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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 03 March 2020

Created: 03 March 2020

Last Updated: 04 March 2020

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Authorities said that it was not a matter of if, but when it would come, and it appears that the dreaded Coronavirus has hit close to home. It’s already been a big day in Westchester for news about the virus and it’s only 3 pm.

The day began with the announcement that a 50 year-old New Rochelle man, with an underlying respiratory condition, had tested positive for the virus. Initially admitted at Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, he was later moved to a hospital in New York City. The man had not travelled to any of the countries identified by the CDC but had recently visited Miami.

We then learned that one of his children attends SAR, a co-ed modern orthodox school in Riverdale and that both SAR Academy and SAR High School are now closed.

The infected man had worshipped at Young Israel in New Rochelle and the County Health Department is reaching out to those who may have attended events at the same time. The temple has been directed to halt services for the forseeable future and congregants who attended services on February 22 and a funeral and a bat mitzvah on February 23 have been ordered to self-quarantine until at the very earliest March 8. An email from the temple says, "Those who do not self-quarantine will be mandated to by the County Department of Health."

The man commuted on Metro North to work. The NYC Department of Transportation is conducting an investigation into his travel on the train. Read more from the county here.

As if that wasn’t enough, some Scarsdale parents then learned that their children traveled to school on the same buses used to transport local kids to SARS in Riverdale. The district assured everyone that the buses had been thoroughly disinfected. “Once we determined this was the case, we took immediate action by deploying our facilities staff to conduct a thorough disinfection of the bus and its surfaces. This work was monitored by department leadership, and we are confident that these buses have been thoroughly disinfected by the District’s custodial staff and are ready to return to service for this afternoon’s bus runs. An enhanced cleaning protocol will be employed indefinitely.”

The district is employing flu season protocols for cleaning with daily disinfection of doorknobs, phones, light switches and faucets. Children are being encouraged to thoroughly wash their hands and they have made recommendations about how to speak to children about the virus.

The district has now set up a special page to monitor the virus and you can access it here: 

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 27 February 2020

Created: 27 February 2020

Last Updated: 12 January 2023

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How much is needed to renovate the Scarsdale High School auditorium --and if approved -- where will the funds come from? At the February 10 2020 meeting of the Board of Education the Board reviewed a proposed allocation of $2.3 million to fully renovate the SHS auditorium, which has not been updated in over 40 years.

The list of proposed updates includes the following:

-Remove and replace seating
-Remove and replace carpeting
-Repair concrete below seating
-Replace and improve sound system
-Replace and improve lighting control systems
-Replace and improve stage lights
-Improve stage rigging
-Replace and improve electric wiring

A parent reminded us that the 2014 bond had included $800,000 in funding for auditorium updates, including new seating, lighting and sound equipment.

Though the bond passed, the work was never done.

We were curious what became of those funds – and we questioned Assistant Superintendent Stuart Mattey.

We learned that $736,000 in the debt service reserves are available for this project, meaning that additional funding of $1,563,000 will be needed to do the work, not the $2.3 million indicated at the Board meeting.

Below find our email and his response.

Hi Stuart et al:
A parent asked me a question about the auditorium renovation that I was not able to answer and hope you can refresh my memory.

I remember that the renovation of the SHS auditorium - including new seats - was included in the 2014 bond.

Here is the copy of Insight that includes the information.

And here are the details from the FAQ at that time:
"Auditorium renovations that include replacement of seats, new LED house lights and aisle lighting, and new sound equipment. "

Question - where are those funds? Are they in reserves - and if so will that reduce the $2.3 million now needed for the renovation of the auditorium?

If the funds are no longer available, where did they go - and is it okay for the district to bond projects and not proceed with the work?

Please help me remember the sequence of events.

Joanne Wallenstein from Scarsdale10583

Response from Assistant Superintendent of Facilities Stuart Mattey:

Unfortunately, due to the 2014 bond work bids coming in higher than the original pre-referendum budgets, the proposed work at the HS Auditorium was not awarded. This, of course, is not desirable but sometimes necessary due to the everchanging bid climate. All 2014 bond funds were needed to complete the awarded projects. In fact, additional funds were allocated in two successive general budgets in anticipation of costs that exceeded those Bond funds. Now that all projects related to that Bond are closed we have $736,431 remaining from those particular funds (now in the Debt Service Reserve) which we have proposed using in our 2020-21 preliminary draft budget to offset the $2.3MM related to the HS Auditorium work thus lowering the overall tax impact of that work to $1,563,569.

I hope this helps your understanding of these events and please, to provide for the most efficient form of communication direct parents to contact us directly when possible. Thanks-

Sincerely,
Stuart

Stuart P.G. Mattey
Assistant Superintendent for Business
Scarsdale Public Schools
2 Brewster Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583
(914)721-2420

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Written by: Ray Cooper

Published: 17 February 2020

Created: 17 February 2020

Last Updated: 17 February 2020

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Surprise starter Sophomore Hunter Miller scoring his first Scarsdale basket. Photo by Jon Thaler.A popular idiom in sports parlance is that the playoffs represent a “second season” for all teams – everyone holds a 0-0 record as the playoffs begin. On February 15, the Scarsdale boys’ basketball team hosted the John Jay East Fishkill (JJEF) Patriots in an afternoon affair designated as a “play-in game” for the right to continue next weekend. Faced with a possible premature end to their season, the Raiders started the second season as a revived team. Scarsdale fully realized the importance of the game, as co-captain Saigal said: “This was a do or die game.. we need to show up or have our seven seniors’ careers end.”

Scarsdale was coming off a six game losing streak to end the regular season and was looking to salvage its campaign. On the coldest day of 2020, Scarsdale brought heat and responded to the challenge with a complete performance on both ends of the court – defeating the Patriots by a convincing 67-50 score.

Raiders coach Joe Amelio wasted no time in using all of his weapons. His first move was to insert sophomore JV call-up, center Hunter Miller, in the game in the first minute. Miller, who had all of two varsity practices going into the game, made an immediate impact with his presence, and energized the Raiders early on. Coach Amelio said: “We know what we are going to get from Hunter every game – hard work and a “physicality” that will make a difference.” Miller called the entire experience “surreal going from JV.” Senior Dennis Alter set the tone early for the Scarsdale attack – pumping in two three pointers and an additional basket – notching eight of his 11 points in the first quarter.

For the 2020 season, much of the Raiders’ fortunes have risen and fallen with the efforts of “all-everything” and recent Lehigh University commit, Jayshen Saigal. Saigal was coming off two lackluster performances and was playing in his last home game. After getting in foul trouble early and fouling out in the previous two games, Coach Amelio had Saigal in a better mind-set, and Saigal showed his poise – adding five points and no fouls in the opening quarter. Amelio said that this was a key part of their pre-game preparation and that the coaching staff had spoken with Jayshen about the importance of playing smart defense.

Saigal’s momentum continued during the second quarter – and marked the beginning of Scarsdale’s control of the game. He led the Raiders’ with an 11 point explosion hitting two threes midway through the quarter, extending their 19-11 lead. Saigal’s shot was on point virtually the entire afternoon. After the game he said: “I prepared for this game and showed up early today and took extra shots.” Miller, who said after the game: “I didn’t know I was going to play in the game and I took what I could get,” received much deserved additional minutes. Together with Michael Callahan, he kept the Patriots in check – only allowing nine points in the quarter. When the horn sounded for the half, Scarsdale nearly doubled its advantage and took a commanding 35-20 lead into the locker room.

The Raiders’ offensive assault continued at the beginning of the third quarter. Alter and point guard Matthew Lipsay hit three point Waterhouse with a leaping block.shots – largely set up by the penetration by Fisher Waterhouse. Saigal then added a driving basket. With five minutes left in the third, the Scarsdale lead swelled to 19. The Raiders then had their only lapse of the game, and JJEF had a 3 minute, 10-3 run, cutting the raider lead to 12 – 46-34 with 1:30 to play in the quarter. At that point Saigal stepped in – hitting threes on consecutive possessions and bringing the packed stands to its feet. Waterhouse ended the quarter with a fantastic drive and basket with seconds left – and the Raider lead was back at a very comfortable 19 going into the final quarter.

The Patriots, however, weren’t done yet, and made one last run at the start of the final quarter. JJEF was in the double bonus and made their free throws count. Patriot big-man Gainer – a presence all game – got to the line and connected frequently. With six minutes to play, the Raider lead had shrunk to 12 with JJEF trying to wrest the momentum from Scarsdale. As JJEF’s Gainer went for a basket in the paint, Miller made a fantastic block – keeping the lead at 12. Waterhouse then put on a free throw shooting clinic – hitting five out of six attempts midway through the quarter. Lipsay and Waterhouse controlled the ball most of the next few minutes. With a little over a minute left, and the outcome no longer in doubt, both coaches emptied their benches and the Scarsdale seniors received a standing ovation from the highly partisan packed crowd. As the clock wound down to 0:00 the Raiders walked off victorious 67-50.

The Raiders now must face their most difficult task of the season: traveling to Suffern next Saturday to play the number one rated 17-3 Mounties. Coach Amelio said of Suffern: “They are a very well coached team… [led by] back to back coach of the year Scott Wright. We will be in a hostile environment and plan on preparing as such.” Whatever the outcome, the Raiders have had a fine season, and as Amelio said: “We have had a “positivity” all season no matter what adversity we faced.”

Jayshen Saigal hitting one of five threes and 24 points.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 08 February 2020

Created: 08 February 2020

Last Updated: 13 February 2020

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The Scarsdale PTC is looking for experts in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math to lead workshops on PTC STEAM Day on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at Scarsdale High School from 11am to 3pm.

Mark your calendars for the return of PTC STEAM Day this spring! Students, parents, teachers, and professionals in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, math, and related industries are cordially invited to lead workshops of your own design, demonstrate an area of expertise, or exhibit a project you have developed.

Interested in participating? Fill out a brief general interest form on the PTC STEAM Day homepage (scarsdaleschools.org/PTCSTEAMDay), which also has links to the catalog and slideshow highlighting some of the great activities from the previous event in 2018. Contact Diane Baylor and Amber Yusuf, the event co-chairs, at [email protected] with any questions.