Edgemont Calls For School Board Candidates
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The Edgemont School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) will hold an open meeting on Wednesday, January 19, 2010 (snow date - January 26) at 8:00 pm in the Greenville School library to receive nominations for candidates to the Board of Education of the Edgemont Union Free School District #6 at Greenburgh. Two vacancies on the Board of Education will be filled at the general election on Tuesday, May 17, 2011. These vacancies will be created by the expiration of the terms of office of Ms. Michaeline Curtis and Mr. Wassim Salimi. Ms. Curtis and Mr. Salimi will run for a second term.
The SBNC invites all Edgemont residents to actively participate in the nominating process by urging qualified residents of our community to seek nomination to the Board of Education, submit nomination letters for candidates, and attend the open meeting on January 19, 2011. Members of the Board of Education, in a strong spirit of volunteerism, serve without compensation. Members are required to attend two public meetings per month (and more at budget time), attend Executive Sessions and undertake the necessary preparation for these functions. Membership on the Board of Education brings a solid sense of community involvement.
The nomination of a candidate to the Board of Education must be made in a letter to the Marc Akcerman, Chair of the SBNC, and must be received before 8:00 pm on January 19, 2011. Nominating letters may also be presented in person at the open meeting held that evening. The letter may be written by any qualified voter of the Edgemont School District other than a member (or spouse of a member) of the SBNC. In addition to the name and address of the candidate, the letter must contain a brief biographical sketch of the candidate, including the candidate’s educational background, occupation, participation in civic affairs and the length of residence in the Edgemont School District, and the grade level of any children attending any Edgemont schools and/or the year of graduation of any children who have previously attended Edgemont schools. The letter must also contain a statement indicating that the candidate has consented to serve if nominated and elected. Under the by-laws of the SBNC, any letter that fails to include these items cannot be accepted. Please address nominating letters to Marc Ackerman, SBNC Chair, 101 Moorland Drive, Scarsdale, NY 10583
League Fails to Reach Consensus on a Scarsdale Schools Foundation
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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Despite lengthy discussions and a study that spanned over five years, the League of Women Voters was not able to come to consensus on the establishment of an education foundation in Scarsdale. In 2005 the League voted to conduct a study, the group did much research and conducted a panel discussion on the issue this fall.
They issued an informative report of their findings that you can find here .
At a membership meeting of League of Women Voters of Scarsdale on November 15, the group was not 
able to come to consensus on the issue but did conclude that Scarsdale is unique in that residents are already engaged in a myriad of groups and activities that provide significant funding for school initiatives. They also cautioned against the potential for undue influence from specific interest groups that could arise if a foundation was formed, saying, “If an education foundation were to be established, significant checks and balances must be addressed in defining the role of an education foundation and its governance,” adding that “It is important that the Board of Education be involved in the grant process of the foundation to safeguard the priorities of the school district as formulated by the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools.”
However, the possibility of establishing a foundation was not completely ruled out as the report says that the League might revisit the issue in the event that:
- The state imposed local tax caps
- The school budget could not fund significant projects that affect our core values
- The Board of Education adoption of a contingency budget
In the interim, the membership of a group called Field for Kids has proposed raising over $300,000 to fund the installation of lights on the turf field at Scarsdale High School. The current Board of Education will need to consider the gift, how it fits into current Board priorities and the precedent it will set, if accepted.
For now, there will be no educational foundation in town, but if the economy does not recover, and tax revenues continue to decline, this issue may be back on the table soon.
Panel Discusses Effects of Drugs and Alcohol On Teens
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The Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol sponsored a panel discussion at Scarsdale Middle School on December 8 entitled “Myth Busters …the Effects of Drugs and Alcohol on the Teenage Brain.” The program highlighted risks of substance abuse with true stories and answers related by five field professionals.
Joy Brownstein, Co-Chair of the Scarsdale Task Force, welcomed an audience of parents, students, teachers and sports coaches. Sara Buchdahl-Levine, MD, MPH, FAAP spoke about the physiology of teenagers and how the adolescent brain is less resilient than adult brains to the negative effects of drugs and alcohol. She explained damaging consequences of permanent changes in memory, learning, social and executive functioning. According to Buchdahl-Levine, the two main reasons teens abuse substances are to get a high or to feel normal via self-medication.
Mindy L. Stimell, MD, who practices emergency medicine at Columbia University Children’s Hospital of New York, spoke about tragic outcomes from underage and binge drinking. She emphatically emphasized immediately calling 911 for help if you think someone has had too much to drink. Her message was that good kids sometimes make the wrong choices.
Eric Small, MD told about case practice in adolescent sports medicine and how steroid usage needs to be carefully monitored. Steroids can stunt growth and other long term side effects can be quite severe. Additionally, energy drinks are often marketed towards teens and college students with the intent of combining them with alcohol leading to a cocktail stimulant and depressant.
Ernie Collabolletta, SHS Psychologist, and Cheryl Bobe, LMSW, each reviewed emotional issues faced by teens and encouraged parents and students to pay attention to stressors such as peer pressure and depression. They also recommended that teens who do need help should reach out to trustworthy peers and adults. Before indulging in risky behavior, they counseled teens to ask themselves why they would take the risk. Poor decisions made in the heat of the moment can lead to life altering complications such as injury, arrest, or teen pregnancy.
A question and and answer period followed:
Question: What do you tell kids about over the counter or prescription drugs?
Answer: Recreational use of this type of drug (e.g. painkillers, ADD/ADHD medication, cough medicine, etc.) can lead to addiction and other lethal side effects.
Question: Is it okay to allow your child to drink under the legal age under adult supervision?
Answer: You are helping your child break the law. You are endangering your child’s health and wellbeing.
Question: What is the emotional impact of substance abuse on your teen?
Answer: The less harmful a substance is perceived to be, the more it will be used. The abuse may lead to depression and riskier behaviors.
The Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol is a community action group comprised of parents, students, teachers, school administrators; representatives from village, local and civic organizations; and religious institutions. Since its founding in 1984, the Task Force has worked in our community to educate youth and adults about drugs and alcohol, help people develop drug free attitudes and habits, and recommend resources to those whose lives are affected by drug and alcohol dependency. Contact them at: [email protected]
Chick these additional resources for more information :
Angela Manson is a licensed real estate salesperson with Prudential Centennial, Scarsdale who volunteers with local civic organizations and writes about the community. She welcomes and assists buyers and sellers in Scarsdale and neighboring communities. She may be reached at 914-420-9878 or [email protected]
Gingerbread Houses For Good
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The holiday spirit was in the air at Scarsdale High School last Friday as SHS Habitat 4 Humanity hosted its fourth annual Gingerbread House event. Over 500 people, kids and parents included, came out to the cafeteria to construct and decorate their elaborate houses out of a large assortment of candy, frosting and any other decorative goodies.
Club members prepared for weeks planning, publicizing and executing their big event and the result was fantastic. The club raised over $3,000 and created a fun afternoon for parents and kids alike. "It is rewarding to know that you are helping a great cause and raising the spirits of the community at the same time," said club officer Troy Kirwin. Just as the event has improved the last four years, Habitat looks to the future to include even more of the community in such a fun and festive day.
District Mourns Two Elementary School Teachers
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More sad news for the Scarsdale community was announced via email when district parents learned that Elisa Draper, a fifth grade teacher at the Quaker Ridge Elementary School, died suddenly on Friday night November 19. Mrs. Draper’s husband Robert Draper, is a well known Physics teacher at Scarsdale High School and therefore, many in the community know the couple. At a School Board meeting on Monday night November 22nd, Superintendent Michael McGill expressed his sorrow and board member Suzanne Seiden said that Mrs. Draper had "touched hundreds in our community and that she was loved by her students and her colleagues." Seiden recognized Mrs. Draper's work on sustainability projects and the school garden, her class Mother's Day celebrations and Greek mythology presentations and said that Draper will "always be treasured and remembered." Our heart goes out to Mr. Draper and their children.
In order to help the Quaker Ridge students and parents deal with the loss, the school took several steps, including assembling their crisis team, having district psychologists on hand and offering parents an opportunity to come to the school to gather and explore how to discuss the loss with their children.
At the high school, youth outreach workers and psychologists were available and the principal encouraged parents to share the news with their own children. At Scarsdale Middle School similar measures were taken and children who had Mrs. Draper as a teacher were identified to be treated with extra care. The news came just weeks after the death of Corie Vidal, another school staff member who worked in the SHS Math department.
Rabbis at Westchester Reform Temple lead a discussion for WRT Parents on “Helping Children through Tragic Loss” on Tuesday November 23, 4:45 to 5:45PM.
The Quaker Ridge School was closed on Wednesday November 24 for Mrs. Draper's funeral which was held at Resurrection Church in Rye.
Last week, Scarsdale10583 also learned that Allyne Brumbaugh, a retired second grade teacher at Greenacres Elementary school, passed away after a long illness. Before coming to Greenacres in 1986, Ms. Brumbaugh taught the gifted and talented class in a school in Brooklyn. She taught second grade at Greenacres for 18 years before retiring in 2004.
Ms. Brumbaugh was an insightful educator who brought out the best in all of her students. She was a leader in teaching mathematical concepts to children and authored a book called “Big Magic Number Puzzles” which was published by Scholastic and used in her classes. Her students remember her calm, warm and supportive style. According to colleague Joan Farella at Greenacres, “She was a very good friend. She was a wonderful teacher and touched so many young lives.”
Ms. Brumbaugh lived in Pound Ridge and is survived by her husband James Brumbaugh.
We offer our condolences to both families and ask you to share your memories of the teachers below:
