BOE Reassures Greenacres Residents and Recognizes Four Retiring Staffers

The Board of Education sought to assure Greenacres residents that a decision about the status of the school was far from a done deal at their meeting on Monday June 8th. Responding to Greenacres petitioners who objected to consideration of an option on a feasibility study to construct a new school on Greenacres Field, Board Vice President Lee Shames Maude said, "The Board wants the community to know that no decision will be made without "considerable input from the community."

Maude read a statement from the Board that described their actions to date and laid out a plan to gather information, weigh options and listen to community input in the future.

She said that the current steering committee had conducted an extensive tour of the school on June 3 and 4, seeing every floor including the basement where they examined the boilers and electric service. They held a meeting on June 3rd and reviewed the feasibility study from architects KG&D and considered the options and the need for field space, parking space and the community's desire to maintain open space. They have scheduled another meeting to examine their options and will then issue a report with recommendations and next steps.

Maude reviewed the four options and said that "nothing has been decided." She said the committee could ask the architects to explore more options or further study one or two of the existing options.

The four options in the current feasibility study are as follows:

Option 1: Repair the infrastructure but make no changes to the existing layout

Option 2: Do internal renovations to adapt classroom size and layout – with no additions to the school. This would require redistricting about 75 students.

Option 3: Do internal renovations and put an addition on the northwest corner of the school to accommodate enrollment and address adequacy issues.

Option 4: Build a new school across the street and turn the existing site into a field

Maude said that the new board will form a district steering committee by the fall of 2015 that will include broad representation from the district as well as Greenacres stakeholders. Down the road, steering committee meetings will be open to the public and will follow the same procedure that was used for the consideration of other major capitol projects. A bond vote on this issue will be held in December 2016 to coincide with the retirement of other district debt.

Several residents commented at the meeting:

John Singer of Brewster Road said that the petition to take Option 4 off the table had been signed by 780 people, representing 470 households. He said, "Our group is happy that you are taking the updating of the school seriously." However, he said, "We want to join you in a more open process ... and we "would like to be part of the steering committee." He continued, "When release your study please release all the mechanical studies and the population study." And concluded by saying, "We still ask you to take the option of building a new school off the table so that you can focus your time on an effort that will succeed."

Aaron Lamport of Huntington Avenue said he is an architect who focuses on the re-use of buildings for educational use. He said that "little information about the existing facility has been provided." He asked the board to consider re-orienting the building so that it faces Huntington Avenue thereby reducing the traffic on the side streets. He said the field is an "asset for the community and the school."

Vivienne Braun of Kingston Road said that the Recreation Department reported that Greenacres is one of the most heavily used fields in the community. She said "there is already a shortage of fields," and that using it for the school would "affect youth sports." She asked the Board to consider this loss.

Mike Greenberg, the former president of Scarsdale Little League said "we are perennially short of fields every year." He called Greenacres "a historically significant and beautiful building" that "cannot be easily replicated." He continued, saying "In NYC it would easily be landmarked."

Joel Gantcher, said, "I keep hearing things about water infiltration and mold.
Shouldn't' we be addressing the mold immediately?"

Harry Green, a new resident at Brewster Road said he was the father of three young boys who chose Greenacres because of the school and community. He said, "the field is the epicenter."

Retirements:

The Scarsdale Board of Education recognized three retiring faculty members from Greenacres and a staffer from the central office at their meeting on Monday night. Second grade teacher Jo Ann Nahabedian, Teacher-in-Charge Cindy Sansone and Occupational Therapist Aqualina Viani will retire from Greenacres. Vivi Samoladdas, who worked with Dr. Joan Weber in the central office, will also retire in June.

Cindy Sansone, the Teacher-in-Charge at Greenacres, will retire after 30 years at the school. She began her career in Scarsdale as a teacher's aide. She worked her way up, taking over a kindergarten class midway through the school year, and has since become a valued member of the Greenacres staff. She is an avid reader and a literacy and math expert. She also played a role in organizing some of the non-academic activities at the school - organizing the holiday toy drive, the food drive, the pajama drive and midnight run. Principal Sharon Hill said, these events "just won't be the same without her." Parents were impressed with Sansone's dedication and commitment to the community service practices at Greenacres. Speaking for the parents, PTA President Isable Finegold said, "Mrs. Sansone has done amazing work with the Community Service Committee – we have been so, so lucky to have her... She has educated our student population about the importance of community service and given to those in need." Mrs. Sansone has "transformed Greenacres ever since she was a teacher's aide ... and positively affected everything and everyone at Greenacres. "

About Sansone, Finegold said, "Mrs. Sansone, for the parents who have been privileged to know and work with you, you are valued as a teacher, administrator and friend. You leave behind a beautiful legacy in all that you have given students, teachers, staff, and principals at Greenacres. The PTA wishes you the very, very best in your retirement."

PTA President Isabel Finegold said that parents commented that Jo Ann Nahabedian really understood her students. They said that after a few short weeks with their child, Mrs. Nahabedian was already extremely knowledgeable about a students needs. She was a dedicated student of the arts, and reflected this in her classroom, teaching extensively about Monet and Picasso. She cultivated a love for the arts and culture in her students. She said Nahabedian "was a fantastic teacher, who will be missed."

Vivi Samoladdas is a member of Dr. Weber's staff in the District offices. Dr. Weber, who will also retire this year, called her "an invaluable asset," and added that she was talented in the kitchen. Weber said, "others quickly learned of Mrs. Samoladdas' excellence as a chef, during a time when people were not as interested in cooking. " Weber said, "The theme is that retirement allows for more time to spend with the grandkids."

Aqualina Viani, the Occupational Therapist at Greenacres and Fox Meadow was the final teacher to be honored at the meeting. Mrs. Viani was known for her uncanny ability to perform her work with children and have them eager to return, as she made work fun, and made it seem and feel like play. She was also known to put her students above everything else, creating custom tools to aide her students. Parents commented that their children loved working with Ms. Viani, and that those meetings "quickly became the highlight of the week." She worked with a calm head, and a cool manner, reassuring parents about their children, believing that "children will overcome any challenges."