Superintendent Says Accusations are Factually Baseless and Untrue

Scarsdale Superintendent Drew Patrick issued the following statement to the Scarsdale community on February 13, concerning the accusation of racial slurs at a Varsity Girls B Team game against East Ramapo on Feburary 10. He says below that an investigation has determined that the accusations are “factually baseless and untrue.” Also read a statement from Scarsdale parent Jason Paris who was in the stands at the game.

Dear Scarsdale Community,

Good evening- I hope you're in good spirits as you read this message. I am writing to provide clear and direct information related to last Saturday’s Girls Varsity B basketball game against East Ramapo. Unfortunately, recent media reports are painting an inaccurate picture of what transpired, so I would like our community to hear an account of the event from me, and an update on where things stand.

First, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to everyone involved in the recent Raiders for Research event. The collaboration between the athletic department, particularly the boys' and girls' basketball teams, and Scarsdale High School’s Breast Cancer Awareness Club, was instrumental in raising awareness and support for cancer research. Each of our basketball teams participated, with games spanning from 9 AM to nearly 9 PM. The event exceeded the fundraising target, raising $2,062 for the V Foundation. Congratulations to the players, coaches, and families that played a role in this great event.

Unfortunately, in the final moments of the 3:00 PM Varsity B Girls’ Basketball Game against East Ramapo, the opposing coach reported that his players were subjected to racially charged comments from a spectator or spectators. Our commitment to belonging and a safe, supportive environment for all students—free from discrimination, intimidation, harassment, and bullying—compels us to investigate all such reports. That investigation was ably led by our Athletic Director, Ray Pappalardi, and I’m happy to report that our investigation did not corroborate that there were any such comments made. While East Ramapo’s administration is still completing their side of the investigation, their Athletic Director joined Ray in issuing a joint statement yesterday that conveyed this conclusion.

Despite this, the news media has decided to report this incident as if it has been confirmed and verified as having occurred--a factually baseless and untrue assertion. While we are absolutely committed to providing a safe environment for our students and visitors alike, we must also be clear when we are wrongly accused of failing to do so. Importantly, the administrators from East Ramapo have not yet completed their side of the investigation, making the news reports even more problematic. Ray and I have each been in contact with our counterparts there, and we know that they seek the same positive experience for their student-athletes as we do. We look forward to the completion of their investigation, ideally by the end of this week. We will report any relevant updates or additional information, as appropriate, once that has been completed.

In closing, we remain steadfast in our support of our players, our community, and a school environment that celebrates diversity and mutual respect. We are proud of how our athletes conducted themselves this weekend, and congratulate them. Our students will continue to meet or exceed the high expectations we have for them, and we will all remain committed to fostering a welcoming, competitive athletic environment for all of our guests.

Sincerely,

Dr. Drew Patrick
Superintendent