to the board. The Gift Giving Policy can be found here.
Later in the meeting the board accepted the proposals for two gifts. The first was a gift of $19,580.40 for the 2023-24 school year to support the purchase of (8) round cafeteria tables for a lunch space at Fox Meadow. This gift was donated to the school by the Fox Meadow PTA.
The second gift proposal to be approved was a gift of $500.00 to the Middle School to purchase materials to construct a weather-proof whiteboard display in the Middle School Outdoor Classroom. This gift was donated by the Middle School PTA Executive Committee.
For a look at all of the gifts from the 2023/2024 school year, please click here.
Public Hearing for the Safety and Emergency Plan
Following a 30 day public comment period where members of the community were invited to give their feedback regarding the Safety and Emergency Plan, the BOE began the evening by holding a Public Hearing about the plan. Eric Raushchenbach explained that the Safety and Emergency plan, which is created and mandated by state requirements, only saw two new items added this year, an annex for elopement and safety procedures in case of an earthquake. Raushchenbach made clear that the plan being discussed and voted on described protocols at the District level and that each building also has their own specific safety and emergency plan. During “Action Items”, later in the meeting, the plan was approved by the Board.
Audit Committee
Dimitris Batileskas from Nawrocki, Smith LLP presented to the Board a review of their initial risk assessment. In his presentation, Batileska commended the district for having a positive risk profile. After describing that his firm did an extensive analysis of 92 areas of business processes where they rated each with a low, medium, or high rating, Batileska explained that 65 out of the 92 areas were given a low risk rating and none (0) were deemed high risk. He also expressed his confidence that with their plan, areas that were rated as a moderate risk would quickly dip to low risk. What’s more, Batileska explained that comparatively, Scarsdale fares better than surrounding districts and applauds the district’s openness and willingness to work with the auditors.
Board Leadership Succession
BOE President Ron Schulhof announced that current Vice President Susie Hahn expressed interest in taking on the role of president next year and that Jim Dugan is interested in the role of vice president. Formal nominations about the 2024/2025 leadership roles will be made at the Board of Education meeting on July 2nd 2024.
End of Year Tributes
While gratitude and appreciation was expressed for the entire BOE and especially for this year’s president Ron Schulhof, there was special recognition given to Jessica Resnick-Ault as she exits the board this year. Schulhof started by commending Resnick-Ault for always keeping students at the core of her board work and for the positive impact she leaves on the Scarsdale community.
Each of the other board members also took a turn expressing their gratitude for the dedication, hard work, and thoughtfulness that Resnick-Ault brought to the board. Robert Klein conveyed that Resnick-Ault’s perspective added tremendously to the board and that he has no doubt she will go on to make Scarsdale and the world a better place.
Again, these are only a few of the highlights from a meeting chock full of information. For a deeper look at highlights and to hear details about the treasurer’s report, a board self-evaluation, and much more, you can watch the meeting in its entirety here:
