Special Meeting: At 5:00 p.m., Mr. Dugan convened a Special Meeting with representatives from the Scarsdale Principals Association (SPA). Topics discussed included a discussion regarding the Capital Projects Bond proposal; a discussion about Responsive Classroom implementation; and the impact of and work around Artificial Intelligence.

Special Meeting: At 6:00 p.m., Mr. Dugan convened a Special Meeting. The Board entered into an Executive Session to discuss matters related to the employment history of a particular person.

Business Meeting: Mr. Dugan called the Business Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., noting that all Board members were present, including the two student Board members (Jim Dugan, President; Colleen Brown, Vice President; Leah Dembitzer; Suzie Hahn; Robert Klein; Laura Liu; Amber Yusuf; Lucy Eisenberg; and Anish Mehta), and Dr. Patrick and members of his Administrative Cabinet.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Dugan provided a brief recap of the earlier meeting with SPA representatives and, on behalf of the Board, expressed appreciation to our principals and assistant principals for their hard work and for taking the time to meet with the Board to share updates on their important work.

In closing, Mr. Dugan reported that the Board will continue its discussion around the Capital Projects Bond proposal following the District Administration's presentation of the revised proposed scope and budget based on the community feedback received. 

Dr. Patrick added his welcome and acknowledged the difficulties and significant stress that can be felt this time of year and he shared remarks about the tragic events that occurred over the weekend. “This difficulty was compounded over the weekend by deeply disturbing acts of hateful violence which weigh heavily on the minds and hearts of our students, staff, and families. Both the senseless shooting at Brown University and the antisemitic terror attack in Australia elevate our collective fears and challenge our sense of safety, reminding us that our school community is not immune to world events. We are connected to those communities as humans, but inevitably in very personal ways as well. These tragedies are a stark reminder of the division and prejudice that exist in the world. While it feels like we have to reiterate these things all too frequently, it is important to do so: we condemn hatred and violence in all its forms, extend our care and compassion to the victims and all those affected by these horrific acts, and we reaffirm our commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive, and compassionate environment in every one of our schools so they are places where every student feels seen, valued, heard, and free from fear.”

Dr. Patrick also expressed deep gratitude to Scarsdale parents, family members, community members, and staff members who volunteer their time, knowledge, skills, customs, and traditions with our students. He stated, “Scarsdale is an engaged, caring community invested in enriching the lives and educational experiences of our youth. On behalf of our school family, we wish our students and their families, and you and yours, a restful break, a joyous holiday season, and a peaceful start to 2026!”

In closing, Dr. Patrick noted important upcoming dates: 

• December 14-22: Hanukkah 

• December 16-24: Las Posadas 

• December 23: Early Dismissal 

• December 24 - January 2: Schools Closed for Holiday Recess

• December 25: Christmas 

• December 26 - January 1: Kwanzaa

• January 1: New Year's Day

• January 5: Schools Reopen

Board members presented the following reports:

• Mr. Dugan provided information on the bi-monthly 2x2 Meeting he, Vice President Brown and Superintendent Patrick attended on December 9th as part of the District and Village collaboration and partnership.

• Mr. Klein reported he attended a PTC Technology Committee Meeting on December 5th. Topics discussed included the screening of Screenagers and Q&A session on December 9th; the healthy age for children to start using smart phones; incorporating AI into District pedagogy; and the review of the 2022-25 Technology Plan.

• Ms. Dembitzer provided the following reports:

  • On November 19th, she, and Board Members Liu and Yusuf hosted the first Board Community Coffee, noting that it was well attended and the group engaged in a robust discussion that spanned multiple relevant topics. 

  • On November 23rd, she attended the High School Drama Club’s presentation of The Little Mermaid in the newly renovated SHS Auditorium. She noted that it was a packed house and the excitement of the audience was palpable.    

• Ms. Hahn provided the following reports:

  • On December 3rd, she and Board Members Yusuf, Liu, and Klein attended the screening of the Scarsdale Historical Society’s new film From the First Schoolhouse: A Scarsdale Story presented by the Scarsdale Historical Society in partnership with the Scarsdale Public Library. She thanked President Randy Guggenheimer for leading a wonderful organization that is celebrating Scarsdale’s rich history.

  • On December 4th, the second Board Community Coffee was hosted by Board Members Hahn and Klein. Unfortunately, no one attended the evening session, and Board members are exploring possible ways to improve community participation in the future.

Student Board members gave the following reports:

• Anish Mehta reported he attended the December High School Government Meeting where they discussed the various community service projects happening at the High School, including the SHS Freshman collaboration with the PTA on a food drive. Mr. Mehta added that future initiatives will include efforts to communicate information and gather student feedback on the Capital Projects Bond proposal.

• Lucy Eisenberg reported that the next edition of the Ex-Officio Student Scoop in Maroon should be available soon to continue to inform SHS students on District and Board matters. 

Cabinet Updates: Dr. Patrick introduced Cabinet Members to provide the following updates. 

• Business: Mr. Lennon provided the following updates:

  • The Food Service Committee met on December 15th and discussed ways to provide the community with a clear understanding of the National School Lunch Program; what changes to expect if the District moves forward with the program; and distributing a survey in January to gather feedback. Mr. Lennon added that the survey responses will be shared with the Board early in the new year with a consensus statement based on their work for direction of the program for 2026-27.

  • The District’s Internal Auditor, Nawrocki Smith is still actively working with UMR, the District’s third-party claims administrator to finalize the Internal Auditor’s Report for the January 12th Board Meeting.  

  • It is anticipated that the recommendation for a new health plan consultant will be presented to the Board for approval in January.

  • The State Department of Environmental Conservation approved the stream dredging project, permitting up to 1400 cubic yards of dredging. The approval from the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers is still pending, however, the bid specifications for the project are in progress.

• Curriculum: Dr. McIntosh provided an overview of the 2025 US Supreme Court Decision  on Mahmoud v. Taylor found on the District’s Curriculum webpage; parents’ rights under the ruling, and the District’s plan to continue to use and develop materials that include multiple perspectives and identities, in alignment with Board Policy 0105 - Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity in Education, and the NYSED Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework.

• Safety, Security, and Emergency Management: Mr. Rauschenbach reported that the door ajar sensors have been successfully installed in five of the District schools, they are being programmed and will be fully functional later this week. The two remaining schools are awaiting approval by the State. Further updates will be provided in January. 

• Human Resources: Ms. Troy announced the following retirement effective in December:

  • Dawn McGraw from her position as SHS secretary. She has served the District for over 14 years.

Hearing From Those Present: Community members were invited to address the Board. Two people spoke in person. One person spoke virtually. 

Follow-up to Public Comment: Regarding the comment about a speaker event at the High School, Dr. Patrick stated that he previously met with the speaker and addressed her concerns. The comments related to the proposed Capital Projects Bond proposal will be addressed during the update later in the meeting.

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.