Do We Need More Elementary School Classrooms or Better Use of Existing Space?
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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(This is the opinion of Scarsdale10583 site founder Joanne Wallenstein.)
As taxpayers you will soon face a vote on a proposed $98.5mm school bond that has unanimous support from the seven members of the school board. The plan includes funds for air conditioning, infrastructure upgrades, and field improvements, but the lion’s share of the spending is for major additions to two elementary schools.
After watching the board discussions, reviewing their presentations and analyzing related reports, I think the decision to add six classrooms and five support rooms in a $21mm expansion of Edgewood School deserves further scrutiny.
Here’s why:
Though I am sure that the Edgewood Elementary School requires updating and perhaps more flexible learning spaces, I think there are valid questions about the plan to build a $21 mm addition, primarily to support a very small special education program.
There are currently just 21 Scarsdale students in the program, in three self-contained classrooms. Since each class has a teacher and two aids, the district has stated a goal of supporting the program by inviting out of district students to pay tuition to join these classes.
Special Ed Enrollment by Program and Grade
However, as taxpayers in Scarsdale, do we want to underwrite a $21mm expansion so that we can accommodate out of district students? Is it wise to incur a 20-year tax increase to build an addition for a small school population that varies in size year over year? It's a bridge too far.
Is there room to house the program in another school?
During bond discussions, the district proposed moving three sections of Fox Meadow students to Greenacres (redistricting) as Greenacres appears to have a lot of extra space. See the chart below of square footage per student by elementary school. Greenacres has 85,000 square feet of space with an enrollment of just 351 students. That’s 244 square feet per student, with more space per student than any other elementary school. The redistricting idea was shelved after pushback from the community.
Square footage per student in Scarsdale Schools
So why not move the SPED program to Greenacres? The district has not offered a convincing argument about why Special Education cannot be moved to Greenacres. They say they expect an enrollment increase at Greenacres, but the data is not convincing, given low home sales, lack of available land for subdivisions, declining birthrates etc. They say they don’t want to have to move the program year to year - but it appears that the program could move to and remain at Greenacres.
What is the alternative?
Greenacres EnrollmentRather than adding on so much square footage to our footprint, bond funds could be used to reconfigure some of the smaller classrooms at Greenacres to accommodate the SPED program. These rooms are in the original wing of the school that was not reconfigured during the renovation. This would allow three classrooms to be freed up at Edgewood where funds could be used to renovate and modify Edgewood to meet their current needs.
Given the strain on district reserves and health insurance costs, building more space at this time does not seem prudent. The $21mm spent to expand now will ultimately require hiring additional staff, health insurance and retirement costs, increasing custodial services and spending more on facilities upkeep for decades to come.
The long-term financial picture for district finances is concerning. Let’s not expand when we already have ample space.
Scarsdale Comes Up Short in Tight Loss to Ursuline
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- Written by: Jeremy Gorrin
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Abby Nadborny driving past defender.Tuesday’s matchup between Scarsdale and Ursuline remained close throughout the game. Scarsdale came out cold going down 0-9 to open the first quarter. Scarsdale scored its first points with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter. Despite a cold start, Abby Nadborny brought Scarsdale back into the game with five points. Scarsdale ended the quarter only down five, with a score of 7-12. During the second quarter, Scarsdale was able to control the game, keeping Ursuline from scoring any points. Leah Brown led Scarsdale through the second quarter, scoring four points, putting Scarsdale up 16-12. But Scarsdale’s defense didn’t transfer over to the second half, giving up 11 points in the third quarter. Despite this, Scarsdale was able to stay in the game with a layup from Chloe Powell, tying the game at 23-23 at the end of the third quarter. Even though Scarsdale kept the game competitive, they could not pull out the win, losing 30-37. Abby Nadborny finished as Scarsdale’s leading scorer with 11 points in the close loss to Ursuline.
Abby Nadbony shoots a free throw.
Leah Brown driving through defense.
Alexa Shabsels shooting a free throw.
Tali Blumenfeld driving in for a layup.
Reese Newman shooting a 3.
Leah Brown shooting a free throw.
Scarsdale Team during national anthem.
District Asks For Resident Feedback on Proposed $98.5mm School Bond: Deadline Friday January 9.
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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What are your thoughts on a proposed $98.5 mm bond for the Scarsdale Schools?
The Scarsdale School District is seeking your feedback by Friday January 9, 2026 and asks you to complete a short survey here:
Here is some background from the district:
The Scarsdale Public Schools has embarked on a planning process for a potential bond referendum in 2026. In anticipation of significant debt service falling off in the 2027-2028 school year, the District has engaged with BBS Architects and Arris Contracting Company to develop a long range capital plan. A Capital Projects Steering Committee (CPSC) formed in March 2025 was charged with presenting a recommendation to the Board of Education a scope of work consistent with the Strategic Plan. That initial recommendation was made on September 15, 2025. Since that time, there have been numerous updates, extensive discussion, and significant feedback from the community that has been incorporated into bond scope. As the scope of work came into sharper focus, more detailed cost estimation also took place. Finally, an updated recommendation was presented by Administration on Monday, December 15th, 2025. The Board is again seeking public input on this current proposed bond work scope and its associated cost that totals $98,537,034.
Click here to see a presentation on the bond:
And here are two recent articles published on Scarsdale10583:
https://scarsdale10583.com/schools/11894-school-board-signals-agreement-on-a-school-bond-under-100mm
https://scarsdale10583.com/section-table/102-shout-it-out/11907-questions-about-the-largest-school-bond-proposal-in-scarsdale-s-history-or-what-are-we-getting-for-98-million
Take the survey here:
Your input is valuable and all feedback is appreciated. The results will be discussed at the Board of Ed meeting on Monday, January 12th.
Scarsdale Basketball Team Falls to White Plains With 5.5 Seconds on the Clock
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- Written by: Jeremy Gorrin
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Joey Pappalardo driving through traffic to the basket.The matchup between Scarsdale and White Plains on Wednesday December 17 was a tight game all the way through. Scarsdale went into this game missing star freshman, Harry Spicer. Jason Ling and Grant Shigekawa led the Raiders to an 8 point lead after the first quarter, each scoring 3 points. Scarsdale was able to hold a lead through the second half with a 4 point lead. While Scarsdale had the lead throughout the first half, White Plains was able to make a comeback, hitting three of their 3 point shots to put them up 4 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Grant Shigekawa was able to lead a Scarsdale comeback tying the game with a layup. Even though Scarsdale was able to come back from this deficit, it wasn’t enough to win the game, as White Plains was able to take the lead back leaving only 5.5 seconds on the clock for Scarsdale to score. Scarsdale was unable to tie the game on their last possession, falling short. The final score was 47-49.
Benny Foster shooting a free throw.
Ethan Grossberg helps his teammate, Joey Pappalardo, up.
Spencer Goldfarb shooting a corner 3.
Grant Shigekawa going in for a layup. 
Grant Shigekawa shooting a 3.
Ryan Sussberg shooting a free throw.
Jeremy Gorrin is a freshman at Scarsdale High School who is an aspiring sports photographer.
Lined up for the national anthem.
SFCS Seeks New Board Members
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Are you interested in joining the Board of a non-profit organization right here in Scarsdale? Are you passionate about supporting families and individuals in our community? The Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service (SFCS) is looking for enthusiastic and dedicated individuals from the Scarsdale/Edgemont community to join our Board of Trustees. As a Board member, you'll play a vital role in guiding and shaping our organization's mission to be a hub for family growth and learning.
What is SFCS? Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service is a voluntary, not-for-profit family counseling agency. With over a century of service to the Scarsdale community, SFCS has been a cornerstone, offering counseling services, social programs, and crucial initiatives like our Scarsdale Action for Youth (SAY). In addition to counseling services, the Agency provides social service programs for Scarsdale residents across the life cycle from social skills groups for young children to leadership training programs and adventure trips for teens, to facilitated monthly discussion groups for parents with kids in 5th-12th grades, to aging in place services for older residents.
Why Join Us?
• Make an Impact: Your involvement directly contributes to supporting families at every stage of life.
• Community Engagement: Connect with like-minded individuals dedicated to the betterment of Scarsdale and beyond.
• Personal Growth: Gain valuable experience and insights in nonprofit governance and community leadership.
Who Are We Looking For?
We welcome Scarsdale residents with diverse backgrounds, preferably with children attending Scarsdale schools. We seek residents with relevant experiences who are committed to our mission.
How to Apply: Interested in becoming a part of our Board of Trustees?
Apply by February 1, 2026 by sending a short email with the following information to [email protected]
Volunteer/Professional Background/Key Skills
Community Experience in Scarsdale/Edgemont, including ages of children (and schools attending)
Experience with SFCS
