Update on Superintendent Search, Push back on Decision to Hire Social Workers and More from the Board of Education

The Scarsdale Board of Education held their third budget study session for the proposed 2022-23 school budget, on March 21, 2022, in advance of the community wide budget vote on Tuesday May 17, 2022.

2022-23 School Budget

There appears to be community wide support for the $173,291,393 budget which is 3.85% above the 2021-22 school budget, translating into a 2.43% increase in school taxes for Scarsdale residents and 3.68% for those in the Mamaroneck strip. The difference in these two rates is due to the variation in the equalization rates between the two towns. The 3.85% increase in the budget is the highest in the past ten years, and almost a full percent above the 2.99% increase in 2014-15.

There is favorable news on the revenue side where the district expects to receive $7.27 mm in state aid, up 3.22% from last year, $101,000 more in building use fees than last year and $1.8 mm in county sales tax, up $44,750 from 2021-22.

Though parents had hoped that the budget could fund the remaining work needed to renovate the SHS auditorium, this budget does not include funding for the seats or work to improve the acoustics.

During the public comments portion of the meeting, Deb Pekarek and Jon Leslie, both Board members of Scarsdale Family Counseling Services, asked the board to reconsider the hiring of two social workers, one for the middle school and the other for the high school. They urged the schools to manage additional mental health needs by using staff from Scarsdale Family Counseling Services who currently runs the youth outreach program in the schools and has served the district for many years.

Pekarek said, “It has come to my attention that the school district is hiring two social workers. I am curious about what are mandated services when they relate to SFCS social workers. I understand that licensed social workers can provide services to students with an IEP. SFCS have provided these services in the past…. NYS does not require that these services are provided.”

She continued, “This is almost a 40 year partnership between the school district and SFCS and has been a collaboration that has worked and thrived…. I would venture to guess that if additional social workers are needed the Village Board would entertain financing this.” Discussing the financial implications, she said, “The SFCS model has been more efficient and has been in place for 40 years. I respectfully ask that you work within the framework of the existing process in a fiscally prudent fashion and work these additional social workers into the collaboration with SFCS.”

She concluded, “While we cannot predict the future, once you pull a thread, certain things are bound to unravel.”

Jon Leslie, also of 43 Greeanacres Avenue concurred. He said, “I know that COVID has led to increased mental health needs. The SFCS is in a unique position to address those needs. Setting up social workers at the Middle School and the High School is not the way to go. We have a way to handle these needs through youth services. SFCS concurs that more resources are needed. However you have decided to ignore the partnership and set up an unnecessary infrastructure at a higher expense.”

PTA presidents from both the high school and the middle school agreed with the administrations recommendation to hire two in house social workers.

Speaking on behalf of the PTA Executive Committee and the PTC , SHS PTA President Joey Silberfien said, “We reiterate our strong support for the two full time mental health workers. The district has identified significant mental health issues and they are only heightened now. We strongly encourage the BOE to maintain support for mental health, and to identify immediate needs and programming… we believe these needs will be met with two full time employees.”

SMS PTA President Leah Dembitzer said, “The PTA Executive Committee supports the increase in staffing as proposed by Principal Troy, including an in-house social worker. The pandemic is a catalyst for these requests. Principal Troy has requested this person for continuity and as a touchpoint.” She said, ”The need is immense. Our students require more attention than is currently available to them. We support SFCS and the new mental health workers.”

See the presentation and learn more here: https://vimeopro.com/scarsdaleschoolstv/boe-2021-2022.

Residents are invited to ask questions and comment on the budget at a school budget forum sponsored by the LWVS at 10 am on Thursday May 22 and at a budget forum on March 28 at the Board of Education meeting.

Superintendent Search

In other board news, Board President Karen Ceske updated the community on the search for an interim superintendent and for a permanent replacement for Dr. Thomas Hagerman who will leave in June. She said, “The board is identifying an interim superintendent. We set forth criteria for the position and reached out to the community. We received 108 responses which affirmed and added to our criteria. We are vetting interim candidates and making good progress.”

For the superintendent search, she said, “We have identified potential search firms and are making good progress on the RFP.”

Board news:

Board member Carl Finger, who is now serving his first three year term on the Board of Education announced that he would not seek a second term. He said, “I came to the difficult decision not to run for a second term on the School Board –- but I will still be around.”

Board President Karen Ceske also will not seek a second term and Ron Schulhof is up for re-nomination. The School Board Nominating Committee should be announcing their three candidates for School Board soon. Last year the nominations were announced on March 23, 2021.

Education Report

Assistant Superintendent Edgar McIntosh provided an education report, which among many exciting programs.

MTSS

McIntosh reviewed a new program that supplies tools and analytics to assess, track and provide student support called MTSS or Multi-Tiered System of Support. This system will allow the district to identify students who need additional academic, social, emotional and behavioral support. This program is cohesive and consistent and provides resources for the collection and recording of data that will allow the district to provide the right resources for student success.

He then summarized some educational programming at all levels:

-At the elementary schools, the technology team is educating students on media literacy and kindergartners are involved in decoding words while learning to read.

-For high school students McIntosh discussed a global learning program called Envoy Summits which allow students to hold virtual exchanges with students from other countries.

-A global entrepreneurship challenge asks students to identify climate change needs in their own communities and do case studies on solving climate challenges. They will ideate, test and iterate their solutions.

-A Scarsdale Saturday Virtual Summit on April 30th will invite experts to address students on issues around sustainability. There will also be input from student leaders and local experts.

International STEAM school partnerships will pair Scarsdale students with STEAM students from other schools in Buenos Aires and Paris.

-For the first time, the high school will hold a Non-Sibi Day of service on May 27 focused on wellness. Community groups and other non-profits will be invited to participate. There is a hope that this will become an annual event.

-Students at all schools are participating in gardening programs where they cultivate flowers and vegetables.

Watch the entire board meeting online here.