School Budget Receives 81% Approval from Scarsdale Voters

The Scarsdale School Budget for 2016-17 passed easily on Tuesday May 17, 2016 with an 81% approval rating from 553 voters. Turnout was low, as there was little controversy surrounding the proposed budget, which came in under the calculated tax cap. The total budget is $150,454,297 which is a 1.63% budget to budget increase which will require a tax levy increase of .63%.

This was the first budget vote for Assistant Superintendent Stuart Mattey who replaced Linda Purvis last year. The results of the election were announced by former Scarsdale School Board President Jill Spieler who served as the Chair of the Budget Vote and Election.

Three candidates for service on the Scarsdale School Board were also elected. Lee Maude, who has served as the President of the School Board this year received 462 votes, William Natbony, the current Vice President of the Board got 462 votes. They will both serve an additional 3-year term. Nina Cannon, who will begin her first term in July, received 469 votes. Cannon will replace School Board member Suzanne Seiden who will complete six years on the board in June. All three candidates were nominated by the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee and ran unopposed.

Voters were creative with their 42 write-in votes that included Donald Trump, Pope Francis and Mickey Mouse.

Commenting on her election Cannon said, " I am thrilled to be elected and join with such accomplished and dedicated board members. I look forward to the challenges ahead and collaborating with the board on making policy that will serve the best interest of our students and our district as a whole.

Superintendent Hagerman said: "I am obviously very pleased with the outcome of the budget vote and with 81% we are assuming the vast majority of the community is supporting the work that we are engaged in, the process we used for budgeting this year and the excellence of our education programs." When asked what lies ahead, Hagerman said, "Greenacres would be one of the biggest issues along with stem education, special services we are offering, special programming within the district itself, and continuing to do a good job with the programs we created this year: the elementary school workshops, and keeping innovation critical and creative thinking alive in the schools".