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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 15 November 2022

Created: 15 November 2022

Last Updated: 15 November 2022

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The Scarsdale Schools District’s troubles with the I.R.S. appear to have come to a conclusion. A series of errors dating back to late 2020 resulted in the bureau imposing a $1.3mm lien on the district, which ultimately lead to the early resignation of Scarsdale Superintendent Thomas Hagerman in May 2022.

At the November 14, 2022 meeting of the Board of Education, Interim Superintendent Drew Patrick reviewed how this accounting issue had been concluded. The good news is that the district was refunded an extra $7,628 as the IRS reimbursed the earned interest on the funds they held. However, there were steep costs to addressing the matter. The fees for lawyers, the tax counsel, an investigator, the audit of the payroll tax withholding process, loss of interest on funds paid in addition to a savings on Dr. Hagerman’s salary totaled $184,178. So with the $7,628 credit, the incident ended up costing taxpayers $176,549.80.

To address the issue, the Board approved a corrective action plan for internal controls of the payroll processing procedure. You can see the plan here:

Here is the memo from the district explaining the resolution of the tax issue:

IRS Matter

A series of errors related to the payroll withholding function during the first, third, and fourth quarters of 2020, coupled with irregular communication practices from the IRS during this time period, resulted in the accumulation of a significant dollar amount of penalties and interest levied against the District. This culminated in a lien against district property. The details related to each issue are summarized below. Later in this memo is a financial accounting of the costs associated with this matter in sum and substance.

The accounting of costs is organized into three domains. First, the penalties and abatements amounted to a net $843,558.00 in costs to the District, which is the same amount the District sent to the IRS on 4/6/2022. The second component is rebates and recoveries from the IRS, which totalled $851,186.56. Together, the rebates and recoveries exceeded the penalties and abatements by $7,628.56. In other words, the district recovered more than it expended due to the reimbursement of earned interest on the amount paid and held by the IRS. The third component consists of related costs and recoveries associated with this matter. This included District counsel (general, labor), tax counsel, an investigator, an audit of our payroll tax withholding process, the calculation of estimated lost interest on money paid, and savings associated with salary breakage between the outgoing and incoming superintendent. This resulted in an estimated net cost of $184,178.36. In sum, the total net cost of resolving the IRS Matter was $176,549.80.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 22 November 2022

Created: 22 November 2022

Last Updated: 22 November 2022

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Reshaping our concept of manhood and challenging stereotypes is a key factor in reducing gender- based violence. SFCS, the Scarsdale Safe Coalition and its community partners aim to challenge these concepts in an upcoming community presentation entitled The Next Generation of Manhood. This in-person event will be facilitated by Ted Bunch, Chief Development Officer of “A Call to Men,” an organization that promotes healthy manhood and an equitable and inclusive culture. The program will be held on December 7th at 7:00 PM in the Little Theater of the Scarsdale High School.

Keeping our schools and community safe is the highest of priorities. According to the CDC, multiple forms of violence such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence, bullying, and child maltreatment share many of the same root causes. Changing harmful norms around masculinity and femininity is one such root cause the Safe Coalition is striving to change. The mass shooting of an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs is yet another present-day example of how adherence to such norms can turn violent.

A Call to Men offers an invitation to boys and men to examine their ideas of manhood. This includes the role media, music, and culture play in bombarding men with messages labeling women as objects, property and perpetuating the belief that women are of lesser value than men. By encouraging boys and men to think critically about how they may be reinforcing these harmful beliefs, they can further vitalize the idea of healthy manhood. This program is not an indictment of manhood but an attempt to raise awareness and consciousness of the role healthy manhood plays in reducing gender-based violence. Safe Coalition Coordinator, Natalie Ramos said, “I think A Call to Men does an incredible job at raising awareness without blame or guilt to incite change but instead inciting change in a dynamic and engaging way.”

Ted Bunch is an author, educator and activist and is internationally recognized in his efforts preventing violence against women while promoting a healthy, respectful manhood. The evening’s program is being funded through a grant obtained from Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who herself has been a strong and consistent advocate for women’s safety and gender equality. The event is an in-person only event and cannot be live-streamed or recorded.

The Safe Coalition members work with all sectors of the Scarsdale community to raise awareness about the multiple forms of violence and to reduce the risks factors facing Scarsdale families, communicate resources and strengthen the delivery of inter-community services. Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service serves as the lead agency for the coalition.

For more information, please contact Safe Coalition Coordinator, Natalie Ramos, LMSW at [email protected] or 914-721-2675.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 04 November 2022

Created: 04 November 2022

Last Updated: 04 November 2022

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(Updated 9 pm 11-4)

They did it again!

The Scarsdale Girls Varsity team won the state finals and are the NYS Division 1 champions for the second year in a row. Wow.

After winning the semifinal match vs. Bethlehem earlier in the day on Friday November 4, the team had to wait at the Billie Jean Tennis Center in Queens to play the finals at 4:30 pm. As expected, the team from Port Washington, who played the other semifinal match against Clarence, were the victors. So Scarsdale played Port Washington in the final.

The team played three singles matches and four doubles and needed to win four of the seven courts to win.

By 5:30 pm they had the title clinched, winning second and third singles and first and fourth doubles.

In second singles, Giana Marks defeated Ellie Ross 6-3, 6-2 and in third singles Katie Kendall won 6-2, 6-2 over Evie Loewy.

The first doubles team of Maya Cukierman and Emma Ha won 6-1, 6-2 defeating Katie Kors and Grace Ain.

In fourth doubles, the team of Natasha Pereira and Emily Hyman, who had struggled in the semifinal scored a great win, 6-3, 6-1 over Yasmeen Munoz and Isabelle Dibner.

Though the team knew they had already won, their teammates played on nonetheless. The action then turned to the three remaining matches.

The second doubles team of Kay Cotrell and Campbell Alin won their first set 6-2, lost the second 4-6 but ultimately triumphed in the third set, 6-3.

Things got even more tense when Yelena Sahakyan, playing third doubles, stepped on a tennis ball and had to call a medic. After a timeout, her ankle was wrapped and along with her partner Maya Vora, they won, 7-5, 6-4.

Then all eyes turned to the first singles court where Scarsdale’s Natalie Hu was playing her final varsity match as a senior vs. Dasha Perfiliev. Perfiliev actually lost her semifinal match but was a tough opponent for Hu. Natalie took the first set 6-4, lost the second 2-6 and then came back from 4-5 in the third set to win 7-5, with all eyes on her court.

In the end, the team scored a 7-0 victory in the final, a joyous moment for the players, parents and coaches.

Take a look at Hu and her teammates below.

Natalie Hu - on the ground after winning her last singles match in the NYS final.

Semifinal match

The Scarsdale Girls Tennis Team won their semifinal match against Bethlehem, 6-1 at Billie Jean Tennis Center at the USTA Tennis Center in Queens on Friday November, 4, 2022. This is the second year in a row the team has proceeded to the state finals.

Though the matches were scheduled to start at 11 am on Friday November 4, officials put the girls on Giana Marksthe courts early, and by the time I arrived, the three singles matches were already over, with first singles player Natalie Hu not giving up a single game, taking her match 6-0, 6-0. In second singles, Giana Marks also had a fast victory, playing another leftie, and winning 6-0, 6-1. Marks said she had to watch out for her opponents slices and spins, but credited her own serves and net game for the win.

Freshman Katie Kendall also didn’t drop a game, coming off the court early at 6-0, 6-0. A newcomer to the team, she only took up tennis at the age of ten, but now plays USTA matches, 14 and under, and the Scarsdale team was happy she joined them.

As a team sport, the Raiders needed to win 4 of the 7 courts to proceed to the finals, so with victories on three courts, the match would be decided by the outcome of the four doubles matches, three of which were in progress.

First off the court was the first doubles team, senior Maya Cukierman and freshman Emma Ha. Though the score was 6-3, 6-0, Cukierman said it was a very long match. Cukierman hit wonderful deep cross court shots and Ha has great hands at the net.

Katie Kendall with Coach Jennifer RoaneIn second doubles Kay Cottrell and Campbell Alin had a tougher match but prevailed against opponents who repeatedly used the I formation. Both girls have power at the net and Alin’s strong serve helped take them through the second set tie breaker. Commenting on the match, Cottrell said, “we worked well as a pair, kept up our energy and had good communication. They won 6-4, 7-6 (2).

In third doubles, Juniors Yelena Sahakyan and Maya Vora also had an exciting match, winning 6-2, 6-3. Commenting on the season, Vora said, “this is our third year playing together.” They talked about staying calm, focused, watching the ball and taking the match point by point. They said, “with each round it’s getting tougher and tougher.” Vora’s mom Sejal, remembered playing first singles for the Port Washington team when she was in high school, and gave the girls some advice for the next round.

The fourth doubles team of Natasha Pereira and Emily Hyman were in their third set when we left, but at that point the match had already been decided.

At 4:30 pm today, Scarsdale will take on the winner of the other semifinal match between Port Yelena Sahakyan, Sejal Vora and Maya VoraWashington and Clarence to determine who will win the state final.

Commenting on the success of the team, Coach Jennifer Roane said they have been working on their footwork, second serves and aggression at the net. Also at the tennis center was SHS Athletic Director Ray Pappalardi who was proud to report that the girls tennis team, boys soccer team, girls field hockey team and boys volleyball teams are all still in the mix this fall. He said the players are supportive of each other, have a sense of belonging and are good sports.

Go Raiders.

Campbell Alin and Kay Cottrell

   Coach Jennifer Roane, Yuko Hu and Athletic Director Ray PappalardiCampbell and Meredith Alin