Submitted by Bronxville's Non-Partisan Committee

May 7, 2025: Bronxville’s Committee for Non-Partisan Nomination and Election of The Bronxville School Trustees (the “NPC”), comprised of 21 elected, Bronxville residents, has existed for almost 100 years, its mission unchanged – “procure the election of the Trustees of the Bronxville School District in a non-partisan manner .... In choosing such candidates, their party affiliations shall be disregarded and consideration given solely to their qualifications for the position.”

On April 29, the NPC hosted its first of this cycle’s “Meet the Candidates” night at the Bronxville Field Club in support of its Endorsed Candidates (three of the six candidates on the ballot) namely, Michael Brandes, Eddie Lennon, and Peter McSherry.  Each of the Endorsed Candidates is presently serving and seeks re-election as a Trustee of The Bronxville School on May 20.

Overview: Reasons for the Non-Partisan Committee’s Endorsement of Brandes, Lennon, and McSherry

The evening began with opening remarks from NPC Co-Chair Vincent McBride.  In explaining why the NPC chose to endorse Brandes, Lennon, and McSherry, McBride recalled a March 2025 full-NPC committee meeting with Dr. Rachel Kelly (Superintendent) and Bronxville School Trustee Sara Kenny.  During that meeting, the following was made clear: Brandes, Lennon, and McSherry’s respective experience in the role; the important committee work each is currently doing and comments regarding collaboration (“the current Board is working well together”), continued non-partisan agenda (“no room for partisan politics in The Bronxville School”) were expressed.

The other important input to the NPC’s support came from the candidate interviews in late March, where NPC Board members asked a series of questions of each incumbent trustee.  Following the interviews, it was evident that while we had three distinct individuals, their shared repsect of the job, humility, and teamwork made it clear that they work well together.

Q&A Session: Curriculum, the Capital Project, Mental Health, and More

Opening remarks were followed by a roughly 75-minute panel-style Q&A session led by NPC Board Members Alexandra Remmel and Katelin O’Rourke Gorman, including live questions from the community.

Topics ranged from Curriculum (“Is anyone banning books?” as asked by one audience member) to the Tenure Process, the Capital Project, Mental Health and Bullying Support, and the Cell Phone Policy.

A list of several questions asked, and summarized responses, is provided below for the Community’s benefit:

1. EDDIE LENNON:    Can you share an update on the new cell phone policy?  Has there been a significant impact on the kids and the classrooms?

The new cell phone policy has vastly improved our students’ ability to learn.  I have particular pride in the work our Board has done in instituting changes this past school year with phone racks for our middle school students to "park their phones" when walking into school (naturally with certain reasonable, lunchtime exceptions) and for our elementary school children, not allowing any devices that connect to the internet (phones with only text and phone options are permitted but must be in a student locker during the school day.).  There was initial concern that teachers would be spending time “policing phones” rather than teaching – we felt strongly as a Board that we needed to give this a try, based on parent feedback, the feedback and information shared between and among other School Boards, and it has worked incredibly well, especially given that is was our first year trying.  We are refining the High School policy as well and are excited to continue working on this together.  The teachers are happy, parents seem happy, and most important, our children are happy and learning. 

2. MICHAEL BRANDES: Would you share some details regarding the recent Superintendent search?  How did the board decide on Dr. Rachel Kelly?

This reminded us of the “Wizard of Oz” when Dorothy said, “And it was always right before my eyes…” 

We interviewed scores of candidates from across the country, looking for the most accomplished, dedicated academic and administrative professional we could find who also embodied Bronxville’s shared “B 3” values: Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe.  It soon became evident that Dr. Rachel Kelly possessed all of these attributes and then some – and that she had indeed been right here all along.  Dr. Kelly did not put her name in the ring, so to speak, to seek the position, but was widely supported by the faculty and staff, and on this basis, we as a Board asked her to consider applying … Her standards and dedication have not disappointed … 

3. PETER McSHERRY: What is going on with the upcoming Capital Project?  How long has the board been working on this and what is the focus?

The Capital Project began 24 months ago as a wish list of all the items the district needed, and by virtue of our Board’s hard work on the Facilities Committee and Finance Committee, we were able to transform the roughly $30 million starting number wish list into a roughly $20mn proposal covering immediate needs, most of which are tired to the Elementary School, for example asbestos abatement, infrastructure support – the structure is sound and we want it to remain so – and the like.  Our Board has representatives from many different arenas, and we play on one another’s strengths quite well – finance, educators, builders and contractors, lawyers, parents (of all ages), etc.  We negotiated the best possible quotes for each line item, and this has kept cost down considerably, and will keep us within our debt capacity.  In short, it is a responsible, well-worked Capital Project proposal for our true needs vs. wants.  And all information on each line item is there for your review on the BOE website – transparency is so important.  I encourage you to eyeball it.  We are proud of what the Board has put together.

1. EDDIE LENNON: What has been done in the mental health area?  Can you discuss recent hires and any recent policy changes?

Yes, we have hired several additional school psychologists, which have been incredibly well-received, and have become increasingly aware of the dangers our children face from social media and the need to educate, along with their parents, the children on these dangers.

2. MICHAEL BRANDES:  Would you share some details on recent Curriculum items? 

The Curriculum Committee is well-engaged and working hard.  We have added new coaches in math & literacy, a Latin program & civil discourse integration.  And Ms.Ann Meyer has been appointed to a new role charged with advancing and assisting the Board and Administration with curriculum, and she has been phenomenal.  Eddie Lennon had an illustrative story to share on this front – that perhaps the Elementary School children were relying too heavily on outside tutors just to meet the standards – that if a vast majority of our children were doing this, something was terribly wrong.  We polled parents in grades K-2 and asked if they were using (paying for) outside tutors and if so, was it because their child wanted to excel or because their child simply could not keep up. The data collected showed that a significant portion simply could not keep up, and we as a Board found this to be unacceptable.  We involved the Administration, introduced / reintroduced our teachers to phonics coaching and revamped the Elementary School’s then-dominant Columbia Teachers approach.  Our efforts worked – our children are reading better and comfortably, without the need for a significant portion to use outside tutors just to keep up.

3. PETER McSHERRY: Can you share the board’s involvement in the tenure process?

The School Board is vested with authority over tenure under NY State Law, and we want our decisions to include objective, quantifiably data.  How many excellent “observations” did that teacher have during the probationary period, why was the teacher rated “excellent”, what trends can we identify from those ratings, for example … Are all of the excellent candidates coming from the same program or feeder school, and if so, shall we recruit more heavily from there?  Important questions to ask and answers to analyze, and we are looking forward to our review of tenure aided, through our efforts, on the most-needed feedback from the Administration, along with this critical data we will

ALL (from Audience): I hear from time to time this rumor that the Board or the School bans or controls books. Can you please put this to bed one way or another, once and for all?

We are so glad you asked this question – NO, we are NOT banning books.  The teachers decide what each would like to offer in the respective class.  For example, each Literature teacher will decide what that teacher would like to read in the teacher’s class within the State-Mandated curriculum.  We do think it may be helpful for the teachers to roundtable their own selections for feedback from the other teachers teaching the same class, but only for purposes of helping one another and providing feedback and collaboration within a department.  Most certainly no banning of books – that is not true.

ALL (from Audience): What are doing about Bullying? 

We have implemented several resources, including an anonymous line that goes straight to Dr. Kelly’s office.  It is such an important issue our children face today, and we are committed more than ever to making sure our community is one that is respectful and positive.  In fact, by you asking this question, we will re-circulate a bulletin with all of the resources available.