Edgemont is abuzz with speculation about succession plans for the district pending the resignation of Assistant Principal Christ Monseliu in December, 2011 and the retirement of EHS Principal Barry Friedman in the summer of next year. Who will take the reigns at the school and is a restructuring in the cards? Ms. Monseliu is one of three assistant principals at the high school and works with colleagues Michael Curtin and Devan Ganeshananthan. The odds have always been on Ms. Monseliu replacing Friedman as principal, but now that she is relocating to Florida, many parents in the community are wondering if Mr. Curtin or Mr. Ganeshananthan will be chosen to replace him.
Last spring, Superintendent Nancy Taddiken indicated that the school may have only two assistant principals in the future, as a cost-savings measure. At the March 16, 2011 Board Meeting, Taddiken explained that there are currently ten district administrators. Since every District must have a superintendent, building principal in each building, a director of facilities and a director of special services the only room for an administrative structural change lies with the assistant principals at the Junior-Senior High School. Taddiken said, "My recommendation is for the Board to allow me with help from Barry Friedman, the assistant principals, and other administrators to look at a potential reduction; we will look to save about $65,000.”
We asked parents what they thought and many felt that it would be better to hire someone from within the district who is already familiar with the school, staff and students, and understands the culture of the school. Others disagree and say they would like to see some new blood at the school. One parent had a completely different idea and wondered if Dr. Kennedy, the longtime principal of Seely Place, would be moved to the high school to serve as principal. Her reasoning was: "They brought Dr. Friedman over from Greenville, so I figured, it was Seely's turn."
Parents may get an answer soon because even though the district will have almost a year to find a replacement for Dr. Friedman, Ms. Taddiken said that she will present her proposal for the leadership succession at the October 11th Board meeting. The public part of the meeting commences at 8:15 pm in the LGI room at the school.
Also announced at the September 13th BOE meeting were the names of staff members (including Mr. Ganeshananthan) who are up for tenure this school year:
- Jedd Chesterson – EHS Foreign Language
- Molly Earle – EHS English
- Tara Eliassof – GR Special Education
- Linda Fleisher – SP Grade 2
- Devan Ganeshananthan – EHS Assistant Principal
- Douglas Goldman – EHS Physical Education
- David Lally – EHS Special Education
- Loren Napoli – SP/GR Psychologist
- Filipp Nicolosi – GR Grade 5
- Fallon Plunkett – EHS Social Studies
- Douglas Weitz – EHS English/Study Skills
- James Wuttke – EHS Social Studies
Youth Employment Service of Scarsdale (Y.E.S.) is open for business. A nonprofit service, Y.E.S. brings together Scarsdale teens and adults, age 14-25, looking for jobs and local residents and businesses looking for part-time help in their homes and offices. Students and employers can register and search for, and list, jobs online at 
Although it was a rainy first day of school for the junior and senior high school on Wednesday September 7, spirits were sunny as Principal Friedman stood outside to welcome everyone back to EHS. On Thursday, the rain stopped just in time to greet the elementary school students back to Greenville and Seely Place and on Friday students enjoyed the annual PTA "back to school" barbecue.
On Saturday, September 17th, all members of the Edgemont community are invited to the "Relay for Tay." The idea behind this event is to bring the community, both young and old, together to celebrate the life of Edgemont student Taylor Matthews and to raise funds for a good cause. As Taylor hoped, Edgemont continues to try to fulfill her dream that "one day, no child will have to face cancer." The event will run from 9 am to 12 noon on the EHS track. There is a minimum $10 registration fee with the goal of adults walking eight laps (two miles) around the track, or two laps for youngsters. Food, drinks, t-shirts designed specifically for this event ($15), and Tay-bandz/kids curing cancer apparel will be sold by the track. All funds raised will go directly to tay-bandz/kids curing cancer, the pediatric cancer foundation that Taylor founded. tay-bandz/kids curing cancer is a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funding research for pediatric cancer. If you are unable to attend but would like to donate, you may send a check made out to tay-bandz to: Tay-bandz, Inc., P.O. Box 1342, Scarsdale, NY 10583.
Yoga Station, a brand new yoga studio has opened in downtown Hartsdale, just to the left of the Hartsdale Train Station, at 221 East Hartsdale Avenue on the second floor. Yoga Station offers drop-in classes for adults and series of classes for children in an open, inclusive environment where the yoga is serious but they don’t take themselves too seriously.
