Board Subcommittee Recommends Eliminating Cap on PTA Gifts
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PTA leaders came out in force to a discussion of the District's gift policy that now limits gifts from district PTA's to $10,000, a cap that is not placed on gifts from any other organizations.
A Policy Subcommittee of the Board of Education was formed to consider such questions and is lead by Board member Bill Natbony. On Tuesday evening he led the subcommittee through a consideration of the current gift policy (Policy 1800) and provision E which imposes the limits on PTA's.
The current gift policy governs the acceptance of monetary and material gifts to the district and requires among other provisions that:
Only the Board of Education or Superintendent can accept gifts valued at more than $1,000.
The Board can refuse gifts that do not "contribute toward the achievement of District goals "or would deplete District resources to maintain.
The policy bars acceptance of gifts to a "particular school" that would "lead to a disparity from school to school in the quality of education or programming.
The meeting opened with a plea from PT Council President Pam Feuhrer to omit the provision that limits PTA gifts to $10,000 and to permit the PT Council to formulate their own policy, saying, "We would prefer this policy disappear altogether, and that the PT Council, with PTA leadership and input from the principals, the Administration, and the Board of Education, be offered the opportunity to create a policy of our own."
She also emphasized that the PTA's follow procedures for gifts that involve all the key players. "We have current practices that, by definition, have become PTA Standing Rules. One current procedure, not written down but regularly followed at every school, guarantees principal and building involvement from day one. Gifts, if not suggested by the principal, are always first discussed with and must be allowed by the principal. Once approved by the principal and then by PTA membership, PTA gift requests are formally requested of the school principal, who then forwards the request letter to the superintendent. While not a component of an existing gift policy, this practice has become a PTA Standing Rule."
Natbony guided the group through a discussion of whether the Board needed to re-draft the gift policy or just address the limitation on PTA gifts. Committee members Chris Morin and Scott Silberfein felt that the current gift policy was working and that there would be little purpose in re-writing the whole provision. Superintendent Hagerman said, "the policy has stood up over time."
Suzanne Seiden said that she believed there should not be a separate policy for PTA gifts. Gose expressed concern about managing disparities between schools. Seiden feared that removal of the cap might create pressure to raise considerable funds, saying, "If we take away the cap there might be a race to raise more money instead of doing programming for the parents. It might create pressure."
Ultimately the group agreed that there was no need for a new gift policy, though the PTA limitation should be addressed.
After considerable discussion, Natbony proposed that the subcommittee make a recommendation to the full Board of Education for a "two year trial of removal of the cap – coupled with a request to the PT Council to develop a set of uniform gifting guidelines that would involved the principals and would include annual school-specific gift plans."
Member voted 3-1 in favor of this recommendation.
Next up, the Policy Subcommittee will consider Village hiring policies.
The Virtues of a Cluttered Workspace
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As a Professional Organizer I spend my days teaching organizing skills and asserting the virtues of maintaining organized, clutter-free homes and workspaces. My sister-in-law recently sent me article about messy rooms and why creative people need their clutter. The author of the article argued that creative people should be entitled to their messes because it feeds their imagination. As shocking as this may sound coming from a Professional Organizer, I must acknowledge that on many levels I agree with the author of the article. I especially loved the quote he used to support his objective. It was a quote from Albert Einstein - "If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, then what are we to think of an empty desk?"
Now, I like to think of myself as a creative person, and one of my hobbies is crafting homemade greeting cards. I spend hours designing unique cards to send to friends and family for birthdays, weddings, graduations, etc. I even have an entire area in my home devoted to my crafting supplies. This hobby may sound hypocritical given that I advocate clients "let go" of unnecessary clutter, and greeting cards could certainly fall into that category. It does not bother me if my family throws away my one-of-a-kind card; the joy was in creating it and sending it off. Besides, I photograph all my cards before I send them so I have a digital record of my work. My sister-in-law who sent me the article collects the greeting cards I have sent over the years and displays them in a beautiful glass bowl in her living room. These cards bring her joy so it is only right that she keep them. I must confess that I love revisiting my special creations when I visit her.
Not only am I creative, but I also have two highly creative children. Are they messy? You bet! I always had the rule that they could keep their bedrooms in any condition they wanted (well, except on the day the housekeeper came to clean), but they were expected to keep the common areas of the house clean and clutter-free. Several times a year, usually around the change of season, I would work with them in their bedrooms to de-clutter and sort through toys, books, clothes, and schoolwork. This was my opportunity to impart my organizational skills to them. Now that they are adults, I know I was successful at transferring my skills. They both have a tendency to be messy, but they know how and when to "pull it together" when it counts. The bottom line is being messy is fine as long as it doesn't interfere with your safety, productivity, mood, relationships, schoolwork or livelihood.
Jocelyn is a member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) and ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization). Jocelyn has been helping Westchester residents organize their homes for the past seven years. Jocelyn is skilled at identifying her clients needs and implementing personalized and useful ways to manage the contents of their homes. A mother of two grown children, Jocelyn lives in Scarsdale, NY with her husband and three cats. Jocelyn can be reached at Jocelyn@kenner.org or www.seeyourwayclear.com.
Msgr. William O'Brien Remembered for Pioneering Work in Drug Rehabilitation
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Monsignor William B. O'Brien died on October 19, at St. Pius X Rectory in Scarsdale. He was 90. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Pius X Church on Saturday Oct. 24 at 10:30 a.m.
Monsignor O'Brien leaves behind an impactful legacy. He was a seminal figure in residential drug treatment, and his pioneering work earned him worldwide recognition and appreciation. In 1963, he founded a drug rehabilitation program, Daytop (Drug Addicts Yield to Persuasion), on Staten Island. Daytop was extremely influential as it changed the way addiction was viewed and treated.
Monsignor O'Brien was also co-founder of the World Federation of Therapeutic Communities. Under his guidance, this global movement established groundbreaking treatment programs worldwide. Furthermore, as a trusted adviser to heads of state, as well as to His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Monsignor O'Brien helped shape policies that have radically improved treatment programs around the world. He was the author of the highly acclaimed book, "You Can't Do It Alone: The Daytop Way to Make Your Child Drug Free." He also published numerous papers in national and international journals, and these have inspired generations of treatment professionals.
Nevertheless, Monsignor O'Brien remained a simple parish priest at heart. He was as deeply devoted to his parishioners at St. Brendan's in the Bronx as he was to residents in treatment and their families.
According to an obituary prepared by Saint Pius X Church, "Monsignor O'Brien will be remembered as a truly extraordinary man of staggering faith, integrity, warmth and loyalty. His impact on drug treatment has been – and will continue to be – profound and lasting. Monsignor O'Brien's enduring legacy will be his selfless dedication to saving young lives and his unswerving devotion to his church and God."
Monsignor O'Brien's commitment to helping individuals affected by drugs began early in his career. As a young priest stationed at St. Patrick's Cathedral, people would frequently drop by at all hours asking for help and wanting to speak with a priest. Monsignor O'Brien always made himself available, and during this time, he met with many concerned parents who were worried about their children and drug abuse. It was 1957 and the opening chapter in America's modern age of drug abuse.
As a priest, Monsignor O'Brien knew he had a responsibility to act. So he began a journey in search of a solution. Six years later, he created this solution through the founding of Daytop. Since 1963, Daytop has helped tens of thousands of young people reclaim their lives – changing despair into hope and destruction into productivity.
The influence of the program has been far-reaching. Monsignor O'Brien established a relationship with the US State Department in which Daytop receives funding to provide training and to develop treatment programs in countries prioritized by the State Department. Monsignor O'Brien also secured coveted Consultative Status (Category II) with the United Nations and worked with that world body in developing treatment programs on a global scale.
As president of Daytop, Monsignor O'Brien was recognized as a great and charismatic leader. According to people familiar with him, "He never just entered a room; he took possession of it. He never assigned a task or project that he didn't pursue with equal fervor. And he inspired. We wanted to work as Monsignor worked. And he was famous for sending personal letters of commendation to staff for a job well done. Staff treasured these letters and many would frame them and proudly and prominently hang them on their office walls."
Despite the demands of being president of Daytop, Monsignor O'Brien never lost his close connection with his parishioners. He never introduced himself to people as "Monsignor O'Brien;" rather, he was simply "Father O'Brien." Without fail, he would always celebrate the 6:45 a.m. Mass (which he always began at 6:30 a.m.) at St. Brendan's, where he was stationed before heading to his office at Daytop.
According to words shared by Father Sebastian, pastor of St. Pius X: "I believe I am not alone when I say that up until a relatively short time ago, when Monsignor was well into his eighties, we never thought he would die. We thought he was indestructible. While we all grew older, he seemed to remain constant. And that's why hearing of his death is so shocking to so many of us. We just wanted a little more of the great one for ourselves. Monsignor has provided an example of what one determined, courageous and caring individual can do for mankind. And he did it all with a really great sense of humor. He could match wits with anyone with his sharp, good-natured humor. He loved a good joke. And when he heard one there would first be a knowing glint in his eyes before he would throw back his head and laugh uproariously, which was always totally infectious."
Donations in the memory of Monsignor O'Brien may be made to St. Pius X Church, at 91 Secor Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583.
Costume Fest at SHS
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The SHS Class of 2015 finally got to wear their costumes to school and unlike prior years when Hurricane Sandy and a freak October snowstorm interrupted the Halloween breakfast the weather cooperated on Friday, October 31.
From the costumes it was evident that the kids had spent weeks planning for the big day. Even though it was only 8 am, they were preening, dancing and hurling themselves on the ground and onto each other Yours truly was almost knocked down twice by rambunctious gorillas and dinosaurs.
Who did I spot? Madelines posed in two straight lines, a triad of bachelors donned in bathrobes smoked their pipes while leafing through the paper, a troupe of tourists in wacky sunglasses and pith helmets, Ebola fighters poised to take on the deadly virus, a squad of sexy copys and waitresses on roller skates who offered my lunch.
Only in Scarsdale would girls dress up as Bat Mitzvah dance facilitators. Others looked back to their youths and became clowns or beloved cartoon characters like Teletubbies, Ninja Turtles or Power Rangers. Sophisticates posed as the Gossip Girls and one veiled man was fashion designer Alexander McQueen.
Even the teachers got into the act. See if you can spot the class advisors disguised as characters from Beauty and the Beast.
No one wanted the fun to end – save Principal Bonamo who did not have an easy time luring the senior class inside to start the day.
Scarsdale Yoga Studios Closes Suddenly
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Scarsdale Yoga Studios at 7 Popham Road closed their doors without offering any warning to customers on Sunday October 19th. Surprised yogis received an email from General Manager Sue Kelly on Sunday night advising them that after two years, the elegant studio was shutting its doors.
She said, "After two wonderful years since opening, it is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that the owner has decided to close Scarsdale Yoga Studios ("SYS"). She no longer wants to operate a yoga business from a distance. We both thank you for your commitment to the studio. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors on your next yoga mat."
"On a personal note, I am saddened by the closing, but understand and respect the owners decision. SYS made great progress this year. We expanded our customer base significantly and created the best yoga community in greater Scarsdale. I sincerely enjoyed working and sharing my practice with all of you. I firmly believe that when one door closes, another will open."
The closing of Scarsdale Yoga Studios will be effective at the close of business Sunday, October 19th. Please contact me at smkfitness@gmail.com or if you have any questions.
A Scarsdale resident who frequented the studio and had just purchased a monthly class package for $139 and had no inkling the studio was on the verge of shutting down. She reported that it was "pretty crowded on the weekends with 8-10 people per class and many classes going on simultaneously." She also noted that the instructors found out about the closing at the same time as the students and were "just as stunned as the rest of us."
The studio was founded by Irena Sinyavin in 2012 and was beautifully appointed with 
airy light studios, tile showers and a pleasant juice bar. Located across from Soul Cycle it offered a convenient location with parking.
However, there are a host of yoga studios in Scarsdale, Hartsdale and Eastchester and perhaps there is too much capacity in one area. No one knows. If you have information about the sudden close-up, share it below.
