Parents Weigh In on Succession Plans for EHS Leadership
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Speculation continues about who will be the next principal at Edgemont High School when Dr. Barry Friedman steps down next summer. Superintendent Nancy Taddiken will present her recommendations at the next Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, October 11th but many were eager to share their ideas on how to select the next principal.
One parent I spoke to expressed his strong feelings that the school should not solely look internally at possible candidates but should conduct a nationwide search. Given the poor economy and nationwide district layoffs he felt there may be many qualified candidates available to run the school next year. When asked about the possibility of promoting from within he agreed that there could also be qualified internal candidates but believed that should not stop a nationwide search. He felt that both internal and outside candidates' resumes should be screened by a committee of administrators, teachers, and parents, and the top candidates should be interviewed. "Perhaps an internal candidate will be chosen in the end or perhaps a candidate from the outside will be chosen, the important thing is to do a proper search for the best person to fill Dr. Friedman's position."
Other parents felt that it would be better to promote from within to maintain the school district culture that they know and love. Selecting an internal candidate also promotes good feelings among the staff. One parent said "Students feel more comfortable with the administrators that they already know." Years ago, when popular Social Studies teacher, Mr. Tim Hoss was promoted to assistant principal of the junior high, students felt very comfortable going to speak to him since he was well known and respected among the student population. (Mr. Hoss has since left the school district and is now principal at a school close to his home in Long Island.) It is a great benefit to the district that Dr. Friedman has announced his retirement nearly a year in advance so that the school district has plenty of time to choose the best candidate and perhaps even bring someone in during Dr. Friedman's last few months at EHS to learn the ropes from him.
Some of these questions will be answered when Ms. Taddiken presents her recommendations on October 11th. Attendance at Board of Ed meetings has been low and important decisions are made without much feedback from parents and the community.
Now that the New York State property tax cap has been enacted and administrative changes are under consideration at the high school, community input is more important than ever. In order to comply with the cap, budget cuts will likely be necessary, as the unfunded mandates alone will consume most of the two percent increase. At their November 8th meeting, the Board of Education plans to discuss possible structural changes to the schools as well as the property tax cap. The budget planning calendar will be discussed at the November 22nd meeting. The full BOE meeting calendar and Superintendent Report Topics can be found here:
Parents and community members can also attend the PTSA Parent Forum on Wednesday, October 19th at 9 am in the Edgemont High School library. The Forum will give everyone another opportunity to hear the succession plan discussed by Ms. Taddiken and Dr. Friedman and meet new Guidance Counselor Lauren Moore.
A Burglary and a Nosey News Crew from the Scarsdale Police
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There was a burglary at a Windmill Road home sometime between September 24 at 6:45 pm and 9/25 at 1 pm. The homeowners were away and their 13 year-old daughter was staying with neighbors. When the daughter went to the house the following day she found that someone had gotten into the house through a rear window. The suspects went upstairs to the master bedroom forced open a locked closet door and removed an unknown quantity of jewelry. A second locked closet was also forced open and more jewelry was stolen. A dresser was rummaged through and jewelry was taken from there as well. On the first floor the vandals broken into a china cabinet and left an open cigar box on the floor. They left through a sliding glass door in the dining room.
An employee of La Rennaissance Bakery in Scarsdale said his wallet was stolen while he was at work on September 19. The wallet was in a book bag in the office basement of the bakery and contained $200 and three credit cards.
Arrest: Police stopped a White Plains driver on Walworth Avenue at 5:45 pm on September 19 because they noticed that the Honda Accord he was driving only had a rear license pate. When they checked the plate number, they found it was registered for a 1988 Mazda. The registration sticker on the car was also expired.
The driver of the car identified himself as Mikeel D. Miller age 22 of White Plains, but had no identification on him. He claimed he had just purchased the car and had a title but no other paperwork. In addition, police found that Miller’s driver’s license was suspended for failure to answer a summons from White Plains police.
Police had the man’s car towed and impounded. Miller and his passenger were taken to police headquarters where Miller was charged with driving without a license, driving an uninspected and unregistered vehicle, operating a car without insurance and driving with unregistered plates.
Accident: A Crossway man hit a small deer that ran in front of his car when he was driving on Heathcote Road around 7 pm on 9/23.
Media Alert: The Scarsdale Fire Department called police on the afternoon of 9/23 when a news crew from Channel 5 was interfering with the fire department’s work at the house. The news crew was inside the house and had disregarded a fire department order to stay outside. Water had flooded the basement of a Forest Lane home and Con Edison was working in the area to shut off the power. Whe police arrived, the news crew was packing up.
Fraud: A 26 year-old Crest Lane man was the victim of fraud when he applied for a teaching job in the U.K. He received a contract for a teaching job in Manchester England around September 1 and was instructed to place 800 pounds in a Western Union account. He was told that he needed to forward the funds so that he would not be a liability when he arrived for the job. He later learned that the funds had been removed from his account in Liverpool by an unknown party and advised Western Union of the fraud.
Unwanted Phone Calls: On 9/22 a Popham Road woman reported that she had received two prank calls claiming that she was under investigation for fraud and other offences and requesting that she sign an affadavit. The second caller said she would be arrested. The callers had heavy foreign accents.
On 9/21, a 42 year-old Secor Road woman reported that she is receiving repeated unwanted phone calls from an ex-boyfriend who wants to get back together with her. She said that they broke up in June, he continued to call her in July and August and continues to bother her.
Gedney Farms Residents Object to French American School at Ridgeway
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When the French American School purchased 128 acres in White Plains to consolidate their campuses, some thought it was a win for the school and the community as it would allow the preservation of much of the open space that was once the golf course at Ridgeway Country Club. However, residents of neighboring Gedney Farms see it another way and are lobbying to prevent the school from making Ridgeway their new home.
Terrence Guerriere, a real estate attorney and President of the Gedney Farms Association spoke on WVOX on Monday September 19, to air his concerns. According to Guerriere, Gedney Farms currently houses 1,400 residents who have enjoyed living in relative quiet around the golf course. Residents feel that the influx of 1,200 students, teachers, and administrators would change the character of their peaceful neighborhood. Furthermore, the former country club paid about $300,000 in property taxes to White Plains, and a tax-exempt school would cause White Plains residents to bear an even larger tax burden. The school would require infrastructure changes to sewers and roads and could increase the risk of flooding as much of the property is located on wetlands. In addition, Guerriere contends the school would necessitate an increase in services for sanitation, police and firemen.
The French American School submitted plans for a $60 million four building complex to the city of White Plains in May. If approved, it would allow them to move students from nursery to 12th grade to one campus. Currently the school is housed at three separate locations in Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Scarsdale. A rendering of the proposed project is shown above.
According to the school, “plans for the property would preserve over 60 acres of the site as permanent and publicly accessible open space; restore and enhance the natural conditions of the site; and improve the existing stormwater and drainage conditions of the property. Less than five percent of the site will be covered by impervious surfaces.” However skeptical neighbors wonder who will bear the cost to maintain the 60 acres of open space and wetlands.
If not a school, what would Guerriere prefer to see on the site? “A golf course,” he replied. He claims that the White Plains Comprehensive Plan said that the best use of the property is a golf course, and if not, there should be singl- family homes. According to Guerriere, the area is zoned for ¾ acre lots and since much of the property is wetlands only 30 homes could be built on the 128 acres.
For now, the White Plains Common Council has imposed a moratorium on the development of open space and plans to extend it beyond the October 3rd expiration date. The extension would give the city more time to study land-use laws for four golf courses, the Hutchinson River Parkway Reservation and the Mamaroneck River East Branch.
The French American School is being represented by Attorney Michael Zarin, who represented Frederick Fish, the developer of the Tavern building at the Heathcote Five Corners in Scarsdale. Terrence Guerriere is currently running for a seat on the White Plains Community Council.
In the meantime, the Council did vote to move forward with an environmental review of the French American School’s proposed project.
Assembly Drives Home Safety for Teen Drivers
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Scarsdale High School seniors and their parents attended a Driver Safety Assembly at the school on Tuesday night September 20th. Attendance at the assembly was required for all seniors who want a permit to park at the school. The program was co-sponsored by the SHS Youth Outreach workers, the SHS PTA and the school, because in the words of Interim Co-Principal Fred Goldberg, "While we take great pride in your academic achievements we cherish your safety and well-being."
The Blank family of Rye Brook were invited to tell the heartbreaking tale of how their 16 year-old son paid the ultimate price for driving too fast. Although the Blanks said that recounting this nightmare was the last thing they wanted to do, they chose to share their experience in the hopes that teens will learn from this tragedy and drive safely.
Scarsdale junior Jamie Tanzer described the "Hang a Tear, Prevent a Tear" project she did that won her a Girl Scout Gold Award. Jamie has made over 700 tear drop -shaped pendants that hang on a car's rear view mirror. The Tear is a constant reminder to drive responsibly at all times to avoid the great sadness that can result from accidents caused by irresponsible driving. The Tears, which come with a pledge to drive safely, were handed out at the end of the assembly.
Edgemont Homecoming Success
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After a great start of school for all of Edgemont, the EHS varsity teams proved their prowess on the athletic fields by winning all but one of their homecoming games last week. It was a great week for Edgemont athletics. Here are the results:
- Tuesday - Field Hockey vs. Ursuline: Score 3 to 1
- Wednesday - Volleyball vs. Tuckahoe: Score 3 to 0
- Thursday - Girls' Soccer vs. Mamaroneck: Score 2 to 1
- Friday- Football vs. Ardsley: Score 28 to 20
- Saturday- Boys' Soccer vs. New Rochelle: Score 0 to 1
The enthusiasm was high at Friday night's football game. Check out this cool video clip of Edgemont fans cheering a superb 50 yard defensive Edgemont touchdown!!! http://www.msgvarsity.com/westchester/edgemont-knocks-off-ardsley-1.658824
On Friday night October 14th the E Club will hold their second annual "Family Mini Golf Nite" at the Fairview Golf Center, Elmsford. The event will run from 5:50 to 9 pm and all proceeds benefit Edgemont Athletics. The cost is: $75 for family of 4, $10 for each additional person; $20 for singles. The fee covers unlimited golf and dinner. Contact Club President Mindy Brown at db20wood@gmail.com for more information.
Also on the calendar, parents at the elementary schools are invited to their children's grade coffee nights where they can meet their child's teacher and hear about the upcoming school year. Parent should check the Blue Book for the exact dates of their child's coffee night. On Thursday at the junior/senior high school, parents will attend "Back to School Night," when they actually follow an abbreviated version of their child's school schedule and get a true appreciation of what their child's day is like. Instead of switching periods every 44 minutes though, parents switch every 15 minutes. Student volunteers are always stationed around campus to help the inevitably lost parents find their classrooms. The evening commences at 7 pm in the school cafeteria with a reception hosted by the PTSA for all parents and staff members.
