Schools

Details: Published: 01 May 2013; Created: 01 May 2013; Last Updated: 02 May 2013; Hits: 13021

polsky Four veteran staffers from Scarsdale High School announced their retirements at the April 22 Board of Education Meeting and were lauded by Joan Weber, SHS Principal Kenneth Bonamo and SHS PTA President Jaqui Walter. Marion Polsky, the school's solo Latin teacher was called a "passionate advocate for her subject who transformed an archaic language into an engaging and vital program." Principal Kenneth Bonamo said "she brought Latin to life," and "was a one person academic discipline for nearly 30 years at the high school." He cited her "infectious enthusiasm for her subject," and wished her well in her plans to "learn Hebrew, write a novel and work on a literary project."

Polsky said that her class has been "both a sanctuary and laboratory," and when asked what she will miss most when she leaves the school, she replied, "it's easy to say – my students." One of Polsky's three-year students, Phillip Brand commented on the impact she made as a teacher, saying "Dr. Polsky will not just leave the Scarsdale High School community with the reputation as an extremely qualified and knowledgable Latin teacher. Having built the Latin program at the school from the ground up, Dr. Polsky finds great enjoyment in fostering an appreciation for languages and in getting to know her students, some of whom have taken latin with her for several years, genuinely well. I feel so fortunate to have come to the high school while Dr. Polsky had still been teaching and had the opportunity to be in her class for 3 years. I feel as if she's a teacher, guidance counselor, and pretty cool lady, all in one. The school will really miss her."

Another thirty-year veteran, math teacher Lynn Potter will also retire this year. In addition to teaching, for the past three years Potter has served as chair of the SHS Math Department. Weber called Potter a "deliberate leader and colleague." Speaking of her experience here, Potter said, "the Scarsdale educational experience has literally been my life for more than three decades," and said her "rewarding career has extended to all aspects of my life." Principal Bonamo called Potter a "master teacher, superior administrator and a fantastic friend to the Scarsdale community." He said that Potter "inspires with energy, enthusiasm and skill," and that she is "recognized as a brilliant teacher." He also said that she was a "champion at innovative curriculum and integrating technology to enhance mathematics instruction."

As Ms. Potter fought back tears, her husband asked to make a few comments and told the group that he met Lynn "32 years ago in this very room where she and I were proctoring a math exam. We got to talking, we got married, and we raised her two kids who were then 6 and 8 years old." He said, "Of the 90 years I spent on earth she made the last 32 the best."

Speaking for the high school PTA, Jaqui Walter said, "The Scarsdale community is fortunate to have dynamic, engaged faculty. It is bittersweet to say goodbye. These teachers have had a profound impact on their students. They fostered a love of their subjects and genuinely cared about their students and supported them so that each could exceed." She said, "We are eternally grateful," and quoted Henry Adams who said, "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."

The retirements of Adrienne Meyer and Robert Caie were also announced that evening and below are remarks about all the retiring faculty from Principal Kenneth Bonamo. The resignation of Athletic Director Robert Siracuse was announced at the meeting. Siracuse came to SHS in September, 2011.

(From Principal Kenneth Bonamo)

Dr. Marion Polsky: It can be a challenge to bring Latin to life in a classroom, perhaps now more than ever. It is also a challenge to be a one-person academic discipline. Marion Polsky has met both challenges adroitly for nearly 30 years at the high school.

From 1981-1984, Dr. Polsky directed the "Latin Cornerstone Project" under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The purpose of the project was to introduce Latin to elementary-school students in diverse settings in New York City. Based on this work, Marion published a teaching series for elementary-school Latin, which is still going strong though two editions.

Marion has taken advantage of being the only Latin teacher by developing close relationships with her students, many of whom study with her for most of their high-school careers. They cite her infectious enthusiasm for her subject, her inspiration and engagement, and her energy and intelligence. Nearly all of them speak of the connections Marion makes between Latin and our modern life, and how Marion shares her vast knowledge of all aspects of ancient Rome with her students. One student said, "Although this class has been quite academically challenging, it has taught me skills far beyond the realm of Latin. I will miss having a class that always feels like home."

When I met Marion for the first time last spring, her passion and dedication were instantly clear. After some initial pleasantries, Marion set about ensuring that I fully understood the importance of the Latin program, the fact that she was personally responsible for student recruitment and retention, and her overall concern for the program. I think I was able to convince her that as a former language teacher myself, I did in fact value the program and would ensure it remained vibrant under my watch. I must admit tonight that that task becomes a little bit harder with Marion's departure.

When Sylvie Corten, the chair of the World Languages department, asked Marion what she will miss most about Scarsdale, she said, "It's easy to say...my students. The classroom has been both a sanctuary and a laboratory for me. The creativity and enthusiasm of the students have made me a better linguist and a better teacher, without question." Marion shared the joy of celebrating weddings, childbirths, and graduations with her former students.

A true scholar, Marion plans to learn Biblical Hebrew, writing a coming-of-age novel with a mythological theme, and working on a literacy project in New York City. We wish her well in these endeavors, and hope that the joy of teaching stays with her throughout. We congratulate Dr. Marion Polsky.

Lynn Potter is a master teacher, superior administrator, and a fantastic friend to the Scarsdale High School community. For more than 30 years, she has been an inspiration to her students and colleagues on so many levels. Lynn is as adept in teaching elementary and skills level mathematics as she is at teaching abstract concepts in the upper level math courses.

Lynn has been a stupendous mathematics teacher and a key member of the Scarsdale High School math department. At every level, she inspires students with her energy, enthusiasm, and teaching skill. She has served as both an official and unofficial mentor to so many of her colleagues throughout her career. Lynn is recognized by her students as a brilliant mathematics teacher, and they equally appreciate Lynn's gentle demeanor and genuine caring. Lynn's colleagues are always in awe of her creative lessons and innovative methods to motivate difficult topics, and they are especially impressed with the manner in which she goes out of her way to share her ideas. They are, and we are, inspired by her relentless enthusiasm.

Lynn inspires her students in her teaching and by creating a welcoming environment, including Music Fridays and the many sayings hanging in her classroom. She also remains on top of current trends in her profession, traveling to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics many times—just this month, in fact—to get materials and ideas not only for herself but for her colleagues as well. When the need arose for an interim math chair, Lynn agreed to take over the reins because of her willingness to "take one for the team." This was deeply appreciated by the department, and Lynn's leadership took the department to new heights. Lynn has been a champion of innovative curriculum revisions and a strong proponent of incorporating technology to enhance mathematics instruction. She developed STI courses which were embraced by nearly all members of both the high school and middle school Math departments. The communication among the math faculty and the exchange of ideas that takes place at these workshops has been tremendous, and has been the impetus for many positive changes in our curriculum and teaching methods. Lynn has established a deep and genuine feeling of family within the math department, and she has become its revered matriarch. A tribute to Lynn's talent, dedication, and administrative style is that parents, students, and teachers all see Lynn as their personal advocate.

On a personal note, Lynn has helped me from the start in my first year as principal of the high school, offering advice and sharing her astute observations. I am so grateful that Lynn was in my corner this year, and I wish we had more time together.

Lynn Potter has served the Scarsdale school community both as a teacher and as department chair with distinction. Although her daily presence will be greatly missed, the impact she has left on our math department culture will be ever-present.

We wish Lynn many years of health and happiness in her retirement.

Adrienne Meyer: In her time here, Adrienne Meyer has taught hundreds of students, directed 11 musicals and 11 straight plays, produced 11 acting class Revues, and mentored approximately 40 young student directors. Some of those individuals have gone on to receive a BFA or MFA in theater, performed and directed with touring companies, off-off Broadway, off Broadway, as well as on the Great White Way.

Adrienne possesses teaching and nurturing skills that has benefitted every student in her classes. She has the ability to pull out the inner actor in even the more reserved adolescent. She can coax the shy individual to express themselves in creative and new ways. She has the demeanor to encourage, support, and develop communicative skills in ways that only acting and theater can. It is astounding to see a student actor respond to Adrienne's question about their character and to follow with, "Now how are you going to show that to the audience?" This is an interchange that exists only in the real time art of drama. The growth that occurs in that instant is extraordinary to observe, and can only happen at the hands of a theatrical artist like Adrienne.

She allows her students to put themselves into their roles. She has the innate ability to lead without telling, and to guide a youngster without dictating. That is truly the art of teaching. When I was in Adrienne's classroom earlier this year, I was in awe of her ability to effortlessly draw out emotions and anecdotes from her students in getting them to explore characters. To be candid, a few of the stories that the students shared were uncomfortable in that they revealed rather unpleasant emotions. Where others may have reacted with shock or otherwise discouraged such revelations, Adrienne's manner with the students made them feel at ease. She used the information shared to help the students learn—about acting and about themselves.

We wish Adrienne only the best in her future endeavors, and know that she can now spend more time on her true passion—her children and grandchildren. They have shared her with us long enough and we need to let her go so they can have her back.

Bob Caie: Bob has been a member of the Scarsdale faculty since 1973, and in those 40 years of service he has worked in many capacities and served thousands of students. Bob joined the business department as a teacher and subsequently served as its chairperson. Bob's desire to be a life-long learner is evident, as the business department changed and eventually disappeared, Bob went back to school to get a Masters in Special Education in order to serve students with disabilities. This would be his third certification and second Masters. Since 1993 Bob has worked in the LRC helping students with content and study skills. He has worked with students with learning and emotional disabilities as well as Autism spectrum disorders. To each he has brought patience, love, encouragement and a belief that they could succeed. There isn't a day that goes by in the LRC where we don't hear Bob encouraging, cajoling or intimidating a student to reach his or her potential. All of his students know that he is tough, but each one also knows he believes in their ability to succeed, and no matter what he will be there for them day in and day out.

Details: Published: 22 April 2013; Created: 22 April 2013; Last Updated: 22 April 2013; Hits: 8623

privacy The Scarsdale PT Council has sent out a district-wide email to parents to alert them that their children's personal data may soon be shared without their consent. They are urging parents to email the NYS Board of Regents, who is meeting with vendor inBloom, Inc. today, Monday April 22, to discuss the plans to share data.

According to reports in Reuters and the NY Daily News, New York State has already "spent $50 million in federal grants to partner with inBloom Inc. and finalized its agreement in October to share data with the fledgling company." New York State is one of nine pilot states that have agreed to provide data to inBloom Inc. who will partner with other vendors. These vendors will mine the database to create personalized learning tools, tracking software, educational games, and custom products for students, lesson plans for teachers, and progress reports for principals. One of these companies is eScholar who creates software allows students, parents and teachers to set individual goals for students and track their progress throughout their educational career. Check out their video here.

inBloom Inc. was founded as a non-profit and received $100 million in funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation and others. They have hired Wireless Generation – a company owned by News Corp -- to build the data infrastructure. Gates says technology can be used to collect and analyze data from schools and that big data can help "save" troubled schools. The goal was to build a "set of shared technology services" that states and districts can use "to connect student data and instructional materials" and integrate them effectively.

Though the goals of the new enterprise may be well-intentioned, parents are wary about releasing their children's personal data. If approved, the data could include "personally identifiable information, including student names, addresses, emails, photos, grades, test scores, detailed disciplinary, health and attendance records, race and ethnicity, and economic and disability status." inBloom, Inc. claims that they will not allow third parties to access the data unless "it is authorized by a school district or state educational agency to support a local priority." But who knows; once it's out there, there is the potential that everything about a student's performance could eventually be shared with college admission's committees, future employers and beyond.

Furthermore there are security risks. According to their website, inBloom, Inc. will store the data in the Cloud and "strive to keep it secure, ... however, inBloom, Inc cannot guarantee the security of the information stored in inBloom or that the information will not be intercepted when it is being transmitted.

Commenting on the proposed use of student data, Superintendent of Scarsdale Schools Michael McGill said, "Most of us only learned about this proposal over the weekend, so I can't say much about it in specific terms. What I can say is that I've had trouble with the State Education Department's practice of warehousing huge amounts of individually-identifiable student information in its computers; it's not necessary for policy-making. So I obviously have even more difficulty with the idea of sharing that kind of information with third parties. Government and for-profit education businesses are becoming ever more inextricably inter-connected. This is a development that merits public concern and close public scrutiny."

Scarsdale parents are not the only ones to object to the data sharing. After an outcry from parents, Louisiana State Superintendent John White announced that he was recalling all confidential student data from inBloom. In Massachusetts, the Massachusetts ACLU, the Massachusetts state PTA, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Class Size Matters, and others — have expressed their concerns about the project, In New York City and Brooklyn Heights parents groups also appealed to parents to email the NYS regents to urge them not to share the data. The US Department of Education is being sued by the Electronic Privacy Information Center for "promoting regulations that are alleged to undercut student privacy and parental consent. The rules allow third parties, including private companies and foundations promoting school reform, to get access to private student information." However the U.S. Department of Education contends that the data will "will facilitate States' ability to evaluate education programs, to build upon what works and discard what does not, to increase accountability and transparency, and to contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in education."

The leadership of the Scarsdale PT Council is appealing to parents to get involved. They have circulated the text of an email that they are asking parents to send to the Board of Regents. It says, "I urge you to follow Louisiana's lead and pull our student data out of this risky project immediately. Do New York children deserve less privacy than children in Louisiana? If the data leaks out or is used inappropriately by vendors, it could damage a student's prospects for his or her life....If you do not decide to withdraw all the state's data, I ask that you at least require parental consent, so that I as well as other parents can decide for ourselves if we would like our children's most sensitive information shared with inBloom and other corporations."

Comments are welcome below:

Details: Published: 18 April 2013; Created: 18 April 2013; Last Updated: 25 April 2013; Hits: 4687

shsberke1 On Monday night 4/15, the Scarsdale Board of Education re-convened for its penultimate meeting on the 2013-2014 budget before the vote on May 21. The meeting continued conversations from the April 8 Budget Forum on topics ranging from library staffing to the Wellness Center, undesignated reserves and finally to decreasing the tax levy.

The Board began with a discussion of staffing at the high school library where the administration had proposed reducing the staff to one librarian through attrition. Due to the retirement of two of the district's librarians, the Board has been debating the merits and expenses of adding library aides versus trained librarians. However, the community expressed concern about the cut and the Board asked Superintendent McGill to look into how another librarian could be hired. He agreed to reconsider staffing to see if a second librarian could be fit into the budget.

One of the most controversial parts of the budget has been the construction of a new Wellness Center, which was first proposed seven years ago. The Wellness Center would replace the current fitness center, providing a larger, more open space for students to exercise. The Board was faced with three options:

Move forward with the project by providing additional funding of $325,000 from the capitol budget
Postpone the construction of a Wellness Center, possibly including it in a larger facilities plan that would include renovation of the auto shop
Abandon the idea and use the money for other purposes.

Although there has been widespread agreement that the Wellness Center would play a positive role in the high school, the tradeoffs have been questioned. Because of four years of austerity in the school budget due to the recession, the district has fallen behind on improvements to existing facilities. Assistant Superintendent Linda Purvis was able to provide a list of 9 or 10 projects that could be completed in lieu of the Wellness Center (or as part of a bond offering) including a renovated science lab in the high school, new seating in the high school auditorium and a new Fox Meadow playground.

After hours of debate over the course of multiple meetings, Board President Liz Guggenheimer called for a vote on the Wellness Center. Guggenheimer expressed concerns that the plans were not fully developed and that the Center should be implemented as part of a larger project. Supporters, however, concluded that the Center was long overdue and agreed with Purvis that "the community has told us twice that they have given us the funds to build a fitness center." Ultimately, the Board voted 5-2 to go ahead with the project with Guggenheimer, Leone, Lewis, Seiden and Spieler in favor of the renovation of the space underneath the gym to accommodate a new fitness center. Recognizing that the Wellness Center is still misunderstood by much of the community, Board Member Jonathan Lewis and Superintendent Michael McGill highlighted the importance of communicating the Board's vision to the public before the May 21 vote. If all goes as planned, the Wellness Center should be completed in April 2014.

The third topic on the board's agenda was a discussion of $5.1 million in undesignated reserves allocated for the proposed 2013-14 budget. These funds are set aside to shield the district against unexpected expense such as building repairs and by NYS law cannot exceed 4% of the budget. The Board's long-term goal has been to decrease the district's reliance on reserves and the $5.1 million figure was a sharp decrease from $6.6 million level from last year and is below the 4% requirement. Still, Board Members seemed frustrated with the high level of reserves, while the administration countered that further reductions would only make the budget larger for the following year as these funds are customarily used to fund the subsequent year's budget. As of the end of meeting, it was decided that reserve levels will be maintained at the figures in the proposed budget.

The tax levy increase now stands at 4.15% for the 2013-2014 school budget, a number that Board Members expressed reluctance to accept, and asked the administration go back and look for more cuts. Their goal is to bring the levy increase below 4%, which would require an additional $300,000 in cuts. Board members seemed to agree that they should be able to hit this figure. Superintendent McGill, however, contested the Board's optimism, arguing that the administration had already looked many times for cuts and that cutting $300,000 from the budget would not be a trivial matter. Still, he agreed to look again.

Guggenheimer concluded the meeting by listing the budget's successes, including preserving elementary class sizes, enhancing the technology program by adding staff, shifting staffing between the high school and middle school and appropriating funds to the Wellness Center. The final Board meeting on the budget will be held Monday, April 22.

This article was written by SHS Senior Brian Solender

Details: Published: 10 April 2013; Created: 10 April 2013; Last Updated: 10 April 2013; Hits: 5334

schoolboard2 The Board of Education got some good news on Monday night when they were told that they had an additional $965,000 to play with in the 2013-2014 budget. The biggest windfall came in the form of lower than expected mandated contributions to the teacher retirement system and employee retirement system, for a savings of $765,000. In addition, Scarsdale will be receiving an additional $100,000 in state aid, and the district will also have a surplus of $100,000 in the oil and gas budget line.

The meeting began with Board of Education President Liz Guggenheimer welcoming everyone and reiterating that the BOE was "seeking input from the community...we appreciate a wide range of views." And input was given, as public comment went on for approximately one hour. The high school athletic community was well-represented, as student-athletes came out to voice their support for the proposed Wellness Center. Sophomore James Nicholas said, "The wellness center would be good for the entire student body as it will be larger...(there is) no space for students other than raiders to use it." Senior Jacob Cannon concurred, "I've learned a lot here over the past four years, but I felt the time in the weight room was invaluable...though I won't be able to enjoy it, to see new students being challenged physically is something that I think will schoolboard1 be invaluable." Female student-athletes came out to voice their support for the Center as providing equity to female athletes, saying that they had friends who didn't feel comfortable in the existing setup, where a new center would be better because there would be more space and more equipment that girls would be interested in using.

Parent Steve Nicholas questioned how the district was able to ignore the state-mandated 120 minutes of physical exercise per week, providing only 88 minutes, and suggested that the proposed Wellness Center would help the district meet the mandate, while enhancing the academic aspects of wellness and fitness. Maroon and White co-presidents Charlotte Carr and Liz Whitney came out once again to voice their support for the Wellness Center. "When the gym was built ten years ago," Carr said, "it was proposed at that time, but there was no money for it...the funds were budgeted five years ago...but it still hasn't gotten done." Carr compared the current "woefully inadequate" facility to the facility at the Middle School, which she said was filled with students using a variety of equipment and "learning about fitness and wellness for life."

Resident Rippy Phillips compared the process to the process of putting the turf field on Butler Field, reminding the Board that there was push back on the installation of the turf, and "it is a smashing success. As a resident and a taxpayer, I am embarrassed" by the current weight room, said Phillips. He went on, "The Wellness Center would be a fantastic place to educate our kids... Whatever the price, it will be there for a long time."

Stacey Wierl, Fox Meadow physical education teacher and part of the team that used a Center for Innovation grant to propose the Wellness Center, aimed to bring clarity to the idea. "The current space can hold 30, or 35 uncomfortably, while the new space will be able to house 80 to 85 students...We have taken a hard look at curriculum design. Currently we teach gross motor skills without a holistic wellness program, We want to move from gross motor skills to holistic wellness. We're working with the science department for a cross-curricular approach...we hope that we can use the space to inspire the new program."

Those outside the athletic community weighed in as well. The League of Women Voters was reserved in its support of the proposal to move forward with the Wellness Center as part of the 2013-2014 budget, instead asking that it be held off until a comprehensive master plan could be unveiled to the community. Pam Rubin spoke on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale. "The League commends the Board and the Administration for its commitment to investing in facilities, particularly in the context of the Scarsdale Education for Tomorrow, in order to provide students with opportunities for growth in academic, athletic and extracurricular areas," she said. "The League is concerned, however, that the Budget presents only a plan to relocate the existing fitness center and construct a new Wellness Center without addressing the other immediate needs and solutions for the High School contemplated in the Preliminary Facilities Plan. The Wellness Center should be part of a comprehensive master plan for the High School, designed to address all the needs of the High School over the near, middle and long terms. The League agrees with the Board and the Administration that in addition to the inadequacy of its fitness center, the current High School facilities lack adequate dining facilities, library space, independent and collaborative study space and envisioned classrooms of the future needed to accommodate current and anticipated enrollment. A comprehensive master plan is needed to address all of these issues and will further the community's understanding of how and when each of these issues is intended to be met. In the absence of a comprehensive master plan, the League recommends that the Board explore the feasibility of reallocating the monies earmarked in the Budget for the relocation of the existing fitness center and construction of a new Wellness Center to other needs that have been identified by the Administration (such as deferred plant improvement items)."

Resident Bob Berg stood up to reiterate his opposition to the proposed budget, and specifically to the presentation of a budget with tax growth over the cap. "This board has failed to step up to the plate," he said. "This can be done without cutting programs or increasing class size. Eliminate the wellness center and the communications officer position. Draw down excessive reserves...fundamental fairness requires this approach." Berg went on to remind the board that half of the residents in the village have no children in the school, and these people feel the need to leave to avoid rising taxes. He gave Bronxville's experience as an example, where 80% of households have children in school, leading to overcrowding in the school and greater expenses.

Resident Susan Groner said there were still many unanswered questions. "We need answers about the funding for (Wellness Center) staff, equipment, and future facilities expenses," she said. She also asked the Board to explain to the public what would happen if the budget is voted down.

schoolboard3 If the budget put up for a vote has a tax levy growth of over 3.46%, this would be in excess of the state-legislated tax cap, and the budget would need to pass by a super-majority of 60%. If the budget put up for a vote is at or under the 3.46% tax cap, the budget would only need to pass by a simple majority. If the budget does not pass on the first try, the BOE can re-propose a budget to be voted on in mid-June, or can just use the current year's budget with no growth. If this budget does not pass a second vote, then the district would be required to use the current year's budget again next year, with no growth in spending. This budget would still have to cover budget growth over which the district has no control, including unfunded state mandates and pre-negotiated salaries, etc., and so cuts would have to be made in the variable costs, including extracurricular activities, plant improvement, etc.

The Board thanked all those present for their comments, and Guggenheimer was especially effusive regarding the presence of so many students, saying how excited she was to see them "taking part in the civic process."
The meeting went on until midnight, and topics discussed included staffing at all levels, proposed changes to library management, security aides at the high school and middle school, the proposed communications officer, additions to technology staff, professional development and consultant usage, and enhancement of dining space for students.

New information included kindergarten enrollment numbers, which is up over the last two years. Enrollment at Heathcote is nearing the point where an additional class would be needed, though no final decision will be made until the district-imposed cutoff date of August 15. The BOE has held firm to its class size practice in the elementary schools and so agreed that the potential to break into an extra K class at Heathcote would necessitate consideration of adding an unassigned elementary teacher into the budget.

SMS PTA President Pam Fuehrer, during the public comment portion of the meeting, asked the Board to reconsider their decision not to assign a security aide to the middle school. The Board agreed that having a greeter at the door of SMS made sense in light of the distance from the door to the main office and the desire to maintain control of those gaining access to school buildings. Given the extra $965,000 added to the budget, the Board agreed that some of this could go to funding the additional aide with the caveat that the utility of the security aides be assessed during next year's budget process.

The Board also agreed to use part of the $965,000 to fund the addition of a science teaching position at the high school, in an attempt to reduce the percent of classes with more than 25 students. No decision was made regarding librarian staffing, as the Board and administration went back and forth over whether there could be tradeoffs made between hiring capable aides versus replacing retiring librarians. A decision was made to cut the proposed communications officer from the budget, instead relying on funding work on a project-by-project basis. Finally, the administration asked for $40,000 to increase seating in the cafeteria and the existing commons area at the high school. The funds will cover furniture and minor construction work, and would be completed by the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year.

The BOE and the administration agreed to seeks ways of reducing the growth in the tax levy. "It should start with a 3," suggested board member Lew Leone. Guggenheimer said she wanted "to do what was best for Scarsdale and not be held to an arbitrary number." As the clock reached midnight, all those present agreed to delay discussion of the Wellness Center until Monday, April 15 at 6:30 pm when the Board will reconvene.

Tracy Jaffe is a graduate of Brown University and Columbia University's Graduate School of Business. A past president of Heathcote's PTA and Scarsdale PT Council, Tracy has 3 children in the Scarsdale school system.

Details: Published: 07 April 2013; Created: 07 April 2013; Last Updated: 07 April 2013; Hits: 10427

edgemontschoollogo Victoria Spirko Kniewel has been named to succeed Nancy Taddiken as the Superintendent of Edgemont Schools. Board of Education President Tom McCormack announced Kniewel's appointment in an email to the community on April 3, 2013.

Kniewel will be officially appointed to the job, effective July 1, 2013, at a special meeting of the Edgemont Board of Education at 7 pm on Monday, April 8, in the Edgemont Junior/Senior High School auditorium. Following a brief meeting, the community will have the opportunity to meet Dr. Kniewel and enjoy refreshments in the school's cafeteria.

McCormack outlined the search process that led to the identification of Dr. Kniewel. The Board solicited community input through a series of focus groups and surveys, and conducted an exhaustive nationwide search with the aid of a specialized school recruitment firm. According to McCormak, they were very pleased with the quality of the applicant pool. Dr. Kniewel particularly impressed the Board with her background as a respected superintendent, her proven educational expertise, and her collegial style and they are excited about welcoming her to Edgemont. She has earned the respect of her current school community as a collaborative decision maker who has exceptional talent in curriculum and learning while remaining aware of fiscal concerns. She is also known for her leadership and her ability to cultivate and develop staff.

Dr. Kniewel is currently the superintendent of the West Windsor-Plainsboro (WW-P) Regional School District, one of New Jersey's highest performing districts. She joined WW-P as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in 2004 and became superintendent in 2007.

Prior to WW-P, Dr. Kniewel served as an assistant superintendent in North Salem (NY) Central School District in Westchester County. She also served as a principal in the Ridgewood (NJ) Public School District and as an assistant superintendent in the Ho‑Ho‑Kus (NJ) School District. Before moving to administration, she enjoyed 17 years as a teacher.

Dr. Kniewel holds two degrees from Fordham University, an EdD in executive leadership as well as an MA in administration, policy, and urban education. She also earned an MS in learning disabilities from Montclair State University and a BA in special education/elementary education from William Paterson University.

Dr. Kniewel's current district shares with Edgemont a commitment to the core values of academic excellence and the education of the whole child. Recognized locally and nationally as a top district, WW-P schools have thrived under Dr. Kniewel's leadership.