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Written by: Melissa Hellman

Published: 10 July 2014

Created: 10 July 2014

Last Updated: 10 July 2014

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It was a big night for transitions at the Scarsdale Board of Education meeting on July 8 when the Board named a new president and vice president, welcomed new board members and the new Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Hagerman and offered thanks to long-terms staff members and teachers.

Dr. Thomas Hagerman, the new District Superintendant was present at his first meeting since starting the job on July 1. The Board also greeted Christopher Morin and Scott Silberfein who began their terms as BOE members on July 1. The Board elected Mary Beth Gose as President and Leila Maude as Vice President for the upcoming school year. Gose, a former trustee of Scarsdale Village is now serving the last year of a six-year term on the Board of Education, and Maude, a relative newcomer, was elected in 2013 but has quickly gotten up to speed.

Dr. Haberman addressed the room and spoke highly of all those he has met during his busy first week of coming up to speed on the Scarsdale schools. He said everyone has been warm and welcoming. He thanked the BOE including recently retired members Sunil Subbakrishna and Jonathan Lewis for hiring him and issued a special thanks to Suzanne Seiden for shepherding him through the process and helping to make his transition to Scarsdale a smooth one. He said he is 'honored to be here" and "optimistic about the future of Scarsdale schools" and is looking forward to serving the district.

Board President Gose welcomed Dr. Hagerman. She said since starting work here one week ago, Dr. Hagerman has "hit the ground running with intelligence, energy, enthusiasm and an observant eye." She stated that the Board is looking forward to working with and supporting Dr. Hagerman in setting goals and objectives for the coming year. She noted that Scarsdale values education and has a "strong, thriving community of parents who support the schools" and also a "strong diverse community of empty nesters (including Ms. Gose) who continue to support the schools long after their children have graduated." She also extended a warm welcome to the new Board Members. She closed by stating the Board is at a pivotal time in its educational history. She likened the Board's present state of being to the experience of students starting a new school year who at that very particular point in time are under the influence of previous teachers and prior experiences but also aspiring to new challenges with a mind for learning, hard work, and a strong desire to improve.

Arthur Rublin, Chair of the Coalition for Scarsdale Schools, spoke during the comment period. He welcomed Dr. Hagerman and expressed thanks for the service of Suzanne Seiden as President over the last year. He said:

"If one were to look at any one of the four major School Board endeavors in the past year – the search for a new Superintendent, the development of a Master Plan, the development of a Strategic Plan, and the development of a Budget for the next school year – one would say that would be a challenging project. But Ms. Seiden led the Board in its efforts on all four, devoting remarkable energy to communication with the community and stakeholder groups at the same time.

Ms. Seiden led with intelligence, exceptionally good instincts, sensitivity, and a refreshing sense of humor which included, yes, innovative ideas about how to make serious and occasionally mind-numbing Board matters arguably entertaining through the use of sports analogies and related references to sports.

Ms. Seiden led with an enormous amount of dedication. It was estimated at a previous meeting that a total of approximately 1800 person-hours have been worked by various people developing the capital projects proposals on which the Board reached consensus in May. I would venture to say that Ms. Seiden herself probably worked in the neighborhood of 1800 hours this past year as School Board President for the benefit of Scarsdale schools and our community. As a volunteer. Remarkable. And that was after she had worked many, many hours as Board Vice President during the 2012-2013 school year, and on the Board prior to that as well. You personified Non Sibi, Ms. Seiden, during your tenure as School Board President, and the Scarsdale School District community will always be in your debt. Kudos, and many thanks. "

The Board lamented the retirement of Lois Q. Rehm who served three roles in the Scarsdale School District. She was the Secretary to the Superintendant, the Secretary to the BOE and also the District Clerk. She has worked in Scarsdale for over 30 years. Many Scarsdale residents have only been aware of her presence, if at all, from seeing her at BOE meetings. However, she has had a huge impact on those who work with her. Dr. Hagerman expressed regret that he will not have the opportunity to work with her for much longer. Each Board member paid tribute to Ms. Rehm citing her dedication, vast institutional knowledge, generous spirit, sense of humor, and professionalism. She was described by so many as "critical" to the operation. Linda Purvis, Assistant Superintendent, said, "we all know that nobody is irreplaceable, but Lois is as close as it gets". Ms. Rehm's importance to the district over the years was also demonstrated by the fact that former BOE Presidents took the time to pay tribute to her at the meeting including Robert November, Jill Spieler, Bill Miller (speaking for himself and on behalf of Liz Guggenheimer) and Barbara Jaffee. Ms. Rehm was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Dr. Joan Weber, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Administrative Services, presented the personnel report covering among other items the appointments of Department Chairs, District Coordinators, Teacher-in-Charge positions as well as extracurricular assignments. There were also several new hires to the district. The new school year will welcome:

Carlos Bedoya as Social Studies teacher, Scarsdale High School. B.A., Political Science, Villanova University, M.A., Teaching Social Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University.

Caren Reinhardt as Speech and Language Pathologist, Greenacres. B.A., Linguistics, Stonybrook University, M.A., Communicative Disorders, College of Saint Rose.

Agetina Smajlaj as School Psychologist, Greenacres. B.S., Business Administration, College of Mount Saint Vincent, Ph.D., Psychology, St. John's University.

James Tully as Health teacher, Scarsdale High School. B.S., Physical Education, Adelphi University, M.S., Health, Brooklyn College.

Jennifer Kuo as Mandarin teacher (part-time), Scarsdale High School. M.A., Hunter College, Teaching of Chinese.

Also, Ann Marie Nee, who has been teaching Social Studies at Scarsdale High School, has been appointed as the Director of the Scarsdale Teachers Institute.

Dr. Weber announced the resignation of Scott Haberkorn, Vocal Music Teacher, after 12 years of service and the retirements of Diane Anda, Special Education Teacher, Greenacres after 19 years of service and Patricia Dempsey, Classroom Teacher, Quaker Ridge after 30 years of service.

Angela Manson, outgoing SHS PTA President and Quaker Ridge parent, spoke of the loss that will be felt at Quaker Ridge with the departure of Mr. Haberkorn and especially of Ms. Dempsey.

She said, "Scott Haberkorn's love of music is apparent and we've enjoyed many performances during his twelve years in the district from Broadway tunes to American folk themes to interpretive international melodies. He calmly conveys lessons in pitch, rhythm and rhyme. We'll miss him greatly."

About Ms. Dempsey she said, "Patty Dempsey is a brilliantly dedicated teacher who is passionate about her students. She's been a star at Quaker Ridge School for the past thirty years having returned to teach here after growing up in Edgewood. She invests herself fully in her career and many students, parents, and colleagues, feel that Patty's teaching methods are unparalleled. We'll miss her quiet smile and wish her all the best in new horizons."

I also received this statement about Ms. Dempsey from Quaker Ridge Parent, Anne Daniel:

"We felt lucky to have Ms. Dempsey for my daughter and then to have her again for my son was like hitting the jackpot. She made a huge impact on my children. She will be sorely missed at Quaker Ridge School."

Helen Bush, a writer for the Scarsdale Inquirer and former student of Ms. Anda, spoke of remembering Ms. Anda's 3rd grade class with fondness. She stated that it was with Ms. Anda's encouragement that she discovered her love of writing and ability to be creative.

This meeting also covered matters of regular business such as June 2014 district enrollment (4791 students, up by 44 students from the previous year), the acceptance of gifts, the agreement with Scarsdale-Edgemont Family Counseling for the Youth Outreach workers in the high school and middle school, the approval of a lease agreement for instructional computers and the approval of the District Safety Plan and the District Code of Conduct.

Future meetings for community members include July 22 at 10:30am to discuss facilities plans and the next Board of Education meeting on September 8 at 8:00pm

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Written by: Melissa Hellman

Published: 25 June 2014

Created: 25 June 2014

Last Updated: 25 June 2014

Hits: 8487

It was standing room only for the last Board of Education (BOE) meeting of the academic year on June 23. The community came out in full force to pay tribute to retiring Superintendant Dr. Michael McGill for whom this would be the last BOE meeting. There were also many thanks given to BOE members for their tireless work and commitment and many lauding Board President Suzanne Seiden for her leadership. Highlights of BOE work this year include the search for a new Superintendant resulting in the hiring of Dr. Thomas Hagerman, master facilities planning, beginning development of an overall strategic plan to be continued upon the arrival of Dr. Hagerman, and a review of the budget development process with a focus on community engagement and transparency. Two BOE members, Jonathan Lewis and Sunil Subbakrishna, ended their tenure with statements and recognition from colleagues and community members. There were also several notable retirements of long-term teachers and district staff. The facilities plan was discussed in detail with numerous statements of support from various community members and school representatives.

Of special note, Dr. McGill made known a very generous gift from the family of Tyler Madoff. Tyler was a Scarsdale High School student who died tragically over the summer of 2012. The Madoff family announced a $300,000 leadership gift to be used for the purchase of gym equipment that may be needed in an enlarged fitness center. His mother, Marianne Madoff was the Teacher in Charge at Heathcote School and is now a math teacher in Fountain House at Scarsdale Middle School. Dr. McGill said the Madoff family received tremendous support from the Scarsdale community in the aftermath of Tyler's passing and has chosen this 'fitting tribute" to express their gratitude.

Board President Suzanne Seiden announced a special exception bill by the New York State Legislature that will allow Scarsdale to continue to maintain its health insurance reserve. The district's self-insurance health plan saved it a large amount of money. The district had previously been informed by its auditor that the reserve associated with this plan was no longer legal in a single self-insured school district. This new bill will allow Scarsdale to maintain its health insurance reserve. Seiden issued special thanks to State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and Susie Rush for helping to make this happen. (See more on the new legislation here.)

Dr. McGill gave a heartfelt departure speech that he has since distributed in an email to the Scarsdale community. In his speech, he referenced still timely remarks made by his predecessor, Tom Sobol, many years ago. He used these remarks to discuss his own views on the need to embrace change and eschew uniformity, the importance of civility, thinking globally and the many challenges faced by those serving on the BOE in uncertain financial times. He emphasized the role of the BOE as "stewards and champions" of great education and said it has been a privilege to serve this "extraordinary" community. He received a standing ovation. (Read his remarks here.)

Community members paid tribute to Dr. McGill. Susie Rush spoke eloquently of his leadership and ended her statement with "Mike, you are in a class without peer." (see her complete remarks here.)

Art Rublin and Diane Greenwald from The Coalition for Scarsdale Schools announced sponsorship of a new annual award in Dr. McGill's honor to be presented to a deserving high school senior who is making a contribution as a global citizen. (See the announcement here.)

Departing BOE members reflected on their service over the last three years. Sunil Subbakrishna said some the highlights of his service included exchanging perspectives with a wide group of people on educational issues and expanding his Scarsdale network. He stated he now has an even greater appreciation for how remarkable Scarsdale is as a community. He enjoyed the opportunity to hear about students' work and to meet with high school students. He also enjoyed attending the Distinguished Alumni Awards. He graciously offered his good wishes and support to incoming BOE members Scott Silberfein and Chris Morin and stated that he was impressed by the very deep talent pool in the Scarsdale community as exemplified by these two new members.

Jonathan Lewis spoke next stating that it was a privilege and honor to serve the community as a BOE member. He made a strong plea for the district to continue to support research and development efforts that ultimately lead to innovations in curriculum. He championed the Scarsdale Teachers Institute (STI), the Center for Innovation and the summer stipends that allow teachers to work on special projects. He proposed giving principals greater flexibility to reallocate funds as they see fit.

Art Rublin of the Coalition for Scarsdale Schools thanked both Lewis and Subbakrishna for their service to the community, saying:

"Mr. Lewis, I have always been impressed by the thought you've given to the matters that have come before the Board during your service. I will always remember that in the Spring of your election and before your installation, you sat in the cheap seats with the rest of us community members and listened carefully to the Board meetings to be up to speed both on the Board and Dr. McGill's discourse and the community's feedback. Speaking of the community, I've always appreciated your recognition of the value of community engagement and input. While we didn't always agree on the matters that came before you, I knew that you always, always gave me the courtesy of your attention and reflection. I should also say that I have appreciated your expressions of support and concern regarding the tax cap, and I appreciate your support for an override budget last year. I also appreciate that you will remain very much engaged in support of local control of public education in New York state and public education generally.

Mr. Subbakrishna, thank you for the three years you devoted to service on the School Board. You brought a questioning mind but at the same time always an even temperament. Like Mr. Lewis, you also voted in support of a Budget last year that would have overridden the tax cap, demonstrating your support for local control. As with Mr. Lewis, we didn't always agree on issues, and approaches to process, but I appreciated your graciousness always. Your efforts have contributed to the strength of our District, Mr. Subbakrishna."

Speaking for the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale, Susie Rush said the following about Jonathan Lewis and Sunil Subbakirshna:

"Jonathan: I don't know whether it was your previous experience on the Great Neck Board of Education as a student delegate or your business credentials and background as an author in understanding policy decision making that enabled you to hit the ground running when you joined the Board but we are glad you brought it all with you. With a gentlemanly manner, always polite and respectful, you are generous with your praise of those who present to the board as well as your colleagues, raising thoughtful questions and are genuinely interested in hearing others' views and in understanding a person's position on or off the board. Although you are ever mindful of the current economic climate, and have sought ways to find cost savings to the district, you are impassioned by the opportunity to embrace liberal arts education in the 21st century, notably through the Center for Innovation -- its potential impact across grades and disciplines and its importance as a bridge to the Scarsdale Education for Tomorrow. Yet you recognize the constraints state policies impose on the district in realizing our aspirations and have kept us informed and advocated for relief at the regional and state levels. Thank you. We hope that you will enjoy some nights home and Hannah will not be cursing you for being around."

"Sunil: You had the massive task of managing the development of the strategic plan, including honing the process and coordinating community volunteers to run focus groups and synthesize the findings. A plan for the plan, you have provided the critical foundation for the new superintendent to complete long-range planning for the district. You are a stalwart defender of process and your no-nonsense, get-to-the-facts approach has kept discussions focused. You ask the tough questions and listen carefully, always with an eye on maximizing value and efficiency and understanding the impact to the budget. We have benefited from your knowledge of technology and finance as you have reminded us that research and development is separate from the routine operation of the schools and should not be neglected. You have encouraged us to see how we can use technology to think about curriculum in different ways and recognized the remarkable possibilities the Center for Innovation presents to us generally as a place to test ideas or specifically as a means to tailor instruction to smaller groups of students. In your analyses of issues, you have sought consistently to find a balance -- striving to provide a high quality education and asking people to pay for it. Thank you."

"While the possibility of a second term for both of you is a loss to all of us, we understand professional reasons make it unfeasible for you to remain on the board. We wish you both well and hope to benefit from your involvement in the community in any other ways you can squeeze in. I happen to know just the organization for you if you have the time."

Rush also thanks Board President Suzanne Seiden for her leadership this year, saying, "I would also like to recognize Suzanne Seiden for her extraordinary service as president of the Board of Education. This past year the Board has taken on a number of weighty tasks, likely more in a single year than any Board has in recent memory. Having listened to the community with last year's budget defeat, Suzanne led the Board and engaged the community in the development of a strategic plan as well as a master facilities plan working towards a bond issue this fall, and strived to improve the budget process. All of this on top of undertaking a search for a successor to our retiring superintendent of 16 years. Yet throughout these challenging months, she was steadfast in her commitment to communicate clearly and repeatedly to enable the public to stay informed. My guess is we have Suzanne to thank for giving the public greater access to board meetings by posting presentations as well as the meetings themselves online. Her unlimited patience, tireless dedication, calm demeanor, disarming sense of humor interjected at the most appropriate times – and I can't forget the chocolate chip cookies, and absolute fearlessness have served the community well. We are fortunate that she will continue to serve as a member of the Board."

About the two departing Board members, Robert Berg said, "I am the current President of the Scarsdale Forum. The Scarsdale Forum has already honored Sunil and Jonathan at its recent general meeting. But the Forum again wants to express in this public meeting its sincere thanks to both Jonathan and Sunil for their tireless service to the community over the past three years. What makes Scarsdale a unique and wonderful community is the selfless spirit of volunteerism that Sunil and Jonathan best exemplify. Very few positions in the community are as time-consuming, challenging, and important as being a Trustee on the Scarsdale Board of Education. The responsibilities of Board service are enormous. The Board must balance the need to preserve and improve our outstanding public school system, while recognizing the economic constraints imposed on a system with a $150 million annual operating budget that is nearly completely funded each year by just under 6,000 property owners, more than 1/2 of whom have no children in the school system. For several decades, Scarsdale school boards have almost reflexively passed budgets substantially in excess of inflation and the rate of growth in student enrollment, and small numbers of voters came out and passed those budgets. As a consequence, Scarsdale property owners face one of the highest property tax burdens in the entire country. The Great Recession changed the status quo. Jonathan, you and Sunil had the misfortune to serve your three years on the Board during these challenging times. But with your formidable intelligence, financial acumen, great insights, and your inquiring minds, you helped the Board and the community navigate these perilous waters. You willingly and exhaustively engaged community members covering a wide spectrum of strongly-held views. After the historic defeat of the first budget last year, you listened to the community, pressed for transparency, and helped fashion a second budget that garnered overwhelming community support. You both helped select our new Superintendent after an exhaustive nationwide search. Jonathan, you travelled all over the State, representing the community at State Association of School Board meetings, and you have been a strong and articulate supporter of the Center for Innovation and professional development. Sunil, you have provided your extraordinary strategic and financial skills on a strategic plan and the facilities plan. The Forum applauds you both for your dedicated service. On a personal note, Jonathan and Sunil, I greatly respect all your hard work, your wisdom, and the opportunity to get to know you better and to call you friends. Thank you.

Joan Weber took over the next portion of the meeting to cover various personnel issues and some very notable teacher retirements namely Stephanie Harley, classroom teacher from Heathcote after 30 years of service, Patricia Marwell, Librarian at Quaker Ridge with 31 years of service, and Dr. Constance Shelengian, Scarsdale Middle School music teacher and Department Chair. Also, Susan Taylor is retiring as the Director of STI after 12 years.

The facilities planning discussion portion of the meeting included a brief student presentation from Ms. Lisa Yokana's high school Architecture II class. Rising senior Sam Cooper and rising Junior Christine Fink were charged with developing a design for furniture for the proposed Student Learning Commons area of the high school. In order to develop the design, they solicited input from students, teachers and administrators about how each saw the space being used. The students also came up with a working definition of the term "Learning Commons" to mean a flexible space for group collaboration, socializing and eating. They described the space as something in between the library (quiet study space, best suited for individuals) and a cafeteria (noisy, impossible to get work done in groups). They presented a booth-style seating concept, with comfortable cushion seats, storage area for backpacks and a table with curved edges to define individual places at the table. It was an impressive demonstration of design skills as well as a great example of student engagement in the facilities planning process.

High School Student Matthew Mandel made a statement of support for the facilities plan at the high school. He was a member of the High School Planning Facilities Committee as well as the District Facilities Steering Committee. He commented that the Learning Commons will solve overcrowding issues in the cafeteria as well as the library, and described the need for a renovated fitness center and excitement about the maker space. His entire statement appears at the end of this article.

Art Rublin, Chairman of the Coalition for Scarsdale Schools, presented a detailed statement of support for the entire facilities plan. He said "On behalf of CSS I am speaking to express support for the capital projects priorities on which you as a Board reached consensus last month. We compliment the Board and Administration on a robust and transparent decision making process, including the establishment of the Master Plan Steering Committee. The amount of time and effort that went into the culling of the projects is truly remarkable." His entire statement appears at the end of this article.

Diane Greenwald and Jeffrey Osterman presented a report from The District Facilities Steering Committee. The Committee is self-described as comprised of "diverse parts of the Scarsdale community. We are younger and older residents from different neighborhoods, people with children in school and people without. We are teachers and we are students. What we share is a common interest in preserving and improving our excellent schools". The report details their mission, scope and process for reviewing the facilities proposals. They looked at each proposed project in detail and worked closely with the architects. They reviewed costs associated with projects and asked for revisions. Their report concludes: "After many hours of study and listening, we've reached consensus that there is sound justification for embarking on a capital construction program. The projects discussed have educational merit, and the Board of Education is justified in considering them for funding."

There were numerous statements of support from across the schools detailing the overall need for improvements and the positive impact these improvements will have on learning.

A partial list of speakers who made statements of support include Kim Schneider, Heathcote School PTA President, Pam Rubin, PT Council President, Steven Scharf, Scarsdale Middle School Popham 8 Social Studies Teacher, Jennifer Rossano, Scarsdale Middle School PTA Director of Programming, Kate Conlan, Edgewood PTA President and Linda Doucette-Ashman, Scarsdale High School PTA Vice President.

Many matters of regular business with regard to personnel, budget, gifts, and additional tributes to departing BOE members and retiring staff that could not be covered in this summary were presented and discussed during the marathon four-hour meeting.

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Matthew Mandel's complete remarks:
I would like to speak tonight about the proposed renovations to the high school. Before discussing the actual projects, I will quickly reflect on my time as a member of the various committees associated with the process. I participated on both the high school level committee and the district wide one. Both were similar in the deliberate and critical way they went about the task at hand. At no point along the way did we feel like we were meant to blindly sell a set of plans. Because each member of the committee represented a group that would experience the additions in a unique way, our plans were constantly evolving. Thankfully, the architects we worked with patiently tried to make sense of our ever-changing preferences and came back with great plans.
This combined sense of openness and carefulness was also seen on the district wide level. The incredible diversity of the committee meant no issue was left untouched. Although this diversity lent itself to long meetings, which, by the way, do not mix well with a Scarsdale High school workload, I think the diversity of the group and the conversations we had were important in making sure that the proposal we created truly represented everyone's best interest and did so in an effective manner.
The first project, the Learning Commons, is extremely exciting. The Learning Commons will transform the culture of the school and create a new focus for student activity. Although traditionally thought of as a space for quiet, solitary work, the library is currently used for socializing, eating, and large group projects. The Learning Commons would represent such a desired more recreational space as a result of its combination of food service, breakout spaces and collaborative areas for either group work or lunch and leave the library as a quiet space. These features would have the added benefit of taking pressure off of an already crowded and underserved lunchroom. After the renovation, students will never have to forego eating lunch because the cafeteria ran out of food.

A necessary implication of developing the Learning Commons will be the relocation of the fitness center. Such a relocation is also important because of the current state of our fitness center. One student at an open discussion on the renovations noted that the current fitness center is "crowded, antiquated, and... intimidating." Unlike our current center, the new one will include cardio machines and safe equipment, effectively brining our fitness center up to par with the other facilities in our great school.

The last project goes by many names. Some call it a D-lab, others a maker space and still others a design space. The variable nature of its name is symbolic of the spirit of the project – students both need and currently lack an area where they are free to experiment, create and innovate. The plans for the D-lab are very flexibility oriented so as to inspire creativity and be able to stay on the frontiers of design-based education.
From a student's perspective, each of these projects has tremendous merit. Academics and student life will be improved upon for the time being and their future will be opened to greater possibilities we couldn't begin to imagine.

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Statement by Art Rublin, Chair of the Coalition for Scarsdale Schools
On behalf of CSS I am speaking to express support for the capital projects priorities on which you as a Board reached consensus last month.

We compliment the Board and Administration on a robust and transparent decision making process, including the establishment of the Master Plan Steering Committee, which I see we will be hearing from at tonight's meeting, and building committees at the various schools. The amount of time and effort that went into the culling of the projects is truly remarkable.

The merits of each capital project on which the Board reached consensus seem clear:

1) First, the need for district technology infrastructure upgrade is clear. Mr. Crisci has indicated that as an example, upgrading the network switches for the District's technology infrastructure is crucial to the continued successful functioning of the District. Mr. Crisci notes that technology increasingly provides the foundation of Scarsdale's instructional program.

2) Second, the proposal to replace the flat roof on the older section of the Quaker Ridge School appears very sound. Whereas this kind of rubberized roof had a useful life of around 10 to 15 years when it was installed in approximately 1992, it is now 21 years old. Not surprisingly, leaking has been identified as a continuing problem.

3) Third, the proposal to renovate the Edgewood School Library and relocate the Edgewood office is compelling. We see that the Edgewood planning team and the Administration and School Board agree that the Edgewood library, which is the smallest of the all of the Scarsdale Public Schools libraries, is inadequate for appropriately serving Edgewood students' current and future needs. For example, because the library is relatively small, most of the bookcases are more than six feet high, making them inaccessible to elementary school students. The primary reasons for relocation of the office are important ones: improvement to security for the school, and use of the existing office space as flexible small group space for speech, Learning Resource Center Support, and ESL.

4) Fourth, the value of a multipurpose room at Heathcote is quite apparent. The District has noted that inadequate space for lunch has necessitated the use of the gym for overflow, which means the gym has not been available for physical education classes for 10 periods each week. It has also been noted that the multipurpose room will be valuable for the delivery of occupational and physical therapy services, as well as large group instruction such as band, orchestra and collaborative projects.

5) Fifth, at the Middle School, a new orchestra practice space would be an important addition. It seems clear that the stage is not an appropriate place for orchestra – practice on the stage inhibits proper use of the auditorium, and there is not space for safe storage of valuable instruments.

6) Sixth, at the High School, a new Learning Commons and a fitness center relocation would address a host of problems, including 1) inadequate food service, library and lunchroom capacity; 2) an absence of flexible space to support group study; and 3) the need to move Scarsdale forward with programs in applied science, technology, arts and mathematics.

We hope the School Board will continue to support these priorities.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 16 June 2014

Created: 16 June 2014

Last Updated: 18 June 2014

Hits: 9832

Before Michael McGill became a superintendent he was an English teacher, and he used his rhetorical powers to make students again of the few hundred attendees at his farewell dinner when he quoted Mark Twain's "Begum of Bengal" speech, originally delivered in Liverpool in 1907. It was an apt tale about a small ship in the sea off New England, delivered to a crowd that was sitting in a room in Rye on the shore of the Long Island Sound. Though many were flummoxed by the meaning of the tale and vowed to rush home and "Google" it, his delivery was poetic – and the story echoed his own state of mind – likening himself to a small cargo boat, The Mary Ann, who meets the grand "Begum of Bengal" out of Canton. "

Referring to the Mary Anne, the story goes, "Then I am humble then I am properly meek, and for that little time I am only the Mary Ann' -- fourteen hours out, and cargoed with vegetables and tin-ware: but all the other twenty-three my self-satisfaction rides high, and I am the stately Indianian, plowing the great seas under a cloud of sail, and laden with a rich freightage of the kindest words that were ever spoken to a wandering alien, I think; my twenty-six crowded and fortunate days multiplied by five; and I am the Begum of Bengal, a hundred and twenty-three days out from Canton. Homeward bound!"

Delivering the story, McGill held the roomful of parents, PTA and PTC leaders, faculty, STA leadership, employees, administrators, legislators and scores of members of the current and former Board of Education spellbound. He appeared to be conveying his mixture of humility and appreciation of all the kind words he had heard that night. Confirming the sentiments that he was a difficult man to really know – he left the room wondering about the deeper meaning underlying "The Begum of Bengal."

The dinner, held on Thursday night June 12 at the Shenorock Shore Club included toasts, roasts, film, music and comedy to mark McGill's sixteen years in Scarsdale and to wish him well in his next life phase. Why a venue in Rye when there are so many places in Scarsdale? According to event organizers they selected Shenorock to reflect Mike's love of the outdoors -- and the lofty room overlooking the Sound did provide a beautiful setting for the dinner and the superintendent's farewell speech that centered on the seafaring tale.

The masters of the ceremony were Scarsdale Mayor Robert Steves, who formerly served as President and as a member of the Scarsdale Board of Education, and Florie Wachtenheim, also a former Board President and now a founder of the Scarsdale Schools Education Foundation. The tributes offered a highly entertaining show of Mike's life and 16 years of Scarsdale history, where everything old is new again. In film clips from Mike's introductory Board meeting, we learned that shortly after he arrived, the district voted on a bond for school construction that resulted in the large addition to Scarsdale Middle School. Now, as he departs, the district is again poised to ask voters to approve a bond to modernize Scarsdale High School and construct additions to Edgewood and Heathcote elementary schools..." Plus ca change Plus c'est la même chose."

But before celebrating the man of the hour, Wachtenheim turned to District Clerk Lois Rehm, who will also retire this year. Saying "Behind every good man is a woman," Wachtenheim credited Rehm with "moving it all along," and "wearing many hats," as she did everything from create the weekly board agendas to scheduling district meetings to running the budget elections. She was presented with a large bouquet of roses and a standing ovation of residents who wondered how the district would fare without her.

The SHS a cappella group For Good Measure sang and danced to "Come and Go With Me" and "All These Things I Have Done" and then the crowd was treated to a movie about Mike created by Technology Director Jerry Crisci and narrated by SHS Dean Gibbs. The film showed Mike playing baseball with the Chappaqua Little League, playing soccer and running track at Horace Greeley High School and then going on to Williams College where as a very handsome student he won a prize for "Clear Thinking," perhaps the earliest seed of his passion for the development of critical thinking skills as the basis for the "education for tomorrow."

At age 28 he became the superintendent of the Mt. Greylock Schools, went on to be headmaster at the Hopkins School and eventually became superintendent of the North Shore School District in Long Island, where he remained for 14 years. The film included tributes including one from former School Board member Jeff Blatt who said, Mike was "never satisfied with resting on his laurels. He was always looking for the next innovation." Susie Rush said, "He has a commitment to educational excellence and exemplary public education for every child in America. He challenged everyone to learn and grow."

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Pam Rubin, President of the PT Council recalled the groups monthly meetings with McGill who provided "support and compassion" and said Mike was "forward thinking, a true inspiration and a courageous leader." Former PT Council President Margaret Smith called these meetings "A master class with the best professor on campus." The PT Council announced a $35,000 gift to the Scarsdale Scholarship Fund in McGill's name and also presented him with a framed portrait of himself that included 1,000 pixilated images of his years in Scarsdale.

STA President Trudy Moses, also retiring this year, said she and Mike had a "profound impact on each other and the district," and that he led with cooperation and respect. She said that when he arrived 16 years ago he was challenged by the question of "How to move a great institution forward," and said he had "brilliantly succeeded." He pushed the faculty to "dare to know," and "to keep learning, and to question why." Her tribute was followed by a video of another wonderful a cappela performance – this one from the Scarsdale music teachers who sang "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" and ended up singing, "Retiring is not for you!"

SMS Principal Michael McDermott had the room in stiches saying that for McGill, the job of Superintendent was an "introvert's nightmare." Speaking of the fight against state mandates, McDermott said that McGill invited people from all over the world to visit the district but was unable "to get anyone to drive two hours south from Albany." In his retirement he urged McGill to "take up cooking, as vegetables don't talk back," to take up golf, where he could "look down at the ball, give it a name and whack it," and to "arise, go forth and conquer retirement."

Administrators Linda Purvis, Lynn Shain, Joan Weber and Jerry Crisci presented a hilarious spoof on all the acronyms that McGill attempted to vanquish, including the APPR which rates teachers based on their students test performance. They presented McGill with a leather bound copy of the Great Gatsby and a facsimile of Fitzgerald's first draft of the book that McGill taught to SHS students as a visiting "professor."

School Board President Suzanne Seiden thanked McGill on behalf of board members past and present and gave him a Raiders jacket inscribed with the number 16 for his tenure in Scarsdale. She said he taught us that "one person can make a difference," and that "when you stand still you are actually moving backwards." She credited McGill with attracting high quality teachers, for fighting state testing and teaching students to embrace the idea of, "Non Sibi," not for ourselves. She announced that McGill will be remembered for creating the Center for Innovation in Scarsdale with an annual symposium in his name.

Lois Rehm then led the group in singing a tailored version of "My Favorite Things" -- that became "Mike's Favorite Things."

Here are the words:

Talking with students and mentoring teachers
Critical thinking and cheering from bleachers
Great English novels all filled with Kings
These are a few of Mike's favorite things

Raspberry Snapple ... maroon colored vests
Advanced topic classes ... no teaching to tests
A non sibi motto that we can all sing
These are a few of Mike's favorite things

Kids in the garden ... and green is his dream
Rooting for Raiders ... and Williams, his teams,
Red Sox now wearing their World Series ring
These are a few of Mike's favorite things

(Chorus)
When the snow hits
When the press stings
When Mike's feeling sad
He simply remember his favorite things
And then he won't feel so bad.

Wachtenheim then read portions of McGill's letter to the district when he applied for the job seventeen years ago, joking that she "only read the parts of the letter she could understand." In the letter he said that "the challenge is to sustain and extend a successful district" and "to think outside the box." He vowed to "listen to the other voice, the opposition."

Then it was finally time for McGill to have the last word. He said, "I thought we would just plant a tree and I would be off. But now I am happy I came." He acknowledged the gifts and recalled the disappearance of a student when he was Superintendent of Mt. Greylock schools, saying "the social fabric is so fragile and so easily torn to threads. We must eke out what wisdom we can to knit up the torn fabric of the world, even as it unravels."

He told everyone that was grateful for their affection and expressed his humble appreciation by recounting Mark Twain's speech about the Begun of Bengal.

"Many and many a year ago I read an anecdote in Dana's Two Years Before the Mast. A frivolous little self-important captain of a coasting-sloop in the dried-apple and kitchen-furniture trade was always hailing every vessel that came in sight, just to hear himself talk and air his small grandeurs. One day a majestic Indiaman came ploughing by, with course on course of canvas towering into the sky, her decks and yards swarming with sailors, with macaws and monkeys and all manner of strange and romantic creatures populating her rigging, and thereto her freightage of precious spices lading the breeze with gracious and mysterious odors of the Orient. Of course, the little coaster-captain hopped into the shrouds and squeaked a hail: Ship ahoy! What ship is that, and whence and whither?' In a deep and thunderous bass came the answer back, through a speaking-trumpet: The Begum of Bengal, a hundred and twenty-three days out from Canton -- homeward bound! What ship is that?' The little captain's vanity was all crushed out of him, and most humbly he squeaked back: Only the Mary Ann, fourteen hours out from Boston, bound for Kittery Point with nothing to speak of!' That eloquent word only' expressed the deeps of his stricken humbleness.

"And what is my case? During perhaps one hour in the twentyfour -- not more than that -- I stop and reflect. Then I am humble then I am properly meek, and for that little time I am only the Mary Ann' -- fourteen hours out, and cargoed with vegetables and tin-ware: but all the other twenty-three my self-satisfaction rides high, and I am the stately Indianian, plowing the great seas under a cloud of sail, and laden with a rich freightage of the kindest words that were ever spoken to a wandering alien, I think; my twenty-six crowded and fortunate days multiplied by five; and I am the Begum of Bengal, a hundred and twenty-three days out from Canton. Homeward bound!"

Many proclamations were issued in honor of Dr. McGill: Read two of these proclamations here:

Details

Written by: Melissa Hellman

Published: 11 June 2014

Created: 11 June 2014

Last Updated: 11 June 2014

Hits: 8850

It was Greenacres night at the Board of Education meeting on Monday June 9 when the board welcomed a new principal for Greenacres Elementary School, funded a feasibility study for architects to explore renovations or even replacing the school and indicated that funding would be available now for new playground equipment. The audience was filled with Greenacres parents who are eager for the board to address over-crowding at the school.

However, before the conversation turned to Greenacres, the board reviewed the status of the proposal for a District Master Facilities Plan to be financed by an $18 million bond offering that includes:

- District-wide technology infrastructure upgrade
- Partial roof replacement at Quaker Ridge School
- Library expansion and office relocation at Edgewood School
- New orchestra/multi-purpose room at Scarsdale Middle School
- New learning commons, maker space and fitness center relocation at Scarsdale High School

The above projects are proposed to address overcrowded lunchrooms and libraries, facilities improvements as well as the future educational needs of Scarsdale students. Details are available on line at the Board of Education website.

According to Board President Suzanne Seiden and Board Member Lee Maude, the board is currently in listening mode and actively seeking community input before making a final recommendation. They have already held community meetings and received valuable input and are currently addressing a list of questions submitted by the League of Women Voters. They offered to meet with community members and neighborhood associations to discuss the process, answer questions and receive recommendations and made it clear that community input is welcome.

The Board will make a preliminary approval recommendation at the June 23 meeting and continue to listen to comments and seek input over the summer before submitting a final recommendation in the fall.

Board Member Lee Maude stressed that they are "in listening mode, not selling mode" and addressed the criticisms of the plan expressed by Vivienne Braun and Rosanne Underweiser in a statement in the June 6 issue of the Scarsdale Inquirer where they call the plan an "exercise in grandiosity." They said the plan lacks "data, documentation, projections and educational rationales," and said, "the availability of financing is a weak rationale for spending millions." Asking for "a detailed assessment of needs, followed by careful analysis of solutions," they charged the board with, "imprudently putting the cart before the horse."

Maude gave a detailed recap of the planning process saying, "If you understand the process we have used you will have confidence in the plan." She said that a total of 1,800 man-hours had been spent analyzing the issue and that it was her belief that they have been "fairly thorough," calling their committees, Linda Purvis and lead architect Russ Davidson of KG&D "their experts." She then presented demographic data to support the plan, including enrollment numbers and square footage per student in each of the buildings where renovations are proposed. She said the plan addresses "deteriorating infrastructure and overcrowding," and cited Edgewood library which is too small to support the student population and the high school cafeteria where facilities are not adequate to serve the student population.

Amy Cooper, who served on the Facilities Steering Committee and the High School Building Level Committee, also defended the plan, saying, "I would not characterize any of the high school projects as frivolous, grand, or unnecessary." She told the group she was initially skeptical of the plans saying, "To put it in terms of Jerry McGuire, you did not "have me at hello." However, she is now convinced that these plans are a result of a team effort of concerned parties and will best serve the needs of the Scarsdale community. She asked community members to attend meetings, pose questions and get the facts about the proposed plans and encouraged the Board to continue to have an open process. Her statement is reprinted in its entirety with her permission below.

The discussion then turned to several items of interest for the Greenacres neighborhood. The first piece of news for Greenacres was the probationary appointment of Sharon Hill as Principal of Greenacres Elementary School effective August 1, 2014 through July 31, 2017.

Assistant Superintendent Joan Weber said that Ms. Hill was selected in an extensive search process. Hill has been Principal of PS 290, a highly regarded elementary school in Manhattan, for nine years. She is a literacy specialist who has worked with Teachers' College on their reading and writing programs. Ms. Hill's appointment was greeted with a round of applause. Board President Seiden added that it became clear through the entire search and review process and particularly the site visit to PS 290 that Ms. Hill had great relationships with parents, teachers and students. Seiden mentioned that she was impressed Ms. Hill knew all the first names of the over 600 students at PS 290. The introduction of Ms. Hill at this meeting is available on video at the Board of Education VOD site.

Another piece of news for Greenacres was the surprise announcement that funding has been allocated to purchase new playground equipment for the elementary school. The motion to approve the funding will be on the June 23 meeting agenda. The Greenacres residents in attendance expressed thanks that this immediate need was being addressed.

As promised, the Board approved funding for a feasibility study of the Greenacres facility by KG&D Architects. The study will address whether the building can be renovated or should be rebuilt to meet the future needs of the Greenacres community.

There are numerous challenges facing the current facility:

-The school is currently over-crwoded.
-It is the oldest elementary school building, the square footage exceeds the maximum allowable amount for the size of the property
-The water table is high resulting in on going water problems in the basement
-The heating system is old and not easily repairable.
-Huntington Road's location (essentially in the middle of the school grounds) has been the source of safety discussions.

The study will take six months to complete and will begin over the summer.

During this portion of the meeting the issue of redistricting was also discussed. Two members of the Greenacres community, Jon Singer and Meredith Gantcher, as well as Fox Meadow resident Robert Berg and Board of Education member Sunil Subbakrishna asked whether a redistricting study should be completed in the same timeframe as the architectural study of the facility and also inquired about the process of conducting such a study. They contended that the cost and feasibility of redistricting should be measured against the results of the architectural study.

Board of Education member Lewis Leone Jr. commented that he felt comfortable moving ahead with the feasibility study at this time considering redistricting is "not the most palatable thing to occur" but also stated that it may need to be considered later if the scale of what was needed at Greenacres was too large and cost prohibitive. Board President Seiden concluded that since it's clear that the community is interested in knowing more it warrants further discussion. The board approved the architects' study and will discuss a redistricting study at a later meeting.

Commenting on the meeting, Amy Nadasdi Chairperson of the Greenacres Building Committee said, "I was very pleased with the response from the Board regarding our playground equipment, as well as the progress we are making on the feasibility study. I applaud both the Board and the district for responding to our requests and working with us to resolve some of our immediate needs in light of the unknown long-range plans for our school."

Also, discussed at the meeting were minor changes to the Code of Conduct and District Safety Plan, appointments of external auditors, a gift to the Alternative school from its senior class, and memoranda of agreements for the contracts of teachers' aides, custodians, secretaries, bus drivers and Principals.

Amy Cooper's Statement

I am Amy Cooper. I would like to comment briefly on the high school master facilities plan. By way of background, I have been serving on the high school building level committee, as well as the facilities steering committee. I attended all the committee meetings for these two committees -- way too many to count. I have also participated in the two site visits to neighboring schools to view their fitness centers. And I have attended the many presentations by the architects.

I must confess that I went into this process this fall a bit skeptical. To put it in terms of Jerry McGuire, you did not "have me at hello." For example, I didn't get what a maker space was. And I didn't understand why a new fitness center at the high school was necessary. However, I kept an open mind and was willing to become educated. Our high school facilities team met often with the architects. We had many detailed discussions about the high school needs, how best to solve current facilities problems, and how to be forward thinking for the future. For example, as a team, we decided that it would be best to create a 21st century approach to dealing with the overcrowded cafeteria -- to create a learning commons, where kids can eat and work at the same time. Another example of our committee work: Our teachers on our committee requested multiple meetings with the architects in an effort to have the plans for the D-Lab, aka maker space, revised to reflect the ability to satisfy a multitude of curriculum uses. Nothing was conceived over night. Nor decided by one person. A real team effort of teachers, students, parents, administrators, and the architects worked for many hours together to arrive at the high school proposals.

With respect to the new fitness center, our high school group spent a lot of our time on this. We discussed options a, b, c, d, and e, as alternatives to the space located under the gym. It is clear to me, after spending many hours understanding the facts, that the space under the gym is the best place to move the fitness center. Although the fitness center has to be relocated to make room for the I-lab, I should say that it deserves considerable merit as a project nonetheless. After I visited the John Jay HS fitness center, and spoke with their PE director, it is even more clear to me that our school would greatly benefit from a larger, more gender friendly center. Currently, we do not have much, if any, cardio equipment. The John Jay center has allowed for a real cultural change at their school. I think a new fitness center here will be a game changer as well. After school kids-- athletes and non-athletes, girls and boys, will all have a place to gather together and work out. And, as far as any question that we have not been provided with curriculum usage for a new fitness center, that is just plainly not true. The district web site contains a six-page document supporting a new fitness center and specifying 7 different specific curriculum uses for it. Our high school committee asked the hard questions. We pressed for more information, and we received it.

The district web site lays out an array of documents for anyone to review. I hope people take the opportunity to learn the facts and not just rely on rumors and inaccuracies. I would not characterize any of the high school projects as frivolous, grand, or unnecessary. They were not ill-conceived over night. Rather, after a detailed and long process, they were set forth, and revised, and then revised again. To call the process anything but thorough would be completely contrary to the facts. The proposed plans for the high school are not only necessary, they are important. They reflect the future of learning for our kids. I really hope the public takes the time to get educated on the facts. Look at the district web site. Attend the meetings that are being offered. Ask questions. My advice to the Board would be to continue to have an open process, and keep providing the community with facts and updates.

You can watch the meeting online here: