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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 18 October 2022

Created: 18 October 2022

Last Updated: 18 October 2022

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To the Editor,

When you go to the polls to vote this fall, please remember to turn your ballot over and vote YES for Proposition 1, the $4.2 billion New York Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act.

Proceeds from this bond issue will offer every community in New York State the opportunity to:

• Mitigate climate change through the purchase of electric school buses, creation of green buildings, addressing air and water pollution, especially in disadvantaged communities, etc.
• Reduce flooding risks through property buyouts, shoreline protection, waterfront revitalization, etc.
• Provide open space and land conservation through land acquisition, farmland protection, expansion of fish hatcheries, etc.
• Improve water quality through municipal water infrastructure improvements, upgrading storm water systems, etc.

Fully 35-40% of the funds will be devoted to the disadvantaged communities that have borne the brunt of air and water pollution in the past, and the projects financed by the bonds are projected to create more than 84,000 good paying green jobs. And the financing of the bonds will result in no noticeable increase in your state taxes.

It’s a win-win-win for everyone in New York.

So Flip-Your-Ballot and vote YES for Proposition 1. We’ll all be better off for that.

Sincerely,

Joel E. Gingold
55 Nordica Drive
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 13 October 2022

Created: 13 October 2022

Last Updated: 14 October 2022

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Jamaal BowmanCongressman Jamaal Bowman and candidate Miriam Flisser exchanged views at a candidates’ forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Westchester on October 11, 2022. The two are running to represent Congressional District 16. Bowman, the Democratic Party candidate is in the midst of serving his first term. He was challenged in the Democratic primary in June 2022 by Catherine Parker and Vedat Gashi and emerged with more votes than Gashi and Parker combined.

Flisser did not have a primary challenger.

On October 11, 2022 the two answered questions posed by Kathy Manning of the LWV. With almost two years of experience under his belt in Congress, Bowman was able to cite specific legislative achievements in response to many of the questions while Flisser related her professional and personal experiences and opinions. Bowman voiced his support of progressive legislation on gun control, voting rights, education and housing, while Flisser expressed a more conservative agenda for limitations on gun control, an aggressive military, a strong border and some limitations on a woman’s right to choose.

Flisser is a pediatrician in Bronxville and Bowman was an educator before he was elected to Congress in 2020.

The two diverged most sharply on the subject of abortion and gun control.Miriam Flisser

About the right to an abortion, Flisser said, “I am a NYS licensed physician. I feel that NYS should provide proper supervision. It should involve timing, it should involve the personnel who should be doctors and if this happens to a young woman it should involve adult supervision.”

Bowman said, “It’s deplorable that the Supreme Court made this decision. It was supposed to be settled law and they overturned it. We need ethics reform at the Supreme Court to make sure that justices are held accountable for what they said at the hearings. I support expanding the court and imposing term limits. People like Clarence Thomas who have made a mockery of the court in recent years need to be held accountable for their actions.

The two also disagreed on gun control.

Bowman said, “We need a ban on assault weapons. We need to close gun show and online loopholes. We (the House) passed gun control reform legislation that has not passed the Senate. However we did expand background checks, on those 21 and under, closed the domestic violence loophole and expanded mental health supports in communities and schools. We have done some work but there is lots more to do.”

In her response, Flisser seemed to voice support for gun owners. She said, “We are a nation of laws. Going after law abiding citizens because we are in a crime crisis is not the solution. Don’t put law abiding citizens in the spotlight when we are in a gun crisis.”

Bowman asked for a rebuttal and corrected Flisser, saying, “The gunmen in Sandy Hook, Columbine, Uvalde and Buffalo were law abiding citizens. We have a problem with guns and we need to deal with it.”

Responding to a question about America’s role on the international front, here is what the candidates said:

Flisser said, “The U.S. must remain leaders of the world. It is important that we re-establish our leadership presence.”

Bowman said, “The pathway to peace is diplomacy not colonialism or imperialism. It is not racism and discrimination. We are the strongest nation on earth. We need to use that strength to bring people to the table for diplomatic solutions. We have lost our way because of our perspective on military might and on policing the world.”

About immigration, Bowman said, “I support amnesty for immigrants who are here illegally. Immigrants drive our economy. We have always welcomed people who need asylum. I went to the border with FEMA – where we invested more in police that we did in supporting these families…. The Border Patrol told me that the vast majority of the people who come here are not criminals. They are here to seek a better life.”

Flisser said, “When I came to this country we had to show we had a relative to support us. Now little girls are abused on the way in. We must repair this. The boys are recruited into criminal behavior. I think we need a comprehensive review. This must be overhauled. It is a complete failure.”

Watch the entire forum here:

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 05 October 2022

Created: 05 October 2022

Last Updated: 05 October 2022

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A member of the Scarsdale Board of Education offered a fervent apology for remarks she made at an open house at the middle school two weeks ago, when she overstepped the rules of decorum for board members and parents as well.

Jessica Resnick-Ault who is now serving her second year of a three year term as a member of the school board made comments that were in her own words, “inappropriate for the venue,” and “put the teacher on the spot and in an uncomfortable situation.”

According to witnesses, during a session about the foreign language program with about 150 others, Resnick-Ault, speaking in Spanish, expressed her discontent with the program and asked why students were not “conversational” by ninth or tenth grade. She proposed, “maybe the board needs to look at world language?” Apparently her remarks were lengthy, and embarrassed and humiliated faculty members.

At the Board of Education meeting on October 3, she said, “I should have understood going into this what their effect would be. My comments made the Board members work more challenging….To date the highpoint of serving on this board has been the opportunity to see the innovations of our faculty. I am embarrassed and saddened to harm the trust our leadership has worked hard to build….I violated that norm 2 weeks ago.”

“(I know that) concerns must go first to a teacher, then to a department chair. I gave the misimpression that I was calling for curricular changes. These are not rolled out by the board. We are in the midst of choosing our next leader which requires collaboration.”

Pledging to change her ways she said, “I have been honored to participate in this work and hope to continue. I will take guidance from Amber Yusuf, Ron Schulhof, and Drew Patrick. I will work with a former board member. I will be sure to make regular contact with my board buddies. I will take additional board training and legal training offered by NYSSMA. I will follow the parent engagement protocol and will act in word and deeds. I have stepped back from PTA role and someone else will lead the community book talk.”

During public comments, two parents appeared to be defending Resnick-Ault.

Mayra Kirkendall Rodriguez, who was with Resnick-Ault at the open house and made similar comments about the language program that night called into the Board meeting via Zoom. Among other comments she said, “I hope that the squelching of free speech has not arrived in Scarsdale.”

Rachna Singh followed, saying, “I would like to piggyback on what Mayra said. I was confused about the policy for parent questions at open houses; provide us with guidelines on parent protocols.”

Interim Superintendent Drew Patrick responded to the two, saying, “I think the comment about free speech being squelched is out of bounds. A presentation to 150 parents is not the time to ask questions about individual students. We have protocols for helping students be their own agents, for parents to raise concerns and for complaints to be addressed.”

Hoax Threats

Eric Rauschenbach informed the board that the FBI shared information with the district about a hoax caller who claims there is an active shooter. Rauschenbach said the safety team met to discuss how they would deal with this threat. He said, “We will respond as if it is a real emergency until we learn otherwise. We have put extra procedures and precautions in place. We are working closely with SPD on a response. The hoax has been played out at a number of institutions.”

Muslim Holidays

Also during public comments, two Muslim students came to the mic to ask that the Scarsdale Schools close during their holidays. Serena Malik of 77 Tunstall Road said “Scarsdale has been focused on DEI, but there is so much more to do. I have to miss a day of school to celebrate my holiday. It’s stressful. After I pray and celebrate I have to do all the work I missed. There are 150 Muslim students in this district.” Another student named Aisha said, “It’s a struggle to make up school days missed from Muslim holidays. Religious holidays are spent stressing over missed school. There is a way to adjust the schedule for one day … all we are asking for is one day to decorate our houses.”

Interim Superintendent Drew Patrick told the students they did a beautiful job representing their concerns. He said, “We will begin our calendar discussion in a month. We will take your feedback to the conversation.”

State Test Results

Assistant Superintendent Edgar McIntosh discussed the results of state testing for third through eighth grades. He explained that this year, the state did not provide percentiles on the reports to allow Scarsdale to compare our results to those of other districts. Instead he said, “We will compare 2022 to past years results but do not have the statewide comparison.” He said an education report will be provided at the October 24, 2022 meeting of the Board.

Facilities

Stuart Mattey reported that food service is now available at Edgewood, Fox Meadow and Heathcote and he is “hoping for Quaker Ridge next week.” Food service at Greenacres is scheduled to begin on October 19.

Mattey also gave an update on facilities and said that a committee has been meeting regularly to discuss the completion of the renovation of the Scarsdale High School auditorium, which is being done in a “piecemeal” fashion. The curtain and rigging system has been replaced and LED lights have been installed. A final scope of work is being developed and it is expected that it will cost $3.4 million to improve the acoustical experience and the overall aesthetic. A full presentation of the recommendation and funding options will be made at the November 14, 2022 meeting.

He also reported that other projects had been completed including:

Classroom unit ventilator replacement and electrical panel upgrades at Quaker Ridge, the middle school and the high school

At Heathcote, a new boiler and air conditioning in the gym.

Courtyard site and drainage improvements at the middle school.

See more on facilities updates here:

A video of the meeting has not yet been posted on the district website.

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Written by: Wendy MacMillan

Published: 26 September 2022

Created: 26 September 2022

Last Updated: 26 September 2022

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Are you easily distracted by the ping of your cell phone? Do you look to your phone for instant entertainment when you have a free minute or for comfort when you want to avoid awkward situations? Do you keep your phone on you at all times so you can frequently check in? Well you are certainly not alone, it turns out smartphones can be highly addictive. As helpguide.org explains, “Like the use of drugs and alcohol, they [smartphones] can trigger the release of the brain chemical dopamine and alter your mood. You can also rapidly build up tolerance so that it takes more and more time in front of these screens to derive the same pleasurable reward.”

What's more, screen addiction and overuse of smartphones has been shown to cause a myriad of problems including increased feelings of depression and impaired academic performance. According to the Center For Humane Technology, “Technology's constant interruptions and precisely-targeted distractions are taking a toll on our ability to think, to focus, to solve problems, and to be present with each other.”

Unfortunately, many teachers at Scarsdale High School are seeing the side effects of cell phones on students in the classroom. Mrs. Jennifer Rosenzweig, an English teacher at SHS and the co-chair of the teacher Wellness Committee explains, “As a group of English teachers, we started to notice that our students do not have the same capability to read difficult texts as students did even ten years ago…we see first-hand how the rise in phone use is intricately tied to an inability to focus or sustain concentration in addition to an increase in levels of anxiety.”

Motivated to help her students and the larger SHS community, Mrs. Rosenzweig played a large role in creating the “Off And Away For The Day” initiative where students are encouraged to use their cell phones mindfully. After recently attending the “Off And Away For the Day” presentation at the high school, I had the privilege of speaking with Mrs. Rosenzweig and some of her colleagues, to help me better understand what “mindful cellphone use'' means and how students (and parents) can get started.

While the new initiative at SHS encourages students to keep their phones in their backpacks during class and in the hallways, it also makes room for limited and mindful use during free periods. When asked to define mindful cellphone use, Mrs. Rosenzweig explained that “It should be approached in the same way we would practice any sort of mindfulness, by bringing our attention to, and focusing on the present moment in a non-judgmental way. With our phones, that might look like trying to take notice of the reasons we reach for our phone, how the phone feels physically in our hand, and what emotions using the phone evokes. It is important to remember that our intention is to simply recognize the sensations and to not pass any sort of judgment on ourselves or our feelings.” Mrs. Rosenzweig also describes “reflection” as being an integral aspect of mindful phone use. After scrolling on or playing games on their phones, she encourages her students to check in with how that time on their phones made them feel (i.e.do you feel tired or have a headache?) and to try to remember those feelings the next time they reach for their devices.

Ms. Lauren Pomerantz, a social worker at SHS adds, “We all need to be reminded about how to live mindfully and be present in the moment. As in other forms of mindfulness, it starts with noticing our behavior so that we can evaluate and reflect. Being mindful with our phones can help us discover whether we are in need of information, bored, avoidant, anxious, looking for connection…”

Dr. Peter Faustino, a SHS psychologist, clarified that “An important developmental skill [for adolescents] is self-regulation and agency (act independently and effectively to control their own lives). Our mindful cell phone initiative seeks to raise awareness about habit forming social media, educating students on the research regarding cell-phone use and the developing brain, as well as making individual choices to curb their behaviors.”

Most of us probably find it pretty easy to grasp why mindful smartphone use is so important, but actually changing our behavior can prove to be a lot more difficult. While students at SHS are starting with “Off And Away For The Day,” I asked our experts what other strategies and tips they suggest to make this an easier habit to adopt.

Ms. Pomerantz suggests, “One practical place to start is designating times to check your phone. If you are someone who is used to checking every few minutes, it may be that you start to check hourly. Even turning over your phone at first is a place to start. Gradual steps may help figure out what works best for you.”

Mrs. Rosenzweig offered a few other tips but highly recommends that everyone check out The Center For Humane Technology as an exceptional resource for a wealth of information about this topic. Here are just a few of their suggested strategies:

-Turn off notifications for all apps
-Remove toxic apps such as Tik Tok
-Download helpful tools such as Freedom which blocks distractions across your devices
-Set boundaries by having device free dinners at home
-Fully disconnect for one day

Though all of these experts agree that we can’t change behaviors and form good habits overnight, they do believe that each small step we take toward mindful phone use is a step in the right direction. In fact, Dr. Faustino describes some of the success already achieved at SHS, “Since we have started, I have seen much more eye contact and social engagement within the building and in the hallways. And even if I see a student who is looking into their device, with a simple "Good morning - How are you?" they will put the phone in their pocket and engage with me. It feels like human connections are coming back!” Lauren Pomerantz adds that, “This [mindful phone use] is an example of where Scarsdale shines in the ability to partner with students, faculty, administration, parents, and the community.”For more information about mindfulness please click here. 

For more information about children and screen time including how screen time affects the developing brain, visit here and here.

Lastly, this TED TALK "How to Get Your Brain to Focus", discusses the effects of screen time on creativity and has been used in several classes at SHS.

Wendy MacMillan is a former teacher and now a proud mom of two, school aged children. With a background in psychology, education, and mindfulness, Wendy has long been passionate about wellness and helping others.