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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 16 December 2021

Created: 16 December 2021

Last Updated: 28 December 2021

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COVID cases continue to balloon in Scarsdale. As of December 14, the school report card for the Scarsdale School District shows 53 cases, and the Westchester COVID map shows 97 cases for the Village of Scarsdale. The county reports that 3.7% of those tested are coming up positive, with new positive cases for the county at 548 on 12/14/21.

Though there is no official reporting on the type of cases, officials suspect that this new outbreak is due to the highly transmittable omicron variant.

An email from Superintendent Thomas Hagerman sent on December 15 reports new numbers but says, “Fortunately, due to high vaccination rates in the County, hospitalization rates and deaths remain low. However, as many of these cases are “breakthroughs” in individuals who have already been vaccinated, we must remember that vaccinations are only one of several important risk mitigation efforts.

Schools will close for the winter break at the end of the day on Friday December 17. Hopefully that will reduce the spread among the school community.

Some who hoped to fly to vacation destinations that require a negative PCR test are having to change or cancel their plans if a family member comes up positive. Others have purchased travel insurance that will allow them to fly home privately if they test positive while they are out of the country.

Now, almost two years after the initial COVID outbreak, many are bewildered and surprised that the virus has resurged for the holidays.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 05 December 2021

Created: 05 December 2021

Last Updated: 05 December 2021

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The Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee announced candidates for election on January 11, 2022. Those elected will serve on a committee to choose the next members of the Board of Education.

The election will be held on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, from 7 – 10 AM and 2 – 9 PM in the Scarsdale Middle School (SMS) Auditorium Lobby at 134 Mamaroneck Road. In the event schools are closed on Election Day, the election will be held on the earlier of Wednesday, January 12, 2022, or the next day school is in session. Any Snow Date or Run-off election will be held in the SMS Auditorium Lobby at the same times given above.

Mail In Ballots

A mail-in ballot is available for those who choose not to vote in person. Mail-in ballots are available to the public in hard copy at Scarsdale Village Hall and the Scarsdale Public Library, and available in electronic form on https://scarsdalesbnc.com/ starting Wednesday, December 15th, 2021. Completed mail-in ballots must be sent to: SBNC Administrative Chair, PO Box 172H, Scarsdale, NY 10583 and received in the SBNC PO Box no later than 4 PM on Tuesday, January 11, 2022. Any resident of the School District may vote who is (i) a US citizen; (ii) 18 years of age or older; and (iii) a resident of the School District for 30 days prior to the election.

Resolutions

Residents will also vote on several proposed amendments to the SBNC Resolution. The proposed changes can be found at https://scarsdalesbnc.com/resolution/, as well as at Village Hall and at the Scarsdale Public Library starting Friday, December 3rd, 2021. A public meeting will be held via Zoom at 8pm on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021, where SBNC Resolution Chairs David Benderson and Sarah Bell will present the proposed amendments and seek community input. Please visit https://scarsdalesbnc.com/ for the Zoom link.

Residents who are unable to access a ballot by either of these methods may contact the SBNC Administrative Committee Election Chair, Laura Liu, by email at [email protected] for assistance. For more information about the SBNC, please visit https://scarsdalesbnc.com/.

Candidates:

Listed below are the candidates from each neighborhood along with their biographies.

EDGEWOOD (4 candidates running for 3 positions)

ANNE MCCOURT BATES: 46 Tunstall Road
Occupation: Currently Stay-at-home parent; Formerly High School Counselor
Education: University of Rochester (BA in Health & Society); Hunter College (MS in Education/ School Counseling); Scarsdale High School
Length of Residency: 7 years
Children’s ages: 10, 7, 6
Civic Activities: Edgewood PTA Secretary (Executive Board), Yearbook Co-Chair, Classical Café Co-Chair, Colonial Fair Co-Chair, Liaison to the Scarsdale Adult School, Class Parent.

FRANK MURTHA: 39 Jefferson Road
Occupation: Psychologist, Financial Counseling Consultant
Education: Villanova University (BA in English & Psychology); Boston College (MA in Counseling Psychology, Children & Adolescents); University of Buffalo (Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology); Scarsdale High School
Length of Residence: 10 years
Children’s ages: 12, 9
Civic Activities: Established Men’s Group at Church of Immaculate Heart of Mary; Coached Little League Baseball; Organized Edgewood Block Parties; Developed COVID Social Support Center for Adult Interaction during pandemic.
CHRISTINE WESTON: 26 Taunton Road
Occupation: Stay-at-Home Parent
Education: Vassar College (BA, Psychology); Bank Street College of Education (MA, Elementary Education and Literacy);
Length of Residence: 11 years
Children’s ages: 13, 10
Civic Activities: Legislative Chair for SMS and Edgewood (2021-2022); Crane Berkley Neighborhood Association President, Vice President, Secretary and Board Member (2010-present); SMS House parent (2020-2021); Compact Committee to help plan Edgewood Centennial events (2018-2019); Chair, Edgewood Fair (2017); Secretary, Edgewood PTA (2014-2016); Edgewood Class parent (2013-2020).

MENG ZHANG: 152 Clarence Road
Occupation: Physician (Internal Medicine/Palliative Care, Mount Sinai)
Education: New York University (BA, Biology); Stony Brook University School of Medicine (MD); Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Residency in Internal Medicine, Fellowship in Palliative and Hospice Medicine
Length of Residence: 7 years
Children’s ages: 11, 8
Civic Activities: Edgewood Walking School Bus volunteer (2015-2021); Edgewood Book Fair Chair (2015-2016); Edgewood Multicultural Tasting volunteer (2016-2018); Edgewood Fair volunteer (2016-2018)

FOX MEADOW (4 candidates running for 2 positions)

CLAUDIA GREEN: 36 Butler Road
Occupation: Attorney (General Counsel at Hedge Fund)
Education: University of New South Wales, Australia (B.A., LLB)
Length of Residence: 6 years
Children’s ages: 14, 12, 9
Civic Activities: Volunteer Legal Advisor on Voting Hotline; Fox Meadow Learning to Look Volunteer; Girl Scouts Leader; PTA Co-Treasurer at PS 452; Member of Strategic Planning Committee at Preschool in NYC.

H. GITONGA KIARA: 53 Paddington Rd
Occupation: Attorney
Education: University of Virginia School of Law – LL.M.; Kenya School of Law - Dip. Laws;
University of Reading (UK) - LL.B.
Length of Residence: 1 year
Child’s age: 12
Civic Activities: University of Virginia School of Law – Dean’s Council, Associate Member; Pro Bono Legal Services; Actively support non-profit organizations involved in education, healthcare, civil rights, nutritional support; Condo Board Member (2014 - 2020, Battery Park City, Manhattan).

JONATHAN SCHMERIN: 18 Hampton Road
Occupation: Real Estate Developer
Education: University of Pennsylvania (BA, Economics); New York University (MS, Real Estate Finance)
Length of Residence: 6 years
Children’s ages: 8, 6, 3
Civic Activities: Board of Trustees – Dream Charter School

JENNIFER ZOLA: 12 Carstensen Road
Occupation: Currently Stay-at-home Parent; Previously Senior Partner, Advertising Director
Education: Duke University (BA), UCLA Anderson (MBA)
Length of Residence: 9 years
Children’s ages: 13,10
Civic Activities: Scarsdale Youth Soccer Club (SYSC) Board Member 2019–21 and Parent Team Manager 2016–21; PTC Nominating Committee SMS Representative 2020–21; SMS Butler House Parent 2020–21; Scarsdale Youth Basketball (SYB) Parent Co-Manager 2019–20; SUFSD Fox Meadow Principal and Assistant Principal Search Committees Member 2019; Fox Meadow PTA multiple roles: VP of Technology (Executive Committee Member) 2017–19, Directory Chair 2016–20, Yearbook Co-Chair 2019-20 and 2021-22, Lunch Co-Chair and Coordinator 2015–20, After School Clubs Treasurer 2016–17, Library Services Co-Chair 2015–16, Fox Meadow Compact Committee Member 2015–16, Fox Meadow Playground Renovation Committee Member 2014–15, and Class Parent.

GREENACRES (4 candidates running for 3 positions)

KIM GREENE-LIEBOWITZ: 77 Walworth Avenue
Occupation: Physician
Education: Cornell University (BA, Biology/Biochemistry); The George Washington School of Public Health (MPH, Epidemiology); Temple University School of Medicine (MD)
Length of Residence: 16 years
Children’s ages: 15, 13
Civic Activities: Scarsdale Buddies Initiative co-founder (2020-21); Celiac advocate (2019-present); Greenacres class parent (2018-19) and parent volunteer (2013-19); Temple Israel Center of White Plains Gala – Tribute Committee (2018); Solomon Schechter Lower School - School Board (2011-17); Hadassah – Young Women of Westchester Fundraising Chair (2009-13); Temple Israel Center Nursery School - School Board (2008-13).

ALLISON KAHNER: 6 Donellan Road Occupation: Clinical Psychologist
Education: SUNY Stony Brook (BS Psychology); School of Psychology at Florida Tech (Psy.D.) Length of Residence: 6 years
Children’s ages: 15, 13
Civic Activities: SMS Bowling Night and 6th Grade Rec Night volunteer; Greenacres Talent show Co-Chair for two years; Greenacres School Fair and Zany Olympics committee volunteer; Greenacres Pizza Wednesdays volunteer every week for 2 years.

SETH MORGULAS: 30 Valley Road
Occupation: Colonel, United States Army
Education: The Johns Hopkins University (BA); The University of Chicago Law School (JD); The United States Army War College (MSS); Scarsdale High School
Length of Residence: 6 years
Children’s ages: 14, 12
Civic Activities: Military Service 1991 to present.

EVA ROMAS WILSON: 36 Garden Road Occupation: Nonprofit Advisor
Education: Harvard College(BA); Scarsdale High School
Length of Residence: 20 years
Children’s ages: 20, 18, 16, 13
Civic Activities: SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College (2019-present); Maroon & White Board (2015-present); SMS PTA Board Member (2015-19); SMS Nominating Committee (2020); SHS Nominating Committee (2019); SMS Principal Selection Committee (2017); SMS Vice Principal Selection Committee (2019); Greenacres Community Service Chair (2013-17); Greenacres PTA Treasurer (2012-13); Greenacres Class Parent (2013-18); Scarsdale Lacrosse Board (2014-17)

HEATHCOTE (3 candidates running for 3 positions)

KIMBERLY MILLER CHAMPLIN: 11 Wynmor Rd
Occupation: Currently Stay-at-home parent; Formerly Account Executive/ABC Television Network Sales 1999-2017
Education: Bucknell University (BA in English)
Length of Residence: 9 years
Children’s ages: 10, 8
Civic Activities: Heathcote Yearbook Committee; Heathcote PTA Executive Committee-VP of Afterschool Clubs; Heathcote PTA Nominating Committee; Heathcote Benefit Committee; Heathcote Class Parent

DIANNA COHEN-IROM: 1 Duck Pond Road
Occupation: Marketing, American Express
Education: University of Pennsylvania (BA)
Length of Residence: 60 days
Children’s ages: 6, 5, 6 months
Civic Activities: Volunteer, Heathcote School Class Parent & Book Drive Coordinator; Volunteer, Brooklyn Community Bail Fund

SARAH HOPKINS: 40 Birchall Drive
Occupation: Genetic Counselor
Education: Washington University in St. Louis (BA); New York University (MPA in Health Policy); Sarah Lawrence College (MS in Human Genetics)
Length of Residence: 16 years
Children’s ages: 19, 15, 12
Civic Activities: Breast cancer peer advocate, 2013-present; Weill Cornell COVID Biobank Project Coordinator, 2020; Heathcote school play volunteer, 2018; Heathcote private bus coordinator, 2016-18;
Co-chair of 5th Grade Community Service Committee, 2014; Learning-To-Look volunteer; Guest speaker on genetics; Class parent, Edgewood 2013-14; Class parent, Alcott School, multiple years;

QUAKER RIDGE (2 candidates running for 1 position)

LISA GANS: 45 Harvest Drive
Occupation: Attorney / Travel Advisor
Education: Emory University (Bachelor’s in Business Administration); Georgetown University Law School (JD)
Length of Residence: 14 years
Children’s ages: 17, 14, 10
Civic Activities: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Board Member (2008-18); Scarsdale Schools Education Foundation Board Member (2016-18); Quaker Ridge PTA Executive Committee VP Communications, VP After School Clubs.

ALEXANDER WOLF: 56 Harvest Drive
Occupation: Attorney
Education: Amherst College (BA); Cardozo School of Law (JD)
Length of Residence: 3 years
Children’s ages: 14, 12
Civic Activities: SMS Multicultural events volunteer; volunteer real estate educator and activist in opposition to Freightway redevelopment project.
About the School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC)
The School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) is a committee of citizens elected from across the Village for the purpose of nominating candidates to fill vacancies on the Scarsdale Board of Education. Members are elected from each of the five elementary school districts to serve a term of three years on the Nominating Committee and two additional years on the Administrative Committee.

The Administrative Committee would like to encourage all Scarsdale residents to support the SBNC by voting in local elections, considering a candidacy, and making a contribution. The SBNC Administrative Committee runs the annual SBNC elections financed entirely by community support. Any contribution is greatly appreciated.
Contributions may be made via PayPal online at https://scarsdalesbnc.com/please-donate/

Checks may be made payable to the “SBNC Administrative Committee” and mailed to P.O. BOX 172H, SCARSDALE, NY 10583

SBNC Continuing Members:
Edgewood: Cecilia Anon-Kowalski (Term Ends 2022); Alan Meizlik, Valerie Phillips (Term Ends 2023) Fox Meadow: Swapna Kanekar, Jonathan Lemle (Term Ends 2022); Zachary Altschuler, Lauren Kitain (Term Ends 2023)
Greenacres: Deborah Jeanne Skolnik, Cindy S. Yau (Term Ends 2022); David Fenigstein (Term Ends 2023)
Heathcote: Claire Ying Yang (Term Ends 2022); Lauren Hammer Breslow, Jennifer Goldfarb (Term Ends 2023)
Quaker Ridge: Susi D’ambra Coplan, Purnima Srivastava (Term Ends 2022); Stephanie Israel, Stacey Strauss, Mauri Zemachson (Term Ends 2023)

2021/2022 SBNC Administrative Members:
Sarah E. Bell, Resolution Vice Chair (QR); David Benderson, Resolution Chair (EW); Ruth Berkowitz (EW); Felicia Block (EW); Todd Cohen (GA); Jordan Copeland (EW); Lara Chassin (SNAP Representative); Timothy Dunne (EW); Jennifer Fischer (GA); Laura Gelblum, Election Vice Chair (FM); Kathleen Gray (GA); Nikki Hahn (QR); Kerry Hayes (HE); Jennifer Tao Hong (FM); Marisa Jackson (QR); Seema Jaggi, SBNC Chair (FM); Amy Lewis (GA); Jing Li (HE); Laura Ying Liu, Election Chair (HE); Chris Marks (HE); Ekta Sahni (QR); Amy Schiff, SBNC Vice Chair (EW)
For additional information, please contact Laura Liu, SBNC Election Chair, at [email protected]

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Written by: Adam Katcher

Published: 24 November 2021

Created: 24 November 2021

Last Updated: 24 November 2021

Hits: 4058

Charlie Milberg (Dad), Isabelle Haller (Olive Ostrovsky) and Taylor Levin (Mom) singing “The I Love You Song” Trio. Olive’s parents are absent from the big Spelling Bee. Her father is at work and her mother is in India. Olive is imagining that they are standing next to her and proclaiming their support and love for her. The Scarsdale High School Drama Club was devastatingly impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. Meetings were difficult to organize and performing with masks on posed many problems. However, the biggest impact of COVID-19 was the inability to perform in front of a live audience.

From November 19-21 the club returned to the stage and gave a phenomenal rendition of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee before hundreds of spectators. The musical scores were performed admirably; the costumes complemented each character’s perfectly-acted roles and laughs from the audience never stopped thanks to the comedic nature of the play.

In an interactive twist, four audience members were selected at each show to sit among the spelling bee contestants on stage and test their spelling. The musical featured some great harmonizing and a slightly-crude solo at the end of intermission, which were a big hit with the audience. As fans waited for the actors to emerge after the show, they called the play “excellent,” “fun,” and “entertaining.”

For the two hours, those actors - students from Scarsdale High School – became Broadway stars.

Star Spotlight: Janmariz Deguia

Scarsdale senior Janmariz Deguia in the role of Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre.

Senior Janmariz Deguia had plenty to say about the performance after taking one of the play’s star roles, Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre (nope, that is not a typo).

Reflecting on her senior show as a whole, she said, “This show was the best way to say goodbye to high school theatre. This was my first in-person show with the drama club. Even though it’s my first year doing theatre at school, I was still sobbing all three nights, both tears of sadness and joy! A last show is a big deal and I know I’ll do theatre in college, but because performing is such a big part of my childhood and now, it feels like I’m saying goodbye to this chapter of my life which is very emotional and overwhelming.”

Putting on a performance to be proud of, the presence of large crowds for all three shows gave Deguia extra hope about the future of one of her main passions. “It’s refreshing [seeing such a large audience]; it’s exciting; it gives me hope that people see the value of the arts. There’s nothing like performing for me.

“Some people have sports, others have academics, and for me, it’s singing and dancing like a maniac. It’s great that I Isabelle Haller (Olive Ostrovsky) singing “My Friend the Dictionary” Olive is a lonely, shy girl who is singing about her best friend, her reliable dictionary.can express myself independently and alone but like most things, [without an audience], you miss the people and the connection. I am so grateful to have such a welcoming community here. The cast and crew, friends, and family have been so supportive. It was so fulfilling to have a live audience laugh at your jokes. Hearing the ‘awhs’ during my epilogue made me tear up each night!”

The awhs from the crowd came when Logainne revealed that she conquered one of her biggest character flaws later in life.

Acting as Logainne was no easy task. However, Deguia was more than up for the task. She even described how she felt related to the role she was playing in more ways than one, claiming, “I see so much of myself in her,” making acting as Logainne more enjoyable. Deguia then joked, “Logainne is annoying and funny and loud and dramatic and same!” Even before roles were assigned, Deguia “always wanted to play her or Leaf.”

Nonetheless, there were obstacles that came with the role. “The biggest challenge is that she has the fastest parts, so I had to slow down my song. Maintaining an annoying voice with a lisp that people can mostly understand [was also a challenge].”

Deguia’s two favorite moments of the play were when she said, “I’ve been waiting for my word” right after “having an entire mental breakdown,” as well as the epilogue (when she reveals that she overcame her lisp later in life.)

The Scarsdale High School Drama Club lines up to bow after a stellar performance of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. All those who went to the show will only have a world of favorable things to say about it, with many other Scarsdale High School students putting on admirable performances. Lead roles were performed by: Izzy Haller (Olive Ostrovsky), Mitchell Peran (William Barfee), Brooke Suzman (Marcy Park), Henry Nova (Chip Tolentino), Colin Dunsky (Leaf Coneybear), Taylor Levin (Rona Lisa Peretti), Jason Dickstein (Doug Panch), and Eve Rich (Michelle Mahoney).

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Written by: Laura Halligan

Published: 17 November 2021

Created: 17 November 2021

Last Updated: 17 November 2021

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As promised, the Scarsdale School District has eased some of its Covid mitigation protocols - specifically those related to trips, parent visitors, perfomances/assemblies, and elementary school snack time.

At Monday’s board of education business meeting, Eric Rauschenbach, assistant superintendent for special education and student services, began his presentation on Covid-related matters by discussing the latest Covid stats from the district’s health and safety committee.

Although Westchester County has seen an uptick in Covid cases, reporting an average of 11 cases per 100,000 daily, Scarsdale is faring better. The district reports 39 total Covid cases (27 students/12 adults) and testing continues, with 3080 Covid tests yielding just one positive result. “That has been a very big bright spot in our testing program and it shows that (there has not been) an asymptomatic spread in the schools,” Rauschenbach said.

He then outlined the latest changes to the district’s Covid policies:

Trips
Day and field trips have been reinstated and will be conducted as usual. Students must remain masked when indoors, regardless of venue policies. Guidelines for eating meals remain the same, with outdoor dining preferred and/or six feet of social distancing indoors. Overnight trips also are permitted, assuming that students follow masking protocols indoors (except during mealtime and when in their hotel rooms). Students who participate in overnight trips must be vaccinated or provide negative PCR test results within 72 hours of departure, and roommate assignments will be documented for contract tracing purposes. The district still is prohibiting school-related international travel.

Parent Visitors
The administration continues to avoid mid to large-scale parent meetings and events in schools during the school day but individual parent-faculty meetings are permitted to take place indoors, assuming proper masking and social distancing protocols. Faculty at each school will determine which meetings are best held in person as opposed to remotely/virtually.

Parents now are permitted to assist with specific activities/programs within school buildings if they are vaccinated and follow masking protocols. However, the district still is restricting individual parent volunteers within classes (cupcake deliveries, birthdays, etc.), subject to further review/discussion later in the school year.

Performances/Assemblies
Student assemblies, concerts, performances, etc. may resume with audience capacity limited to 50 percent, and seating that includes spacing between households and three feet of space between individual students. Scarsdale students now also are permitted to participate in performances at other venues.

Students may be unmasked for music and drama dress rehearsals and actual performances only (students also may opt to wear masks if they wish). “That will increase a slight risk for quarantining, should somebody be positive, but we think the benefit (of) having a performance that is done unmasked and in traditional form is a benefit that kids - especially in the drama productions - really could use,“ he explained.

The district also will allow multi-school events, such as debate tournaments and model UN activities, with three feet of social distancing and 50 percent capacity. Food-related events still are being discouraged, but if part of the district’s core education mission, will be permitted with six feet of spacing between students when they’re eating.

Snack Time
The district currently is discussing resuming snacks during the school day and plans to reinstate snack sometime after the Thanksgiving holiday, although no specific date was provided. “We are working with teachers now to develop the rollout; we will be moving to a three-foot, less-than-10 minute snack in the elementary levels… We’ve looked at other school districts, we talked with our district physician, and believe that the risk is mitigated… due to our other procedures,” said Rauschenbach.

Vaccine Clinic Oversubscribed
The district hosted a vaccine clinic at the high school for students aged 5 to 11 on November 15 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The event, conducted with the assistance of White Plains Hospital, was oversubscribed; 200 appointments were scheduled, along with an additional 50 standby slots (as of midday Tuesday, it was unclear if WPH would be able to source additional vaccines for those on standby). The vaccination appointments were made available last Friday evening and all were filled by Sunday morning. Due to this positive response, the district is working with Westchester County, Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and White Plains Hospital to arrange a second clinic on site.

Mental Health Update
Rauschenbach also was pleased to report that students will have access to a full team of youth outreach workers from Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service (SFCS). Staffing was a concern; SFCS had lost a number of staff members over the past few months but was able to fill those vacancies, and counselors now are in place at the middle and high schools. The district also has hired two additional clinical social workers on a contract basis to address increased mental health counseling needs at the high school. “... we want to assure that the continued high level of intervention can happen for students who are experiencing this increased mental health need,” he said.

To Mask/Test or Not to Mask/Test?
After Rauschenbach’s summary, several board members questioned whether students should be required to wear masks during performances and dress rehearsals, and noted inconsistent testing/vaccination requirements for those participating in sports.

Amber Yusef said, “I’m super excited to hear about the easing of some of these restrictions. One thing I was wondering about - (since) the performances are unmasked, is there any kind of testing required before the performance... or vaccination?” Rauschenbach responded, “No, at this point, we maintain distancing and masking during non-performance times, so the only time students would be unmasked is actually on stage during the performance.” Yusef also asked about distancing requirements, to which he replied, “On stage, there may be scenes where they are not; in setups for orchestra and band, that spacing is maintained.” She then questioned whether there would be similar changes for athletics, given that student athletes are being tested weekly or vaccinated. Rauschenbach reiterated that students are permitted to be unmasked only during dress rehearsals and performances, and added that the district plans to review its testing policy given Scarsdale’s results over the past five weeks.

Ron Schulhof continued the discussion, asking “Can we talk about the rationale… Why not require vaccinations or weekly testing? It’s been working; it seems to be reasonable.” Rauschenbach stated, “At this point, the performances happen sporadically throughout the year; they don’t fall neatly into the weekly testing program… we’re not sure who out of those kids have volunteered to do the testing program, and, in speaking with the doctor... it happens once and then it’s over rather than a full season of competition.” Shulhof replied, “We had an opportunity to promote vaccinations or safe testing with athletes; I think it was the right thing to do to keep everybody safe. I understand those logistical concerns; we can address them… there are certain times where you can have an unvaccinated or unmasked (student) which seems to go against our mitigation strategies. I would be in favor of us following what worked for athletics.”

Carl Finger and Jessica Resnick-Ault also questioned the rationale behind the decision and pointed out the seemingly inconsistent policies for student performers and athletes. Resnick-Ault stated, “It does seem inconsistent with our practices so far that there are going to be a number of performances… that will involve students… who have not had the opportunity to be vaccinated - if we’re talking about anyone in sixth grade and below… those all would become unmasked events.”

Acknowledging the concerns, Rauschenbach said that, if the board wanted to take a closer look at the policy, the district could revisit the issue. He also pointed out that the district was unable to require testing or vaccination for curricular activities, such as band or orchestra concerts, but may do so for extracurricular activities like athletics. To that, Finger suggested that the district mandate mask wearing for all performances to provide some measure of safety for students. He also stated, “Not to dictate... but we’re asking you to think about it.”

Rauschenbach promised a larger discussion about testing in general and whether the district would keep the mandate in place with regard to athletics. He also assured the board that all students always have the option to wear masks during any and/or all activities if they feel safer to do so.

* * *

Budget Season Kicks Off
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Facilities Stuart Mattey closed the books on the 2020-21 school year, reviewing revenues, expenditures and surplus/deficit information. Budgeted expenditures were $162,696,316; actual expenditures as of June 30, 2021 totaled $162,915,187. Despite this small deficit, the district realized significant savings in plant and capital improvements, teaching, transportation, interscholastic athletics, other employee benefits, and debt service largely due to reduced activities during the pandemic. The actual ending fund balance at the end of the fiscal year was $25,536,424 (a nearly $1 million decrease from the previous year), $6,648,395 of which was unassigned.

Now, Mattey will lead the 2022-23 budget process, beginning with the public forum held Wednesday morning, when Scarsdale community members were invited to provide their input on budget priorities and planning. The next important budget discussion will take place during the January 10 BOE meeting, when Mattey will present 2022-23 financial projections and 2022-23 budget factors/assumptions. As always, members of the public are urged to attend and contribute.

Scarsdale Middle School PTA Budget Statement

This statement ,regarding the Scarsdale Middle School budget ,was made at the budget study session on Wednesday November 17, 2021.

SMS PTA EC and Budget Study Comment on Scarsdale Middle School Budget Priorities

The SMS PTA Executive Committee and Budget Study Co-Chairs encourage the Board of Education to consider the following priorities for Scarsdale Middle School during the Board’s budget process: the renovation of technology classrooms, especially the renovation of the 6th grade classroom, which has evolved over the past four years; a full-time coding teacher in order to have a technology class taught five days per week; an update in the library furniture and space; and the creation and installation of flexible outdoor spaces, including a space that is potentially dry for eating lunch.

In addition, we would like to emphasize the continuing importance of strong mental health support at the Middle School level and recommend that the Board ensure that this need is met going into the 2022-23 school year.

The SMS PTA EC and Budget Study Chairs further encourage the Board to incorporate proactive and robust community engagement during the budget process to provide expected transparency and to request further elaboration and detailed information as needed so that the Board may adequately assess the needs of the Middle School building and community.

Sincerely,

The SMS PTA Executive Committee

Leah Dembitzer, President
Deborah Lichtenstein, President-Elect
Ophira Cukierman, Treasurer
Samantha Carter, Secretary
Yi Yang, VP Membership and Directory
Stephanie Klingsberg, VP Programming
Lori Harrison, VP Hospitality and School Initiatives

The SMS PTA Budget Study Co-Chairs

Julia Liu
Irena Turner