Special Meeting/Retirement Recognition: At 5:30 p.m., Suzie Hahn, Board of Education President, convened a Special Meeting to recognize teacher retirements. Dr. Patrick spoke in honor of the teacher retirees who have served the District for 227 years collectively. On behalf of a grateful Scarsdale community, Dr. Patrick thanked the retirees for their distinctive contributions to our students, schools, and community and congratulated them on their well-deserved retirement. Ms. Troy introduced and congratulated each retiring faculty member, and presented them with the book - I Wish You Happiness. On behalf of the Board, Ms. Hahn expressed appreciation to this year’s retirees noting, “Your careers have been distinguished and your contributions significant. Thank you for your unwavering dedication, your years of service, and the legacy you leave behind.”
| BUSINESS MEETING/CABINET UPDATES/CONSENT AGENDA |
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Business Meeting: Ms. Hahn called the Business Meeting to order at 5:50 p.m., noting that all Board members were present except for Ron Schulhof who couldn’t attend the meeting due to a family matter. Dr. Patrick and members of his Administrative Cabinet were also present.
Being the last Board Meeting of the school year, Ms. Hahn reflected on the Board’s accomplishments related to its 2024-25 Goals and Primary Objectives in support of the Strategic Plan and Learning, Living, and Leading. She said, “While these goals were wide-ranging in their scope, they all connect back to providing the best education for our students. I want to thank all Board members, Dr. Patrick, Cabinet Members, administrators, faculty and staff, and our students and community for making great strides in all of these areas. The dedication and time given by Board members this year has been tremendous.” Ms. Hahn also thanked the PTAs and PTC, Maroon and White, and Friends of Music and the Arts for their generous support and partnership this year that continues to enrich the student experience in our schools.
In closing, Ms. Hahn congratulated and welcomed the newly elected ex officio student Board members, Anish Mehta and Lucy Eisenberg; she provided a brief review of the election; and she thanked Principal Bonamo and his team for guiding this process and overseeing the election. She also congratulated Colleen Brown on being elected to a second term on the Board and Laura Liu on her first, saying, “I look forward to working with you and the rest of the Board next year.”
Dr. Patrick added his welcome and congratulations to the Scarsdale High School Girls Flag Football team on winning the State Championship and he thanked their coaches Tom Newkirk and Mindy Genovese, and also the Scarsdale Police Department (SPD) for giving the team a ‘championship escort.’ He congratulated tennis player Sam Saeed on his second-place State finish and Coach Jen Roan on her nomination as NFHS tennis coach of the year.
Dr. Patrick extended gratitude to his Cabinet Members for the hard work and the great deal of preparation that went into the evening’s extensive Board Meeting agenda and he thanked each Board member for their preparation, questions, and suggestions in advance of the meeting, as well as throughout the extremely busy school year. He also recognized the full administrative team, faculty, and support staff, saying, “They approached another challenging year with fortitude and the commitment to excellence this school district is known for.”
Dr. Patrick also thanked parents, caregivers, and the PTC and PTAs for their continued support throughout the year, as well as the Scarsdale Family Counseling Service and our partners in the Village, SPD, and the Fire Department. He said, “You are essential partners in our work.”
In closing, Dr. Patrick congratulated all of our students, especially the 5th and 8th graders and the 2025 senior class stating, “I hope we have helped to advance our vision to foster the potential of our students to live well-balanced lives full of meaning, purpose, impact, and joy this year. The excitement of transition to new schools, and for our graduates, the “commencement” of a new chapter of your lives, is something to be savored. These milestones can serve as important points of reflection, so I urge our students to pause and take a quiet moment before your respective ceremonies to reflect on all you have accomplished. An extraordinary future awaits each of you, next year and beyond.”
The following Board members presented reports:
Mr. Klein provided information on the Code of Conduct Meeting he attended on June 2nd and noted that the Code of Conduct will be presented at the July 1st Board Meeting for approval. Ms. Hahn reported she attended the Tunes in Bloom Concert on June 1st with over 100 attendees and performances by Dr. McIntosh and Amanda Gundling, High School Choral Director. She added that it was a truly heartwarming event. Ms. Hahn announced that the Scarsdale Edgemont Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony is on Wednesday, June 11th, at 7:00 p.m. She congratulated SHS student Samantha Levine on her award and thanked her for living and personifying Scarsdale’s motto of non sibi.
Cabinet Updates: Dr. Patrick introduced Cabinet Members to provide the following updates:
Dr. Patrick presented the elementary Parent-Teacher conference dates for the 2025-26 school year and the revised school calendar. In response to a question regarding feedback on the remote conferences, Dr. Patrick noted the general sense he received from community members was that remote conferences were useful. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Dr. McIntosh provided information on the Elementary Math Parent Coffee to be held on Wednesday, June 11th, from 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. at the Scarsdale High School District Offices 170-172. The event will be hosted by District teachers, administrators, and Math Coordinators and will explore the lessons, tools, and assessments used to support math learning; build a shared understanding of ways the District is making evidence-based refinements; provide opportunities for parents to offer their perspectives and ask questions; and identify opportunities for further collaboration. Human Resources and Leadership Development: Ms. Troy welcomed and introduced the probationary teachers as presented in the Personnel Report in the Board meeting agenda.
Public Comment: Members of the community were invited to address the Board. Two people spoke in person. One person spoke remotely.
Follow-Up to Public Comment: Dr. Patrick provided clarification on the 2x2 Board-Leadership Meetings in question. As stated in Appendix #7 of the District Safety Plan, the purpose of the meetings is to share information, engage in discussion, and collaborate on issues of joint District and Village interest related to safety, security, and emergency management. The meetings are attended by the Village Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Village Manager, Board President and Vice President, and the Superintendent.
Written Communications: Mr. Dugan reported the Board had received (28) messages since the May 12th Board Meeting, 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.
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| INFORMATION/DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS |
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Information Items and Discussion: The Board considered items under the Information/Discussion portion of the agenda:
Dr. Patrick introduced Kevin Walsh, BBS Architects, to provide an update on the work of the Capital Projects Steering Committee. The update included the purpose and scope of work of the Committee; scheduled meetings and topics discussed; prioritization and consensus topics for a 2025-26 bond; and a potential timeline. Board members submitted questions that were addressed by Mr. Walsh. Dr. Patrick presented the Treasurer’s Report for April 2025 and answered Board members' questions in Ms. Zareski’s absence. In accordance with District Policy 6150, the Board of Education must approve all transfers of funds over $25,000. Dr. Patrick presented an explanation of the budget transfers that will be presented to the Board for approval later in the meeting. Cenergistic - Behavioral Energy Savings Program Update: Cenergistic representatives Matthew Stellar and Holly Charlesworth provided an overview of the program including the District’s energy program performance, the school year accomplishments and the progress made over the past two years, and a look ahead to the third year of the program and steps moving forward. Board members and Dr. Patrick asked questions about the regional average for Energy Use Intensity (EUI); what factors determine those numbers in other districts in the Cenergistic community; and the feasibility for Scarsdale Schools to get closer to the regional average of 47 EUI which were answered by Mr. Stellar and Ms. Charlesworth. Ms. Troy presented the SAES MOA, stating that the agreement has been extended for a new one-year term ending June 30, 2026, and the terms of the Agreement shall stay the same except where stated in the Memorandum. The MOA will be presented to the Board for approval later in the meeting. Dr. Patrick presented the fourth and final reading of draft Policy 2245 - Ex Officio Student Board of Education Member and Exhibit. With no further revisions recommended, the policy and Exhibit will be presented to the Board for adoption later in the meeting. Dr. Patrick presented the third reading of draft Policy 5695 - Students and Personal Electronic Devices. He reviewed a revision made to the policy; and answered a Board member’s question regarding the list of devices in the policy. It was recommended that an update on the implementation of the policy be given to the Board in the fall. With no further revisions recommended, the policy and exhibit will be presented to the Board for adoption at the July 1st Board Meeting. Dr. McIntosh reviewed the proposed new high school textbooks for AT Music Theory classes that will be presented to the Board for approval at the July 1st Board Meeting. -
Dr. Patrick reviewed the gift proposals over $1,000 for the Board’s review and discussion and congratulated Scarsdale’s scholar Kelly Deng for earning the award to be used to support excellence in science, math, and/or engineering education.
With no further discussion or information requested, the gift will be presented to the Board for approval at the July 1st Board meeting.
Dr. Patrick reviewed the 2024-25 Annual Gift Report, and the processes in place. He reported that in the 2024-25 school year, the Board received gifts totaling $342,316. On behalf of the District, Dr. Patrick expressed collective gratitude to the PTAs, Maroon and White, and individual donors for the generous gifts. On behalf of the board, Ms. Hahn echoed Dr. Patrick’s words of thanks and appreciation. Board Self-Evaluation: Mr. Dugan provided an overview of the Board’s process for self-evaluation and the goals that were determined at the beginning of the school year. He reviewed the Board’s self-assessment tool, and the scale for the ratings, and he noted that the Board will meet in an Executive Session following the Business Meeting to evaluate the Board’s functioning as a whole. Board Leadership and Succession Planning: During the May 12th Board Meeting, Ms. Hahn asked Board members to reach out to her with any interest in serving as a Board officer for the 2025-26 school year. She reported that Mr. Dugan indicated his interest in serving as Board President and Ms. Brown as Board Vice President. As a reminder, the formal nominations are made and voted on at the Board’s Organizational Meeting on July 1st. Ms. Hahn thanked Mr. Dugan and Ms. Brown for their willingness to serve in these leadership positions. End-of-Year Tributes: Ms. Hahn conveyed Mr. Schulhof’s regret in not being able to attend the Board Meeting and she noted that words of tribute for Mr. Schulhof will be presented at a future meeting. Dr. Patrick and Board members shared words of gratitude for Ms. Hahn and Mr. Dugan for their service as Board officers this year.
Action Items: The Board approved the budget transfers, the Superintendent’s contract, the SAES MOA, Board Policy #2245 - Ex Officio Student Member of the Board of Education, and gifts to Edgewood, Fox Meadow, Greenacres, and Quaker Ridge Elementary Schools, and the High School and SHS Athletics.
Hearing From Those Present: Members of the public were invited to address the Board. Eleven people spoke in person. Two people spoke remotely.
Follow-Up Items: Dr. Patrick thanked the speakers for their engagement and he clarified that the information sent out regarding Reveal Math was sent from the District, not the Board. Regarding the speaker’s comments about air conditioning in the high school gyms, he noted that the Capital Projects Steering Committee will discuss improvement options, including cost estimates, and Mr. Lennon has been reviewing other options and researching the NYSED requirements. Dr. Patrick also pointed out that the purchase and installation of the scoreboards referenced by an earlier speaker were gifted by Maroon and White and not purchased with District funds. Dr. McIntosh added that he's looking forward to Wednesday’s Parent Community Coffee to answer questions, address concerns about the math curriculum, and provide opportunities for additional feedback on Reveal Math.
Adjournment: The Board adjourned the meeting at 8: p.m. The Board meeting may be viewed on the District website, Board of Education VOD.
*Note from the Board of Education: Please email your feedback, questions, or comments to boardofed@scarsdaleschools.org
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