Scarsdale Sets May 28 for Public Hearing on $20.7 Mil. School Improvement Plan

Scarsdale parents and officials Thursday received notice from the school district with the dates for a public hearing and other meetings to review the $20.7 million capital projects and bond referendum proposals for building improvements.

School officials sent out an email to describe the next steps, and will hold the first public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, at the Scarsdale Library.

Below is the text of the email:  

To the Community:

At its meeting Monday, the Board of Education reached consensus on priorities for a potential capital program and bond referendum in the coming school year. The projects were culled from a list of needs developed by teams of community members and professional staff following hundreds of hours of study.

· District-wide:  technology infrastructure upgrade (essential for providing high speed internet access as usage grows)

· Quaker Ridge:  partial roof replacement (essential for maintaining the building's structural integrity)

· Edgewood: library expansion and office relocation (library is inadequate for current and future needs; office relocation will improve building security)

· Heathcote:  new multi-purpose room (will enable physical education classes to return to the gym, currently used for lunch, and create dedicated space for physical and occupational therapy, currently conducted on the auditorium stage)

· Middle School:  new orchestra/multipurpose room (essential for large group rehearsals, as well as for large-group general instruction)

· High School:  new Learning Commons and fitness center relocation (dining/study area will relieve overcrowding in library and cafeteria; I-Lab will support student collaboration in technology-rich space; Maker/Design Lab is essential to burgeoning programs in applied science, technology, arts and mathematics; fitness center relocation and expansion will free up space for the Learning Commons, end class overcrowding and address gender equity issues)

More specific information is available on the District website www.scarsdaleschools.org.

The next step will be to engage the community in an examination of these projects before a Board decision about how to proceed. To that end, the Board invites community members to attend any or all of these meetings:

Wednesday, May 28, 7:30 pm -- A special meeting at the Scarsdale Library, which will include a presentation by the District's architectural firm and Q and A

Wednesday, June 4, 7 pm -- A facilities steering committee study session, which will provide an additional opportunity for questions and feedback from the public (Room 170, High School)

Monday, June 9, 8 pm -- The BOE invites community questions and will provide responses at its Board meeting, which will focus on Greenacres facilities study/needs (Room 170, High School)

Tuesday, June 10, 10:30 am -- An additional community meeting to discuss projects and listen to feedback (Room 170, High School)

Monday, June 23, 8 pm -- At its Board meeting, The BOE will review community input and confirm/revise projects covered by possible bond issue. Board members will cast a final vote during its first meeting in September (Room 170, High School)

We also invite community comment in writing (2 Brewster Road, Scarsdale NY 10583) or via email (boardofed@scarsdaleschools.org).

Michael V. McGill, Superintendent of Schools

Suzanne Seiden, President, Board of Education