Requests and Questions for the 2025-26 Scarsdale School Budget

Whether it's encouraging residents to email, speak during public comment, or joining them at a Board Coffee meeting, the Board of Education works hard to garner feedback from the Scarsdale community. In addition to these opportunities, On Monday November 18th, the BOE held a special Budget Forum designed specifically to invite public input into the development of a budget proposal for the 2025-26 school year.

The forum began with a brief welcome from Superintendent Dr. Drew Patrick, who provided a little background about the school budget and reminded attendees, “ We utilize the budgetary resources this community provides to support the educational and extracurricular programs at each of our seven buildings, and to fund our strategic priorities, all in an effort to fulfill our student-focused vision and mission. The strategic plan goals are organized into three big ideas - Learning, Living, and Leading.”

He went on to say, “The work of our school district is largely organized into three spheres, with students and student learning situated in the center of it all. Importantly, our budget is structured to support all three areas of the organization, with teaching and learning held up by the operational and student support functions. Of course, the Board of Education and community encompasses all of our work through governance and budgetary support.”

Patrick also took the opportunity to highlight the importance of the school budget in supporting our small class sizes, extracurriculars such as Visual and Performing Arts, Physical Education, and Spanish instruction in our “encore” programming, and “the breadth and depth of course offerings which define our High School programming. high school students are provided with opportunities that go beyond the state mandated course requirements, allowing them to dive deeper into content that aligns with their interests.”

Lastly Patrick explained that, “At all levels we are committed to meeting the needs of students with special needs. Legal mandates related to student ratios, and eligibility for specialized programs or services drive our special education programming. Our special education programs are dynamic, as we work to meet the ever changing individual needs of our students each year.”

Andrew Lennon then spoke about some of the key components of the budget including: Employee Benefits, Contractual Obligations, Principle and Interest, Boces Services, Supplies and Materials, Utilities, and more.

Lennon went on to discuss some of the important considerations of the current budget including: Tax Levy Limit, Inflation, TRS/ERS Rates, Health Plan Experience, Collective Bargaining, and Staffing Needs/Retirements.

Lennon also outlined the Long Range Plan 5-year Expense and Revenue Forecast which you can see here:

Members of the community were then invited to share their thoughts with the BOE. The first person to share his thoughts was a Fox Meadow resident who urged the BOE to consider upgrading the playground and basketball hoops on the lower field at Fox Meadow elementary school.

League of Women Voters of Scarsdale

Next, Dalya Khan spoke on behalf of the League of Women Voters and read from a long list of prepared questions. Some of the questions include:

-How has development of the Long Range Financial Plan and Fund Balance and Reserve Plan affected the budgeting process of fiscal year 2025-26 and beyond?

-Will the budget stay within the projected tax cap? Would the Board consider going above the tax cap again?

-What budget lines, if any, have significantly over/underestimated the District’s currently projected income and expenses, and how will that impact planning for next year?

-Do you anticipate costs or expenditures that would lead to a material reduction in the undesignated fund balance in the 2025-26 budget? Given that the current Long Range Financial Plan anticipates a negative fund balance in FY 2027-28, how will that affect use of the fund balance for the 2025-26 budget?

-With respect to a 2026 bond, please: (a) provide a timeline; (b) discuss the District’s process for determining which projects to include in the 2026 bond; and (c) discuss what projects will be included in the 2026 bond. Who has provided input into making such determinations?

-Does the District plan to fund a study concerning the current or potential future impact of climate change on the physical plant?

-What transportation costs will be included in the 2025-26 budget? How will the transportation study impact the 2025-26 budget? What funds will be allocated in the 2025-26 budget to begin compliance with the NY Zero Emission Vehicle mandate? Please discuss the District’s current plans for transitioning to a zero-emission school bus upgrade by 2035.

-After the additions made in last year's budget, is the Special Education department adequately staffed to provide an expanded continuum of services in all the schools, including SMS and SHS? What funds will be allocated in the 2025-26 budget for the special education program? Please provide program staffing projections for the next five years.

-What technology improvements do you plan to include in the 2025-26 budget?

-Will DEIB work be a part of the 2025-26 budget? Does the District plan to continue to work with outside consultants in connection with its DEIB work? Will responding to the belonging survey be a part of this budget?

-Will any funds be allocated in the 2025-26 budget to review the K-12 math curriculum?

-How many FTE positions will be included in the 2025-26 budget for the multivariable calculus class, which was added to last year's budget?

-Will the 2025-26 budget include funds for a summer (or other) support program related to the MVC class or other math classes? How many students would be eligible for this summer support class and what are the advantages and disadvantages of adding such a summer course? How does this summer support class fit in with the rest of the K-12 math curriculum, and in particular, with the high school math curriculum? How many students took the MVC class this year? Does the District plan to add any other additional math classes?

-What safety or security-related measures/items will be included in the 2025-26 school year budget? Will the District continue to engage with safety and security consultants? Is the District still considering allocating funds for door ajar sensors and camera expansion?

PT Council

The last person to provide their input at the Budget Forum was PTC President Meryl Satler who spoke on behalf of the PTC Executive Committee. Satler also read from a prepared statement which began by thanking the district administration and Board of Education for hosting this Budget Priorities Session for the community and stated, “We believe that transparency, and early and ongoing communication with District parents and the Scarsdale community is essential to a comprehensive and effective budget process.”

Satler went on to thank “the district administration for its forward-thinking approach. We fully support the administration's decision to look at a five-year projection to identify revenue opportunities and assess the potential need for adjustments to fund balances. Given that the current model, as outlined in the Long-Range Financial Planning presentation, projects an operating deficit in the 2027-2028 fiscal year, the PTC urges the administration to prioritize efforts to avoid a negative fund balance. While we understand that this is a future projection and that updated inputs could alter the outlook, we recognize that addressing this issue may require difficult decisions, including reassessing larger expenditures. We ask that the administration maintain the same level of transparency and provide clear explanations throughout this process. Additionally, following the 2024-2025 budget's 4.45% tax levy growth, we hope the updated future projection model will help maintain moderate levy growth, with an emphasis on keeping it below the tax cap.”

The prepared statement made note that the PTC appreciates “The district’s straightforward discussion of the challenges related to the Electric Vehicle (EV) Bus Plan. As the district moves forward with the phased rollout of electric buses to comply with New York State regulations, the PTC requests that the Board of Education and administration carefully evaluate the most efficient and responsible approaches, as outlined in the Highland Transportation Study. Whether through leasing, borrowing, or a hybrid model, the goal should be to identify a solution that aligns with both the district’s financial priorities and the needs of the school community (short and long term). We also urge the district to maintain its commitment to sustainability by going above and beyond state requirements, as demonstrated by initiatives like the EV rollout. Our schools should be adequately funded to support sustainability best practices, including recycling programs, composting, the use of sustainable materials, and the integration of sustainability education and awareness throughout the curriculum.”

Later in the statement Satler read, “As our District Facilities and Buildings continue to age and the needs of our community evolve, the PTC emphasizes the importance of addressing physical spaces at each school that require updating or renovation.” She drew attention to “the need for outdoor playgrounds at all five elementary schools have surpassed their expected lifespans and need replacement. Second, we strongly encourage the district to expand air conditioning across all seven school buildings to improve comfort of learning environments. Lastly, we recommend investigating the addition of functional kitchens at several elementary schools and exploring the possibility of a combined school cafeteria and kitchen at the middle school.”

Satler expressed that, “The PTC is impressed with the district’s ongoing commitment to effective technology usage policies in the Scarsdale schools. With the current "Off and Away" policy at the elementary and middle school levels, and the use of cell phone caddies at the high school, our practices are among the best in the region. We encourage the district to continue monitoring Governor Hochul’s priorities, particularly her focus on a “bell-to-bell” ban on personal devices, as this may have implications for future budgeting.”

In addition, “The PTC EC and Budget Study Chairs are strong proponents of maintaining small class sizes, providing comprehensive student support, and promoting teaching practices that nurture the development of the whole child,” Satler made clear that the PTC, “encourage the district to continue prioritizing flood mitigation strategies related to both our buildings and grounds.” Additionally, they “Urge the district to identify and implement a long-term solution for updating the fields, ensuring both their playability and the health and safety of the students who use them. Any improvements made should provide a sustainable, lasting solution.”

To hear each of the full statements from the Budget Forum you can watch the video here.

Before ending the Budget Forum Session, Dr. Patrick noted that there will be a document posted and regularly updated on the District Website that will work to answer as many of these questions as possible. Patrick then encouraged the public to continue providing their feedback by writing to the BOE at [email protected] or participating one of the next budget meetings.