Letter to the Editor: Board Process Lacks Transparency

As a longtime resident of Greenacres and what is fondly referred to as an "empty nester", I have remained interested in the fate of our elementary school. With the understanding that the School Board based upon a careful investigation, would move forward with the passage of a bond in May of 2017 to finance the construction of a new school at Greenacres, I attended the Monday night meeting of the Scarsdale School Board.

I was troubled at the meeting by the lack of process transparency, predetermined thinking, and double talk. My eyes were opened once again this year to a clear need for greater community oversite/involvement and accountability.

Here are my 4 key takeaways:

1. There was no clear articulation of why the existing architect who was vetted by the Board and had extensive school design experience was terminated. Furthermore, what would be the fate of the engineering company that was brought on board?

2. The Board informed us after much discussion that there was to be a new RFP process. Despite the fact that the RFP has not been issued yet, it appears that the Board has short listed and communicated with certain firms. Which firms has the Board talked to? How were these firms identified? And, most critically, what it the program or scope of work with respect to the Greenacres Elementary School that the new firms will submit design proposals against. Will it be a renovation? New school? Both?

3. It appears that there was a predetermined agenda and meeting outcome. When the cumulative impact of the Greenacres deficiencies were presented (e.g., classrooms too small, poor air quality, mechanical systems well beyond their useful life, waste of energy, a shortage of usable public/collaborative learning space) the response was to underscore examples of isolated issues in other schools. However, it is undisputed that none of these schools have the total impact of the problems that face Greenacres.

4. From the discussion, it appears that the Board wants to limit renovation in the Greenacres School to avoid having to bring the entire school up to current code and safety standard compliance. Net, the fixes could simply be a band aid and Greenacres students will ultimately be subjected to buildings with outdated safely codes and live through a potentially hazardous renovation process.

Despite what seems to be two years of investigation and, now a restart, one of the Board members stated that she liked direction of this process. I do not share her enthusiasm. There should be greater transparency on these issues and the direction that the Board intends to take. It appears that the Board already had a preordained agenda, as opposed to being straight with community members.

I am tired of officials not doing what they say, and not saying what they do -- without clear evidence for acting to the contrary. It is critical that we do what is in the best interest of our community's young students and begin to work in an open and honest manner.

Andrea Seiden
72 Greenacres Avenue
Scarsdale, NY 10583