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Business Meeting: Ms. Hahn called the Business Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., noting all Board members were present, including the student members (Suzie Hahn, President; Colleen Brown, Vice President; Leah Dembitzer; Jim Dugan; Laura Liu; Omer Wiczyk; Kevin Ziegler; Lucy Eisenberg; and Nathan Goldfarb). Dr. Patrick and members of his Administrative Cabinet were also present.
Ms. Hahn welcomed everyone to the Board meeting; she thanked her fellow Board members for their dedication and ongoing work; and she provided a brief update on the Board’s annual District school building visits and Board Community Coffees. Ms. Hahn also shared that she attended the Westchester Putnam School Boards Association (WPSBA) Roundtable Discussion on October 1st. The theme of the meeting was Leading Through Change with group discussion around Ed Tech in the classroom; NY Inspires; implementing UPK; fiscal planning; district storytelling and communications; and district goals and strategic planning. Ms. Hahn thanked the WPSBA directors for organizing the informative event, and in closing, on behalf of the Board, she extended congratulations to our Scarsdale athletes for their Homecoming win - Go Raiders!
Dr. Patrick added his welcome and in recognition of the New York State School Board Association’s (NYSSBA) School Board Recognition Week (October 12-16), he recognized the many contributions of our seven Scarsdale Board Members and two ex officio student Board members: “While the public Board meetings and events are visible to all, their service as volunteers who provide thoughtful, responsive governance for the education of our youth encompasses far more than those public activities, and indeed extends deep below the surface. Board members engage in training, serve on committees, act as liaisons, read contracts, memos, and resumes, learn together in Board retreats, engage with community members throughout the Village, and much, much more. Their service to the public is demanding, and they are dedicated to improving the education we provide to our students. They serve as a vital connection between the community they represent, and the educators who work toward our vision of a resilient and adaptable learning community that fosters the potential of students and adults alike to live well-balanced lives full of meaning, purpose, impact, and joy.” Each Board member was presented with a certificate of recognition, and on behalf of a grateful school community, Dr. Patrick thanked them for their service.
Dr. Patrick spoke briefly about last week’s first SHS Spirit Week and pep rally, and echoed President Hahn’s words of congratulations to our teams. He also reported that the Scarsdale Action for Youth (SAY) coalition was approved for a second 5-year funding cycle of $625,000 to be put toward prevention efforts as of October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2031. He congratulated SAY, and expressed gratitude to Executive Director Jay Genova, for all the hard work he and his team put in to renew that grant.
Dr. Patrick also reported that as part of the District’s ongoing commitment to supporting our school community through meaningful, relevant programming, SHS parents have been invited to a special evening event: Civil Discourse at Home: Navigating Difficult Conversations on Thursday, October 15, at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. The event builds on the skills and values that our student and faculty programs with ConnectEd have focused on and offers parents practical, concrete tools to foster open, curious, and empathetic conversations at home—especially concerning complex, emotionally charged, and diverse topics. Dr. McIntosh and his counterpart at the Masters School will serve as moderators for a discussion with Dr. Noam Weissman, Executive Vice President at ConnectED, about fostering open conversations, navigating strong emotions, and helping children process difficult issues with curiosity and respect.
In closing, Dr. Patrick noted a few important dates:
Board members presented the following reports and/or Board Liaison updates:
Mr. Dugan reported he recently attended a SAFE Coalition meeting focused on advocacy efforts, domestic violence, mental health, training for awareness of abuse and interveners, and upcoming activities and days of awareness. Ms. Dembitzer reported she attended the Heathcote PTA Newcomers Reception and Dinner on September 29th and heard discussions around the Heathcote playground; air conditioning in 4th and 5th grade classrooms; AI and technology; and the plan for consistency among the elementary schools. Ms. Liu reported she attended two PTC CHILD Coffees in September—one at the Middle School and one at the High School. She noted that the meetings were well attended and questions asked by attendees were answered by Mr. Rauschenbach. She thanked the CHILD Co-Chairs and the school representatives for their leadership and dedicated work supporting our students. Mr. Ziegler reported he attended the Village Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting on September 30th; he reviewed the topics discussed and topics for upcoming meetings; and he consulted his fellow Board members and District administration regarding an offer the Committee made to extend their citizen-review inventory to the District’s sport facilities. Mr. Lennon welcomed the feedback and advised that they reach out to our Facilities Dept.
Student Board members presented the following reports:
Ms. Eisenberg reported that the October 2nd SHS pep rally included performances by each fall varsity sports team and was the perfect way to rally excitement for Scarsdale athletics. She added that the Homecoming football game had a great turnout and the support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month was evident with many spectators wearing pink. Ms. Eisenberg also reported that three SHS students recently took part in the Round Square International Conference in Australia, noting that the conference was focused on service, leadership, and celebrating diverse perspectives from students from all over the world. Mr. Goldfarb provided further information about ConnectEd and the SHS Student Assembly he attended on September 24th; and he reported that SHS students will participate in Global Citizenship Day this Friday, October 9th, and will have the opportunity to attend an optional follow-up workshop.
Cabinet Updates: Dr. Patrick introduced Cabinet Members to provide the following updates.
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Dr. Patrick began the update with an overview of NYSED’s recent initiative—NY Inspires—detailing its four key transformations; the guidance received thus far; and the sunsetting requirements that will go into effect for the 2027-2028 school year. He said, “New York is joining the majority of states that know students are capable of demonstrating their learning in deeper and more meaningful ways than one single measure alone. A high school diploma in New York must reflect meaningful learning and demonstration of the skills necessary for success in the 21st century. The NY Inspires initiative is about stronger instruction, deeper learning, real-world application, and clear evidence of what students know and can do. To our mind, this is highly consonant with what our approach has long been. Regents exams have never defined our students or program offerings, and while they will continue to be an option available to schools, they take a back seat to the kinds of authentic, performance-based learning and assessment approaches we have long favored. There are certainly questions that remain unanswered, and we are engaged with our various networks to give input where invited, and develop a deeper understanding as more information is developed.” Dr. McIntosh shared key takeaways from the October 2nd New York Curriculum Leadership Summit featuring keynote speaker Jay McTighe; and he added that the October 26th Education Report will review the standardized measures used to assess our students. Board members provided feedback and questions that were answered by Dr. Patrick and Dr. McIntosh.
Hearing From Those Present: Community members were invited to address the Board. No one spoke in person or virtually.
Written Communications: Ms. Brown reported the Board had received (8) emails from members of the community since the last report, as listed in the Board meeting agenda, all of which received a response from the Board and/or District Administration.
Consent Agenda: The Board approved the items on the Consent Agenda, including the Personnel Report.
INFORMATION/DISCUSSION
ACTION ITEMS |
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Information Items/Discussion: The Board considered several items under the information/discussion portion of the agenda:
Ms. Zareski presented the Treasurer’s Report and Schedule of Investments for August 2026, and answered the questions asked by Board members. Dr. Patrick provided an overview of NYSSBA’s process for resolutions and bylaw amendments and their priorities as an organization for the upcoming year. He also reviewed the viewpoints and determinations of his Administrative Cabinet on the resolutions as depicted on the NYSSBA 2026 Proposed Bylaw Amendments and Resolutions Worksheet, and answered questions. Mr. Dugan, speaking as the NYSSBA Board liaison, reviewed the recommendations and invited feedback from fellow Board members. Board member(s) provided feedback and asked questions that were addressed and answered by Ms. Hahn and Dr. Patrick. Mr. Dugan will serve as the NYSSBA delegate this year and bring forth the resolutions at the NYSSBA Business Meeting on October 15th. Dr. Troy provided the highlights of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Association of Scarsdale Teacher Aides and Assistants (ASTAA), including a retention incentive and increased longevity rates. The MOA will be presented to the Board for approval later in the meeting. Dr. McIntosh presented proposed new textbooks for SHS English classes. The textbooks will be presented to the Board for approval at the October 26th Board meeting. -
Ms. Hahn provided a brief update on the ‘summer’ work that Board members continue to engage in with two committees reviewing the Board’s advocacy initiatives and communication plan.
Ms. Dembitzer reported that the Advocacy Committee is scheduled to meet with Dr. Patrick to discuss potential areas for advocacy that are most timely and a more detailed update will be reported at the next Board meeting. Ms. Brown urged the importance of focusing on advocacy around Universal Pre-K this year. Ms. Hahn suggested that the committee focus on developing an approach to advocacy beyond the local and State levels; utilize partnerships with their advocacy initiatives; and include the community in the conversations. Ms. Brown reported that since the last Board meeting, the Communications Committee consulted with neighboring school districts and boards regarding their communications procedures and platforms. Since the findings varied with some districts using social media as their main platform for communication, Ms. Brown consulted Board members for direction and feedback before moving forward and developing a plan for District communications. Mr. Ziegler added context to the conversation and provided examples of the different topics and frequencies of postings in other districts. Mr. Wiczyk added that there’s a tracking feature associated with using social media that can ensure that there’s meaningful engagement with the content. Ms. Eisenberg added feedback, from the student perspective, supporting the use of social media for more District communications adding that it would be an impactful way to connect the student population with what’s happening at the Board table and around the District. Board members presented further feedback, questions and concerns that will inform the committee’s next steps. Further information will be provided at the next Board meeting.
Mr. Lennon explained that over the last several years the Business Office has been reviewing policies and procedures to ensure they remain current and applicable. As part of that review, Policy #6410 - Authorized Signatures, has been identified as requiring a material revision that rewrites the policy. Ms. Zareski reviewed the practices currently in place and noted the suggested changes in the revised policy are intended to reduce duplications and redundancy in the process. Board members provided feedback concerning the Board’s internal controls and asked questions that were addressed and answered by Mr. Lennon and Ms. Zareski. The second reading of the policy will be presented to the Board at the October 26th Board meeting. Mr. Lennon presented the first reading of Policy #6840 - Credit Card Use, noting that the use of District credit cards is limited to the individuals approved by the Board each year at the annual Organizational Meeting. Upon review of spending needs and credit card limits, the District Treasurer is recommending an increase in the limit approved in the policy from $2,500 to $10,000. The second reading will be presented to the Board at the October 26th Board meeting. -
Dr. Patrick reviewed the gift proposals exceeding $1,000.00 and provided a brief explanation of the new gift-in-kind option on the gift form:
Action Items: The Board approved the MOA with the ASTAA, and accepted with thanks, gift proposals to Greenacres Elementary School, and High School athletics.
Public Comment: Community members were invited to address the Board for a second time. No one spoke in person or remotely.
Adjournment: The Board adjourned the meeting at 8:07 p.m. The Board meeting may be viewed on the District website here.
* Note from the Board of Education: Please email your feedback, questions, or comments to boardofed@scarsdaleschools.org
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Scarsdale Public Schools