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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 17 December 2014

Created: 17 December 2014

Last Updated: 17 December 2014

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Now that the $18.12 mm bond has passed, how will the Scarsdale School District begin the construction process? As usual, Assistant Superintendent Linda Purvis was one step ahead of the game at the December 8 Board of Education meeting where she outlined the district's next steps assuming the passage of the bond on December 11.

Here is the plan that she outlined:

-The district will formally appoint architects KG&D as the architects of record for the school construction projects.

-They will convene building level committees to make recommendations on the details of the design work. Principals will be asked to identify faculty members and parents to serve on these committees who will look at specific design problems and refine schematics.

The district will do a request for a proposal for construction management services. Once retained this company will act as the district's representatives and serve as a liaison between the administration and the construction vendors. They will provide independent cost estimates to be compared with those provided by the architects. They will develop construction timelines and benchmarks for the work which is expected to take from 15 to 20 months, will figure out how students will be managed during the construction process and when construction will need to be halted to accommodate testing. Last they will provide onsite construction supervision and problem-solving for issues that arise. Their fee will be a percentage of the total budget and has been figured into the projections.

The Board of Education will appoint a District Construction Committee comprised of the architects, construction managers, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Director of Facilities, 2 or 3 members of the Board of Education, three community members with expertise in construction and possibly a parent representative. This committee will do technical work and will meet every 2-3 weeks, usually at 8 am, for 2 years.

To finance the initial stages of the project, Purvis and her team will investigate one-year financing needs and make a recommendation on raising the funds for the architects fees, construction management fees, pre-construction testing, bond issuance fees and to pay for any work that can begin in the summer of 2015. The administration will ask the board to do a bond anticipation note for up to 10% of the authorized bond amount which will eventually rolled into a long term financing plan.

Two projects will be funded through outside sources:

The Madoff family will donate $300,000 in memory of their son Tyler to purchase the equipment for the new fitness center.

The Scarsdale Schools foundation will donate $2,600,000 for the creation of the Design Lab in the space now occupied by the Auto Shop at the high school.

To learn more, watch Purvis on video on demand on the Scarsdale School website here: 

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Published: 06 January 2015

Created: 06 January 2015

Last Updated: 06 January 2015

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Here is a letter from New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin discussing her progress in 2014: Happy New Year!  Because of your continued support, next week I will begin a new legislative session in the NYS State Assembly. I have spent the last few months preparing for another active and challenging year. As always, my goal is to serve my district vigorously, and to make sure my constituents’ interests are given a high priority in the NYS legislature. 

In 2014, I sponsored 33 bills that passed the Assembly, 18 of which Governor Cuomo signed, putting me in the top 1% of legislators whose bills became law. Among these new laws, one of the most important would compel the Port Authority to comply with the Freedom of Information Laws in New York and the Open Public Records Act in New Jersey.

As the Chair of the Energy Committee I am also pleased to report that four of my bills promoting renewable energy were signed into law.

As many of you know, my mantra during the last several years has been “People Are Not For Sale.” This year I am anxious to continue my fight to help bring an end to human trafficking in New York State by passing The Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act.  I will continue in my effort to convince my colleagues to put partisan politics aside and pass this important legislation that increases accountability for the real criminals – the buyers and traffickers who continue to fuel the growth of this massive and heinous industry. As responsible legislators, we must finally help to break the cycle of dependency, humiliation and degradation that too many young women face.  

My work on behalf of New York State’s veterans is another high priority.  We can’t do enough for the brave men and women who have voluntarily put themselves in harm’s way so that we can live freely and safely. My Veteran’s Pension Buyback bill passed both the Assembly and the Senate for the very first time. Although Governor Cuomo did not sign this bill, he has committed to working out an agreement in the upcoming budget. 

Many of the bills I had passed this year were of benefit to the communities which I serve. Whether it was parking in Bronxville, insurance concerns in the Scarsdale school district or traffic lights in New Rochelle. I remain enthusiastic about meeting the needs of my constituents and look forward to working closely with all of my communities. 

Overall, 2014 was a very busy year and I expect nothing less from 2015. I am proud of what I have accomplished for the 88th Assembly District and remain honored that I will once again be able to serve as your representative. I look forward to working with my constituents to continue the progress that we have made.  As always, I can be reached at my district office at 914-723-1115 or via e-mail at paulina@assembly.state.ny.us.

Amy Paulin
NYS Assembly (D-88)

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Written by Megan Shelton

Published: 08 December 2014

Created: 08 December 2014

Last Updated: 08 December 2014

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The much anticipated Scarsdale High School Summer Activities Fair was hosted by the PTA on Wednesday night December 3rd. Over fifty vendors participated in the event in the hope of wooing students to their summer and gap year programs at the PTA's biggest fundraiser of the year. They offered every type of activitiy and adventure imaginable including travel, college experiences, sports, community service, drama, language immersion, art and more.

Walking through the throngs of people, I was amazed at all the different ways one could spend their summer. The first vendor I stopped at was The Barat Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Chandri Barat. This summer program brings high school students "from all over the country and sometimes, even from all over the world" to Aix en Provence, a city in southern France, to enhance their French language skills and understanding of French culture. Students take art history classes and French language classes taught by native French speakers during the day. Some days, after their lessons, students teach English to French students ages three to eleven. Other days are blocked out specifically for excursions to places like the Camargue nature preserve or the city of Arles. Rachel Haber, a junior at Scarsdale High School who spent her summer in Aix en Provence with the foundation last year said she had learned "many wonderful lessons on this trip and had memories that she knows she'll never forget. "More than anything," she said, "I learned and gained an appreciation for French culture which gave me motivation to keep taking French classes in high school. In Aix en Provence, we were literally living in the most luxurious place and we had mountains surrounding us and we got to do art all the time. Also the food was amazing and it was just a dream experience!"

Next, I stopped at the table manned by Brian Kooperman, the owner and director of Bridgton Sports Camp for boys. Mr. Kooperman told me about his mission to help his campers improve their athletic skills alongside expert coaches and counselors. Located in Bridgton, Maine, campers can run around on the fields, lounge in the dorms, and even go waterskiing and swim in the lake. "While at camp, boys can major in a specific sport: either basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, or lacrosse. So, they get good instruction in that sport, but they can also minor in all the other sports and enjoy the water and other activities. The boys get a traditional camp experience but with a higher level of sports instruction."

Aside from summer programs, there were also many gap year opportunities available. As I wandered around the cafeteria, I came across a table in the back, filled with African tribal masks and huge notebooks with detailed accounts of individuals' stories of their times in Africa and Haiti. As I stopped to take a couple pictures of his table as well as of some of the people poking around his table, Jay asked me if I was a photographer. I told him, no, I'm only a high school senior who hopes to be a journalist. As soon as he heard that, he started telling me about the summer and gap year programs run by his family's non-profit organization called "Leadership Exchange". First, Jay told me about a summer photography and conservation workshop held in Botswana. "The trip works with everybody from beginners to experts," Jay started, "and we work on everything from shutter speeds to lighting. We teach you everything about being a photographer; not just how to take a picture but how to think like a photographer." Both my friendand I thought this sounded like such a good time, we had to let him tell us about the gap year program. "For high school graduates, we offer a year-long program to learn how to be a safari guide. You spend six weeks learning the training and then you spend six months in the field, actually being a safari guide. Following that, there are opportunities for employment, where you then can become a safari guide in South Africa. So, you would actually be driving tourists around and teaching them about the animals. It's definitely a big adventure program."

As I was leaving the event, I stopped by the Youth Employment Services (YES) Table where my mother and her friend, Ronnie Hersch, were working. "Capable Scarsdale students" that sign up with the Scarsdale High School Yes Office are matched with employers within the community based on their skills and interests. Students can even find jobs through the YES Office once they have graduated from the high school, as a YES Office membership lasts until students turn twenty-five. Mrs. Hersch and my mother, Jane, were both thrilled at how many students and employers were signing up with the Scarsdale High School YES Office. Mrs. Hersch told me that the YES Office has some "wonderful jobs available: computer work, babysitting, and summer jobs like camp counselors, mothers helpers, lifeguards, and so on. So, people should register with us. Our website is https://scarsdale.ny.hs-ses.com. We are staffed by parent volunteers and community volunteers and we have no financial support from the PTA or the Scarsdale village, so if anyone would like to support our organization or donate, either are greatly appreciated."

It seemed like there was an endless amount of summer and gap year possibilities to explore. To see a list of all the different organizations that were present or just to ask questions about the summer activities fair, contact the Scarsdale High School PTA at shspta10583@gmail.com