Our Schools Are Worth It: A Case for Voting “Yes” on May 19th

(The following letter was written by The Scarsdale Parent-Teacher Council Executive Committee

Dear Editor,
On Tuesday, May 19th, Scarsdale residents will have the opportunity to vote on the school budget and bond, and the Scarsdale Parent-Teacher Council Executive Committee is urging our community to vote “YES” on both.

We understand that budget season brings real questions. Taxes are not abstract as they are felt by every household in Scarsdale, and we respect that residents are weighing this vote carefully. That thoughtfulness is a reflection of our engaged, conscientious community.

We want to speak directly to anyone who is uncertain, or who may have heard arguments for voting “no”: please consider what is actually at stake.

Scarsdale’s schools are not just excellent; they are exceptional in ways that take generations to build and that can erode far more quickly than they were built. Our nationally recognized academic programs, small class sizes, diverse curricula, and talented, experienced faculty exist because this community has consistently chosen to invest in them. A “no” vote on the budget would likely unwind that investment in immediate and impactful ways: larger classes, further reductions in aides and staff, fewer electives, cuts to non-sanctioned, JV, and VarB sports, reduced enrichment programming, and limits on academic innovation.

The bond vote is equally consequential. Our school buildings, many of which are over a century old, have infrastructure needs that cannot be wished away. Voting “no” does not make those needs disappear. Families at Fox Meadow and Edgewood are already experiencing overcrowding. Students at Heathcote, Quaker Ridge, and Greenacres lack air conditioning in key areas. Our fields remain in short supply. These are not hypothetical future problems — they are present realities that grow more expensive and more disruptive to address with every year of inaction.

Scarsdale has always understood that great schools do not sustain themselves. They require commitment, year after year, from the community that depends on them. Strong schools are also the foundation of Scarsdale’s property values — a fact that matters to every homeowner in our community, not just those with children currently enrolled.

On Tuesday, May 19th, we hope you will vote “YES” on the school budget and bond for our students, our teachers, and the Scarsdale we all chose to call home.

Sincerely,
The Scarsdale Parent-Teacher Council Executive Committee:
Erica German, PTC President
Rokaya Hassaballa, PTC President Elect
Shilpa Spencer, PTC Treasurer
Jeannie Adashek, PTC Secretary