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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 13 December 2023

Created: 13 December 2023

Last Updated: 13 December 2023

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At the Board of Education meeting on Monday December 4th, it was announced that the Scarsdale School District planned to settle a decades old, sexual abuse claim. As described in the Meeting Highlights, Superintendent Dr. Patrick stated:

“You may be aware that in 2019, New York State enacted the Child Victims Act, a law that extends the time frame during which a survivor of childhood sexual abuse can pursue criminal charges against their alleged offender. This legislation allows victims to initiate legal action, regardless of the length of time that has passed since the abuse took place.

In tonight’s consent agenda, the Board is being asked to approve a settlement in a legal matter brought under this legislation. School districts across New York State have been named in lawsuits stemming from the Child Victims Act, including Scarsdale.

The allegations made in the case before the Board tonight date back to the 1970s. If approved, the fully executed agreement will be posted in this meeting’s Board Docs agenda tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. To date, there are four other outstanding claims against the District that include allegations dating back to the 1970s and into the 1990s. As such, none of the cases include claims against any current employee or anyone employed in Scarsdale School in more than 25 years. As these cases fall into the category of pending litigation, I cannot comment further on them at this time.

I will conclude this statement by stating emphatically that we condemn all forms of abuse and mistreatment of children. As educators, we remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of our students through ongoing training with our entire staff, including how to recognize signs of potential abuse and how to report any suspicions of wrongdoing. We take this obligation very, very seriously. Our hearts go out to all victims of abuse and to their loved ones.”

The Settlement Agreement posted to the District website after the meeting on Tuesday December 5th, states that the District has entered into a voluntary agreement with Plaintiff Michael Medeiros, formerly known as Michael Reingold, to pay a monetary settlement of $50,000. The Settlement Agreement further states that the payment “will not be construed as an admission of liability” and also makes clear that the plaintiff agrees to the “unconditional and full release by plaintiff of claims” barring him from taking any further action against the Scarsdale School District, the high school, heirs, agents, assigns, attorneys, or insurance carriers.

The Agreement also requires Mederios to take down all online posts about his complaint and to “no longer publish, disseminate, or otherwise continue to publish any statements” about the Defendant (Scarsdale School District).”

In his complaint, Medeiros alleged that he was sexually abused by an unidentified cafeteria worker in the 1970s.

It was also discovered that, in an effort to gain perspective on the Plaintiff’s character and credibility, the District’s legal counsel “made numerous discovery demands seeking material concerning any and all other litigation that the Plaintiff was involved in.” According to a legal letter addressed to the presiding judge and filed in the case, the Plaintiff’s counsel provided the defense with information on two lawsuits that alleged that the Plaintiff had raped and sexually abused two coworkers. The same letter further stated that the Plaintiff was engaged in another lawsuit against Rockefeller University Hospital alleging that a doctor there had sexually abused him during the same time frame as the alleged abuse took place in Scarsdale. A copy of the letter can be found at the website Trellis.  

SHS Auditorium Renovation

Another highlight from the BOE meeting on December 4th, was an announcement from Andrew Lennon that the Scarsdale High School Auditorium project is moving forward in a timely manner. On November 20th, the architects for the project submitted permit requests to the Facility Planning Department at the New York State Education Department. It is the Facility Department that reviews Capital Projects and issues building permits. Lennon reported that it should take approximately 16 to 18 weeks for them to review, and that the District anticipates getting the permit around the middle of March. This means the District should be able to publish bids by the end of March/beginning of April and to issue contracts for a June start date. According to Lennon, these dates are in accordance with the District’s timeline for the project and keeps us on track for a January 2025 completion.

Belonging Survey

In addition, Dr. Patrick encouraged viewers to take part in the District’s Belonging Survey. In an earlier email to parents he stated, “The parent/caregiver survey measures the sense of belonging experienced by parents and caregivers when engaged with our schools. Parents and caregivers are asked to rate their experience of the school environment, staff practices related to diversity, inclusion, and belonging, and to the degree to which those practices are equitable. We sincerely hope you, our parents and caregivers, will also take the time to share your views about your sense of belonging within the Scarsdale Schools community. Please click here for more information about the belonging survey and click here to visit Search Institute.

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Written by Wendy MacMillan

Published: 10 January 2024

Created: 10 January 2024

Last Updated: 12 January 2024

Hits: 1932

Since the October 7th attacks on Israel, there has not only been a growing (and heartbreaking) sense of cultural division in our communities, but also a shocking and drastic rise in antisemitism. On Thursday January 4th, an antisemitic incident hit close to home when a girl’s varsity basketball game between the Leffell School (a private Jewish day school) and Roosevelt High School Early College Studies, (a public high school in Yonkers) abruptly ended after a few Roosevelt players started to accost Leffell players with antisemitic slurs. According to one of the Leffell players, who wrote about the experience for their school newspaper, “We did not want to continue this game after the third quarter, as it no longer felt respectful as the other team did not show sportsmanlike conduct. Instead of responding to hatred with more of the same, we chose to separate ourselves from the situation and leave with dignity and pride in who we are and what we believe in.”

In encouraging news, condemnation of the incident has been swift and plentiful with many in the Westchester community speaking out against the behavior. It is reported that Roosevelt High School officials, including their athletic director, immediately reached out to the Leffell School administration to apologize and to let them know they were investigating the incident and were taking disciplinary actions. What’s more, the Yonkers Public Schools shared that, "After a thorough review of videos taken at the game and interviews with those who witnessed the incident, the Yonkers Public Schools dismissed the coach and one player from the Roosevelt basketball team.”

Soon after, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and the Yonkers Public Schools Interim Superintendent Luis Rodriguez issued a joint statement which read, "The Yonkers Public Schools along with the City of Yonkers sincerely apologize to the students and community of The Leffell School for the painful and offensive comments made to their women’s basketball team during a recent game with Roosevelt High School- Early College Studies, collectively, we do not and will not tolerate hate speech of any kind from our students and community. The antisemitic rhetoric reportedly made against the student athletes of The Leffell School are abhorrent, inappropriate and not in line with the values we set forth for our young people."

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, "Westchester does not tolerate hate of any type: racism, antisemitism, prejudice expressed toward Women, LGBTQ individuals, Muslims, Asian Americans, Hispanics, the disabled. We are stronger because of our diversity and every group must respect the integrity of every other group."

State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin commented, "We cannot allow anti-semitism to be normalized. If we do we allow our society to go to a very dark place. We cannot allow this type of openly expressed antisemitism at a school or anywhere. It cannot be addressed with a mere slap of the wrist. As New Yorkers, and Americans, we have a responsibility to look out for one another, and uphold tolerance and respect. I hold our school districts, and all people, to this higher standard.” 

On January 8th, Congressman Jamaal Bowman released a statement which began by declaring, “There is no place for antisemitism on the court, in our schools, or any other place in our society. The behavior and harmful rhetoric displayed during Thursday’s game is unacceptable, and it’s our job as parents and educators to teach against hate in all forms so our children can learn and do better. Sports are spaces where we come together in friendly competition to build character and community with one another.”

Perhaps even more encouraging than the words of condemnation, is the call to use the unfortunate incident as an opportunity to learn and grow.

In a letter to the New York State Board of Regents, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner called on the Board to not only further investigate the incident but to also explore, “ What action steps should all school districts in New York State take to reduce the possibility of these kind of hateful incidents taking place in the future?” And encouraged the Board of Regents to, “Consult with the Anti-Defamation League, the state Human Rights Commissions and other groups, and religious leaders in strengthening guidelines and requirements.”

It seems the Yonkers School District is already taking action on their own accord, "Along with Mayor Spano’s convening of religious, educational and civic leaders, Yonkers Public Schools also will administer further counseling and guided training sessions amongst the school community to prevent this from happening again."

In addition to his initial condemnation, on January 8th George Latimer issued another statement in which he explained that his office “has invited Section 1 leaders, coaches and players to participate in an Education Round Table. This initiative, organized in collaboration with the Westchester County Human Rights Commission and the Westchester County Youth Bureau, aims to facilitate open dialogue, promote understanding and provide education on how to engage with fellow players with respect and dignity.” The statement goes on, “In addition, the County is organizing a training session for Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation staff working at the Westchester County Center during the Section 1 Tournament. This training is designed to ensure that all staff, patrons and players are treated with the utmost respect and dignity, fostering a positive and inclusive atmosphere.”

While some may be appeased by the disciplinary actions taken, many in our community wonder how we can prevent incidents like this from happening again, how can we ensure that our young students learn from their missteps, and what we can do to avoid creating more anger and resentment but to truly nurture a sense of understanding, empathy, and healthy discourse? Though the Yonkers Public School District and George Latimer are taking actionable steps in a positive direction, some have asked, “What can we do as parents, friends, and educators to ensure we are fostering a safe and welcoming community for all?”

According to educational experts, we can start by:

-Providing students with opportunities in the classroom to discuss controversial topics, including the current situation in Israel and Gaza, so that they learn the skills necessary to do this effectively.

-Encouraging students to engage in programs that are meant to create healthy relationships among students, such as the opportunities for community building inherent in athletic and extracurricular activities.

-Approaching discipline in these situations in a graduated fashion and considering aspects such as the severity of the situation and whether it is a first incident for a student. Try to accompany consequences with counseling and, when appropriate, restorative conversations with the affected student(s).

-Parents can help by discussing multiple perspectives, sharing news sources from various viewpoints, and helping their children understand how to disagree without being disagreeable, as well as monitoring social media use and sharing tips about healthy curation and screen time, acknowledging that this is a challenge for all of us.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 17 November 2023

Created: 17 November 2023

Last Updated: 17 November 2023

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You're invited to celebrate 85 years of continuing education at the Scarsdale Adult School afternoon of learning on Sunday December 3, from 1-4 at Temple Israel, New Rochelle. Click here to sign up.

Full program enrollees will receive a signed copy of King: A Life (2023) by keynote speaker Jonathan Eig. Additional signed copies will be available for purchase at the event.

Gently used coats and books for any age group will be accepted for donation to other local nonprofits.

The celebration begins with keynote speaker, Jonathan Eig, in conversation with Lori Rotskoff from 1:00pm to 2:15pm. The celebration continues with three concurrent lectures from 2:30pm to 3:30pm from notable SAS instructors Nicholas Birns (Breakout Session One), Francis Morrone (Breakout Session Two), and Tey Meadow (Breakout Session Three). The day concludes with a Champagne Reception and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony from 3:30pm to 4:00pm.

Schedule of Events

1:00pm-2:15pm – Keynote: Jonathan Eig, King: A Life (2023)
Eig's latest New York Times bestseller, King: A Life, was long-listed for the 2023 National Book Award. Vividly written and exhaustively researched, the book is an intimate portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr., the courageous and often troubled preacher who demanded peaceful protest for his movement but was rarely at peace with himself. The acclaimed author will appear in conversation with Lori Rotskoff, cultural historian and moderator of many SAS book discussions. Informed by insatiable curiosity and formidable storytelling gifts, Eig will illuminate how he uncovered revelatory information about MLK and his complex relationships with the FBI, his wife and children, and fellow activists, as well as broader lessons learned while researching previous subjects, including Lou Gehrig, Muhammad Ali, and the visionary inventors of the birth control pill. He will also speak about upcoming theatrical, TV and film adaptations; Universal Studios has optioned the rights to King: A Life for a film by executive producer Steven Spielberg and producer/director Chris Rock. Time will be reserved for Q&A.

JONATHAN EIG has been praised by documentary filmmaker Ken Burns as a “master storyteller." He was born in Brooklyn, began his writing career at age 16 working for his hometown newspaper, the Rockland County Journal News, and graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He worked as a reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the Dallas Morning News, Chicago Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal and as a feature writer for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Chicago Magazine, and other publications. He has authored six books, including his most recent King: A Life. His previous book, Ali: A Life, won a 2018 PEN America Literary Award and was a finalist for the Mark Lynton History Prize. Eig's first book, Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig, reached No. 10 on the New York Times bestseller list and won the Casey Award. He has appeared on the Today Show, NPR's Fresh Air, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. But his greatest claim to fame, according to his parents, is that his name once appeared in a Jeopardy question (which was solved correctly for $200). He lives in Chicago with his wife and children and shares office space with the laundry machines.

LORI ROTSKOFF is a cultural historian, writer, and educator committed to adult education. She is the author/co-editor of two books and the recipient of grants from the American Historical Association and the Radcliffe Institute.

2:30pm-3:30pm – Breakout Session One: American Protest Music in Literary and Cultural Contexts
Political protests influenced the lyrics and literature at the time of Scarsdale Adult School’s founding. Learn about and listen to American protest music from the 1930s to 1950s, including the works of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Billie Holiday. Contextualize the music scene within the broader currents in and problems of American literary culture.

NICHOLAS BIRNS is an adjunct instructor at NYU and is the author of many books and articles on modern world literature. He has written on Moby-Dick and published in Leviathan: A Journal of Melville Studies.

2:30pm-3:30pm – Breakout Session Two: New York Art Scene Circa 1938
Eight-five years ago, émigré artists were fleeing Europe to settle in New York, the Federal Art Project sponsored by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) under the New Deal was underway, and new art museums and galleries were beginning to populate the city’s landscape. Explore the influence on the New York art scene of Fernand Léger, George Grosz, Pavel Tchelitchew, Hans Hofmann, and Salvador Dalí, and American artists Reginald Marsh, Edward Hopper, Jackson Pollock, Stuart Davis, and others. Step back in time to view scenes from and learn the origins of the now famous Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Downtown Gallery, the Julien Levy Gallery, and more. Vintage photographs illustrate the thoroughly researched narration of the city’s rich cultural history.

FRANCIS MORRONE is an architectural historian and writer and the author of eleven books, including, with Robin Lynn, Guide to New York City Urban Landscapes (W.W. Norton, 2013) and, with Henry Hope Reed, The New York Public Library: The Architecture and Decoration of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (W.W. Norton, 2011), as well as architectural guidebooks to Philadelphia and to Brooklyn. He was an art and architecture critic for the New York Sun for six and a half years, and his writings appear in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, the New Criterion, City Journal, and Humanities. He received the Excellence in Teaching Award from NYU School of Professional Studies, and the Landmarks Lion Award of the Historic Districts Council. Travel and Leisure magazine named him one of the 13 best tour guides in the world.

2:30pm-3:30pm – Breakout Session Three: Transgender Kids Today
Something about gender is changing. From courtrooms to classrooms, discussions about transgender children seem to be everywhere. Why do some children have strong gender identities that differ from what others expect? What is fueling the current controversy? What should trans children be able to do? What can they really know about themselves? Explore the current political moment and the families and children it impacts. Audience questions about trans youth and their lives will help guide the discussion.

TEY MEADOW is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Columbia University, where she conducts research on contemporary issues related to gender and sexuality and teaches courses to undergraduates and PhD students on gender and sexuality, queer theory, qualitative methodology, law, and the analytics of risk and uncertainty. She is the author of Trans Kids: Being Gendered in the Twenty-First Century (University of California Press, 2018) and the co-editor of Other, Please Specify: Queer Methods in Sociology (University of California Press, 2018). Meadow’s published works appear in academic journals and focus on a broad range of issues, including the emergence of the transgender child as a social category, the international politics of family diversity, the creation and maintenance of legal gender classifications, and the ways individuals negotiate risk in intimate relationships.

3:30pm-4:00pm – Champagne Reception and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Our celebration will end with a champagne reception and, of course, there will be cake! Raise a toast for the debut of a figurative SAS Hall of Fame to honor those whose efforts have contributed to SAS’s success and longevity. The inaugural inductees will be Alfred Hunt and Harriet Langsam Sobol. These two long standing teachers have been engaging students and developing a devoted following for years at SAS, with Hunt leading history and current events courses and Sobol organizing writing and book discussion classes. Jonathan Cobert, who provides the live entertainment in the popular Movement to Music classes, will be performing.

Click here to register today.