School Budget Statements: SHS PTA Says "Make Students the Priority," and C.H.I.L.D Requests Data

SHS PTA Executive Committee Preliminary Comments on 2025-26 Budget Planning November 17, 2025
Good evening. I am Erika Rublin, SHS PTA President and I am speaking on behalf of the Scarsdale High School PTA Executive Committee and Budget Study Chair.

The Scarsdale High School PTA Executive Committee and Budget Study Chair thanks the District Administration and Board of Education for holding a Budget Priorities’ Session for the community. The SHS PTA EC and Budget Study Chair firmly believes that early, proactive, and frequent engagement with parents and the broader school community, is an essential aspect of a thorough budget process.

Over the next few months, as the Board of Education and the District work through the Budget Priorities for the 2026-27 school year we ask that you continue to keep our students as the driving priority. We encourage a focus on teaching and learning, keeping in mind the District’s “Portrait of a Graduate”.

The SHS PTA EC and Budget Study Chair would like to emphasize our continued support for maintaining student choice for class selection and levels of learning, providing comprehensive student support and promoting teaching practices that nurture the development of the whole child and differentiated teaching. We encourage initiatives that prioritize student mental health, well being and the creation of an inclusive environment where all students feel a sense of belonging. Furthermore, we endorse a continued commitment to the creation and implementation of innovative, best-in- class curriculum practices, and encourage ongoing professional development to strengthen these critical elements of the student experience.

The SHS PTA EC and Budget Study Chair thanks the District for its transparent and thoughtful process in the ongoing development of a proposed bond for capital projects. We recognize that this process is ongoing and as the scope of the bond project becomes finalized, infrastructure needs at the high school for budget priorities may develop. We appreciate the proposed capital projects at the high school and encourage continued investment in our classrooms and science labs so that Scarsdale High School can continue to offer the highest level of instruction.

The SHS PTA EC and Budget Study Chair recognizes with great appreciation, the District’s thoughtful look at technology-usage and the development of the Students and Internet Enabled Devices Policy to comply with the new New York State law. We encourage continued, ongoing attention to technology in the classroom and the impact of Artifical Intelligence on our students, our curriculum and teaching/learning.

The SHS PTA EC and Budget Study Chair appreciates and recognizes the fiscal considerations with respect to budgeting. We encourage your continued focus on updating and refining expense and revenue projections and we encourage the administration to consider the long term fiscal issues associated with the budget. We encourage you to continue to maintain transparency and to continue to provide clear explanations through this process.

We encourage you to continue engaging the community this budget season so that the budget reflects a shared goal for our District as we move forward. The SHS PTA EC and Budget Study Chair looks forward to engaging in this work with you.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Scarsdale High School PTA Executive Committee and Budget Study Chair Erika Rublin, SHS PTA President
Megan Simon, SHS PTA President Elect
Radhika Dewan, SHS PTA Treasurer
Tina Lin, SHS PTA Vice President of Programming
Jenny Simon Tabak, SHS PTA Vice President of Membership Melissa Brown Eisenberg, Recording Secretary
Kelli Halyard, Corresponding Secretary
Diksha Mudbhary, SHS PTA Budget Study Chair

Statement to the Scarsdale Board of Education
Delivered on behalf of Scarsdale C.H.I.L.D. (Children Having Individual Learning Differences)

This statement is made on behalf of Scarsdale C.H.I.L.D.,a part of PTC and a long-standing organization representing families of students with disabilities and learning differences. This statement is prepared by Vice Chair Connie Beyer-Hense and co -chairs, Rachana Singh and Erin Rudensky. We have written this statement in collaboration with CHILD School representatives. We have included feedback from many families with students receiving special education services/and or related services.

Our community is grateful for the District’s commitment to serving all learners. But the experiences of our families make one thing clear: we need greater transparency, stronger data, and more targeted planning to ensure every child in Scarsdale receives an equitable education.

Tonight, we are asking for concrete steps the District can take this year to strengthen special education and support meaningful inclusion across all schools. We have identified key themes as we listened carefully to the CHILD community and our representatives in all the seven school buildings.

We are asking for three items:

-Anonymous Special Education Survey
-ICT and Placement Data
-Transparency on Out-of-District placement and Nonresident enrollment

1. Anonymous Special Education Survey: Centering the voices of Parents and Teachers

Families and teachers are essential partners in special education. Yet their experiences often remain invisible in district-level planning.
Recently, the District conducted the state mandated Indicator 8 Parent Involvement Survey. We ask that those results be shared and discussed with the community.
Furthermore we are asking the District to administer an anonymous, district-wide Special Education Survey of both parents and teachers. This survey would provide critical information, including:

-The quality of communication and collaboration between home and school,
-Strengths and weaknesses of IEP and CSE/CPSE processes, and
-The effectiveness of current programs and supports.
-Most importantly, these findings must inform the 2025–26 budget and planning process. Families deserve to see their lived experiences reflected in district decisions.
Next we believe it would be beneficial to know the

2. ICT and Placement Data: Understanding Equity and Access

To advocate for our students, we need a full and accurate picture of how placements are currently functioning. That requires transparency on the data the District already has,
We are asking for the following district-wide information:

-The number of students with IEPs;
-How many attend schools other than their home school;
-How many are placed out-of-district; and
-How many families have declined ICT placements because those placements required a non–home school setting.

This data is essential for understanding equity across our schools, especially in light of the recent redistricting debate.

We are also urging the District to expand ICT classrooms—to all elementary schools, across all grade levels, and to Scarsdale High School. Consistency matters. Students deserve a continuum of services that does not break down just as coursework becomes most challenging.

To plan thoughtfully and to set everyone up for success, we kindly request a detailed cost-benefit analysis that includes

-Special education teaching FTEs needed
-Required aide/paraprofessional support, and
-Potential cost savings from reducing out-of-district placements and strengthening inclusive practices in-district.

This is not only about budgeting—it is about galvanizing a system that meets the needs of learners where they are.
Finally, we want to address:

3. Out-of-District Placements and Nonresident Enrollment: Transparency for Responsible Planning

We are calling for full transparency around out-of-district placements and nonresident enrollment. These decisions profoundly affect students, families, and the District’s finances.

We ask for clear data on:
-How many Scarsdale students with IEPs attend out-of-district programs (broken down by elementary and secondary);
-The number and capacity of all in-district special class programs such as 8:1:2 and 12:1:1;
-Tuition revenue received for nonresident students with disabilities; and
-How many out-of-district students are enrolled in our programs.

Given the figures in the 2025–26 Nonresident Tuition Report, this transparency is essential for responsible budgeting and for building the inclusive continuum our students deserve.
And as redistricting concerns continue—particularly within the Fox Meadow community—we believe this data is critical. For years, many special education students have had to attend non–home schools or move between buildings to access services. Understanding this long-standing reality will help situate today’s concerns within a broader conversation about equity for all families,

In Closing

Our requests reflect the voices of families across Scarsdale. Currently, 1 in 4 children in Scarsdale receive some form of support services, and 14% of our students have an IEP. These numbers underscore the importance of building a system that is equitable, transparent, responsive and reflects years of lived experience. Our request reflects a deep commitment to the belief that every child deserves a fair, inclusive, and high-quality education within their own community.

We are asking the District and Board to:

-Listen to parents and teachers through a district-wide survey;
-Ground decisions in transparent, accessible data; and
-Invest in inclusive practices, including a full ICT continuum from elementary through high school.

These are not abstract proposals. They are actionable, achievable, and aligned with the values Scarsdale holds dear.

We believe these steps will strengthen outcomes for students with disabilities and learning differences and, ultimately, benefit all Scarsdale students. Together, we share the same goal—to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive and every resource is used thoughtfully and effectively.

Thank you for your time and your partnership—and for your continued commitment to every Scarsdale student

Rachana Singh & Erin Rudenskey - Co Chairs
Cornelia Beyer-Hense - Vice Chair