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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 320 years collectively, noting, “These remarkable individuals approached the work of teaching, learning, counseling, and leading as a mission, and as service to our community. Their talent, their decisions, their care, their curricula, and their passions brought the mission to life. They created opportunities for thousands of Scarsdale students to experience the joy and richness of thinking & problem solving, reading & writing, speaking & listening in English and Spanish; researching & synthesizing; hypothesizing & experimenting; playing & collaborating; creating, practicing & performing; and deciding the next step in their life’s journey. On behalf of a grateful Scarsdale community, I thank you all for your distinctive contributions to our students, to our schools, and to our community.” Ms. Troy spoke a few words about each retiring faculty member, congratulated them, and presented them with the book - Maybe. On behalf of the Board, Ms. Hahn expressed heartfelt thanks to each of the retirees stating, “The impact you have made extends well beyond the classroom and will be felt for years to come in the lives of those you have helped shape. We are deeply grateful for your dedication, your compassion, and the countless ways you have contributed to our school community. While we will miss your presence, we celebrate this exciting new chapter and wish you health, happiness, and every joy in a well-deserved retirement. Thank you for leaving such a lasting legacy.”
Business Meeting: Ms. Hahn called the Business Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., noting that all Board members were present including the student Board members. Dr. Patrick and members of his Administrative Cabinet were also present.
In her opening comments, Ms. Hahn provided a brief recap of the Board’s annual Retirement Ceremony held earlier in the evening, and she reported that on May 26th, she attended a joint celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. She noted, “It was a joy to be part of an evening honoring our community’s rich heritage and history. Hearing many of our local elected officials share their personal stories served as a reminder of the importance of coming together, uplifting one another, and celebrating the diversity that strengthens our communities, as well as affirming the common values we all share. Thank you for inviting the Board to this inspirational evening.”
Ms. Hahn also provided information on the 2X2 Meeting she attended with Dr. Patrick, Ms. Brown, and Village leadership on June 2nd. Topics discussed included the return of the A-School to the Village, Common Circles, field work improvement updates, security-related issues, and the potential process and timeline for the Freightway project.
Being the last Board Meeting of the school year, Ms. Hahn expressed appreciation to her fellow Board members for all the tremendous work done this year on behalf of our schools, the bond in particular, and to Dr. Patrick, Cabinet members, administrators, and faculty and staff, for the incredible work they've put in to create a safe, inclusive, joyous learning environment for our students. She added, “We are One Scarsdale, and I know that your extraordinary efforts will make our school community stronger than ever.”
Dr. Patrick added his welcome to the final Business Meeting of the school year and took the opportunity to reflect on 2025-26 — from Convocation to Graduation. He stressed the importance of modeling what’s possible in public education and building trust. He said, “We build trust when we ensure our students feel seen, heard, and valued. When they know that they matter to us. When we push them to keep getting better. When we help them set and achieve goals. When we treat them with respect and give them a say. And when we broaden their world.
We also build trust when we listen to each other, share ideas, and collaborate. When we listen to our students and their parents and seek to understand not just what, but why. When we work to make our thinking, and our students thinking, visible. When we communicate what success looks like, and provide the feedback to help students reach it.
And, we build trust when we help our students to become people of integrity, maturity and generous spirit. We know we are making an impact when our students are contributors to the common good, non sibi; and when we hold a firm belief in the strength of our Institution.”
Dr. Patrick noted the remarkable successes and significant challenges of the school year and the work ahead. He added, “Part of the work ahead is figuring out how to constructively listen to one another, and create the conditions in our school community for everyone to be seen, valued, and heard. As we know, these conditions have been undermined, and there is serious work to do to eliminate behaviors that target individuals based on their identities.”
He continued, “To that end, I unfortunately have to report that we were made aware of comments added to recent social media posts that involved our students. Many in our community have understandably found the comments deeply hurtful, and offensive. While the incident occurred on a private social media platform outside of school hours, its impact reverberated among our students and families, undermining the sense of safety and belonging that every single student in our district deserves to feel. I must once again reiterate that we completely reject antisemitism, hate, prejudice, discrimination and harassment of any kind and under any circumstances. Our schools must be places where every student—regardless of their race, religion, background, or identity—feels valued, protected, and respected. I also want to be clear that when incidents like this occur, we take action. Our administrators investigate in accordance with our district’s Code of Conduct and policies that address bullying, harassment, discrimination, and misconduct. While we are unable to disclose specific consequences that result from our investigations, I want to reassure you that our district policies are firmly enforced, and that accountability is a vital part of keeping our community safe.”
In closing, Dr. Patrick congratulated all of our students on a successful conclusion to the academic year, especially the 5th and 8th graders and the senior class of 2026. He said, “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 reported that on May 27th, he along with fellow Board members attended a small community event called “Ice Cream for Eid.” Mr. Klein also provided information on the PTC Technology Committee meeting he attended on June 5th, noting that it was an opportunity to recap the various programs held this year and review the goals of the Committee for the 2026-27 school year. Ms. Dembitzer reported that on June 1st, she and Ms. Liu had the opportunity to view the creative work of talented SHS students at the last Art Gallery Show of the season. Ms. Dembitzer, speaking as the Board liaison to the PTC, reported that she attended the PTC Annual Luncheon on May 20th celebrating the work of the PTC/PTA Officers; and on June 8th, she attended the PTC Transition Meeting which is the first official meeting of the PTC Executive Committee for the new school year. She thanked the outgoing President and Committee for all of their work this year and welcomed the incoming officers. -
Ms. Liu provided information on the following meetings she attended and upcoming events:
On May 29th, she attended an SHS Parent Coffee on the District’s approach to AI led by Ms. Crowley and Mr. Yang. On May 28th, she attended the last Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Services (SFCS) Youth Services Project Partner Meeting. On June 17th, at 7:30 p.m., the SFCS is hosting an event titled Seeing the System: Strengthening Connection at the Scarsdale Public Library.
Ms. Brown announced that on Sunday, June 7th, she attended the Scarsdale Edgemont Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony along with State and Village officials; and she congratulated the four award recipients saying, “Thank you for continuing to dedicate yourself to making our world a better place.”
The following Student Board members presented reports:
Ms. Eisenberg congratulated newly elected student ex-officio Board member, Nathan Goldfarb, she noted that she is honored to be elected for a second term on the Board of Education, and she provided information on two School Government House Meetings she attended since the last Board meeting. Mr. Mehta reported on the efforts of the SHS Senior Class Government to make the Senior Prom a success on May 28th; he provided information on the Annual Senior Day on June 1st that started with a yearbook signing, and a panel of students from the Class of 2025 who shared their experiences in college and gave advice, and finished with a meeting with the SHS deans and peers which provided the opportunity for the seniors to read the letters that they wrote Freshman year. Mr. Mehta also reminded the audience that the SHS Class of 2026 Graduation is on June 18th. In his final meeting as student ex-officio Board member, Mr. Mehta thanked the Board and District Administration for their strong support throughout the year; he commended the community for integrating student voices into the conversation and listening; and he thanked Ms. Eisenberg for navigating their shared journey on the Board together.
Cabinet Updates: Dr. Patrick introduced Cabinet Members to provide the following updates:
Human Resources and Leadership Development: Ms. Troy welcomed and introduced the probationary teachers as presented in the Personnel Report in the Board meeting agenda. She also took a moment to honor the retirees just joining the meeting and spoke a few words about each retiree prior to giving them a small token of appreciation. Technology: As the Data Protection Officer, Ms. Crowley is required to report to the Board any data privacy incidents that occur within the District. She provided an update with information related to a cybersecurity incident that occurred this spring; the details of the breach, and the actions taken, including communications to the impacted families and former students, which included information on how to best protect themselves. Ms. Crowley noted that an FAQ can be found in the Board meeting agenda, and she urged community members to email her at privacy@scarsdaleschools.org with any questions or concerns. Board members asked questions that were answered by Ms. Crowley. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Dr. McIntosh reported that the 2026 Renaissance STAR Student Reports will be released on June 10th to elementary parents. The reports will provide growth metrics, including unified scale scores, percentile ranks, and NYS benchmark categories. He noted that next year, the STAR reports will be shared during the screening windows in the fall, winter, and spring. Board members asked questions that were answered by Dr. McIntosh. In the absence of Mr. Lennon, Dr. Patrick provided details on the bid opening for the Brewster Stream dredging project; the discussion of the bid results with the District Facilities Team and GEI Consultants; and the recommendation that the Board reject the bid for the project. He noted that the facilities team and GEI are researching options to improve contractor participation prior to rebidding the work. Further information will be provided at a future meeting.
Public Comment: Members of the community were invited to address the Board. Twelve people spoke in person. Two people spoke remotely.
Written Communications: Ms. Brown presented the emails that the Board received 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 and Discussion: The Board considered items under the Information/Discussion portion of the agenda:
In accordance with District Policy #6150, the Board of Education must approve all transfers of funds over $25,000. In Ms. Zareski’s absence, Dr. Patrick presented the two budget transfers that will be presented to the Board for approval later in the meeting. Draft 2026-27 District-wide Safety and Emergency Management Plan: Mr. Rauschenbach provided an overview of the District’s process and State requirements to review and adopt the District-wide Safety & Emergency Management Plan annually. He reviewed the draft 2026-27 Plan, including amendments to training and review processes, updates to the after-school annex and the maximum temperatures in school annex, and an addition to evacuation drill requirements as mandated by the State. He explained that the evening’s discussion begins the State-required 30-day public comment period on the Plan before another review and discussion on July 15th prior to its adoption by the Board. Mr. Rauschenbach encouraged community members to email comments to Eric Rauschenbach or the Board of Education. Board members provided comments and asked questions that Mr. Rauschenbach answered. Due Oct. 1. Dr. Patrick thanked the community members for sharing their feedback and input on the Draft Guidelines for Student Expression at School-Sponsored Activities and he reported on the responses received via the form provided, public comment, and additional emails from individuals and groups. Dr. Patrick broadly categorized the input, noting that the concerns outweighed the support overall, and he reviewed the major concerns identified. He stated that the feedback will be taken into consideration in the next iteration of the draft guidelines that will be presented to the Board for further review on July 15th. Board members asked questions and shared thoughts, statements, and suggested revisions to the guidelines that Dr. Patrick addressed. Cenergistic - Behavioral Energy Savings Program Update: Cenergistic representatives Holly Charlesworth and Dan Smith provided an overview of the program including the utility trends and energy cost profile; the District’s energy program performance and the accomplishments and the objectives met this school year. They provided an energy program update for Greenacres Elementary School, which was highlighted this year, and the goals for the District this summer and throughout the fourth year of the program. Board members asked questions that were answered by Mr. Smith, Ms. Charlesworth, and Nick Ferraro, Director of Facilities. Dr. Patrick presented the second reading of draft Policy and Regulation #8635 - Information and Data Privacy, Security Breach, and Notification. With no further revisions recommended, the policy and Exhibit will be presented to the Board for adoption later in the meeting. Mr. Rauschenbach presented the first reading of Regulation #5285 - Concussion Management Program and Personal Electronic Devices, and pointed out that the suggested revisions remove the requirement for ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing). He stated the reasons for this change and confirmed that the District will continue to abide by a strict, medically sound, gradual progression for athletes returning to play; and the District’s physician will still have final clearance over return to play decisions. Mr. Rauschenbach further noted that the revision is to the regulation only — no changes to the policy. Dr. Patrick reviewed the 2025-26 Annual Gift Report, and the processes in place. He reported that in the 2025-26 school year, the Board received 72 gifts totaling $290,222. 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. Ms. Brown reported that the Board met on June 1st to conduct its self-evaluation and identified the following areas for focus and improvement: community outreach and stronger communication, robust conversations, and long-range plans for the District. Board Leadership and Succession Planning: During the May 11th Board Meeting, Ms. Hahn asked Board members to reach out to her with any interest in serving as a Board officer for the 2026-27 school year. As a follow-up, she conveyed her interest in serving as Board President and Ms. Brown expressed an interest in serving another year as Board Vice President. As a reminder, the formal nominations are made and voted on at the Board’s Organizational Meeting on July 15th. NYSSBA Area 10 Director: At the May 11th Board meeting, the Board discussed a request by Sheryl Brady, the current NYSSBA Area 10 Director, for a letter of nomination to serve another term. Following a brief discussion, the Board reached consensus to submit the letter of nomination. -
Dr. Patrick reviewed the gift proposals over $1,000 for the Board’s review and discussion and congratulated Scarsdale’s scholars Sonja Xie and Linda Zhang 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 15th Board meeting.
End-of-Year Tributes: Ms. Brown opened the tributes by thanking Mr. Dugan and Ms. Hahn for their dedication, support, and guidance throughout the school year. All Board members followed suit, including the student members, and echoed these sentiments, expressing gratitude for the leadership of Mr. Dugan, Ms. Hahn, and Ms. Brown, while offering well wishes to outgoing Board members Mr. Klein, Ms. Yusuf, and Mr. Mehta. Dr. Patrick reiterated the sentiments shared, expressed deep gratitude to the Board leadership and outgoing members, and presented a small token of appreciation to Mr. Klein, Ms. Yusuf, and Mr. Mehta for their service.
Action Items
The Board approved the budget transfers, and following a brief overview of the process for the evaluation of the Superintendent, the Board approved the Superintendent’s contract, Policy and Regulation #8635 - Information and Data Privacy, Security Breach, and Notification, and gifts to Edgewood, Greenacres, the District, and the Middle and High Schools.
Hearing From Those Present: Members of the public were invited to address the Board for a second time. One person spoke in person. No one spoke remotely.
The Board adjourned the Business Meeting at 10:00 p.m. and entered into an Executive Session to discuss matters related to the employment history of a particular person(s). 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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Scarsdale Public Schools