Highlights of the November 2024 Bronxville School Board of Education Meeting

By Staff
Dec. 4, 2024: The Bronxville School Board of Education held its November meeting on November 21, 2024. Below are the highlights. You can watch the full Bronxville School Board meeting here.
Bronxville Promise in Action
Elementary School Principal Rakiya Adams introduced first-grade teachers who spoke about the Bronxville Promise in action.
The example they discussed was a new "Recess Project," which focuses on social challenges that kids have on the playground. The students created a list of problems they faced during recess and put together a list of questions for experts who they interviewed.
They also read books, watched video clips about recess and talked about playground equipment safety. The students chose what solution they wanted to use to solve their problems.
The students also created a "how to" video modeling their solutions, which will be used at an assembly. Finally, the Bronxville Picture House filmed each class of first graders acting out the solutions of their recess problems.
The project was supported by the Bronxville School Foundation.
Report by Dan Carlin, Assistant Superintendent for Business
Dan Carlin, Assistant Superintendent for Business, spoke about the School's information technology audit. The auditors said the School is doing well compared with "most districts." Carlin said that there is also an action plan going forward.
Carlin also talked about the veteran tax exemption. Since 2014, Villages and School Districts have had the ability to adopt veteran tax exemptions. Currently, the Village of Bronxville has veteran tax exemptions. The Bronxville School is now adopting veteran tax exemptions as well.
Carlin said that the new exemptions will remove about $3 million from the assessment rolls, which will be made up by non-veteran taxpayers. Carlin explained that the effect on non-veteran taxpayers would be minimal and provided an example that resulted in about a $25 increase for an owner of a $2 million home.
Carlin also reported in broad stokes about the School's Budget and said that overall, the Budget is in good shape.
The School has continued with its landscape renovation project and Dan thanked the School's partners, which includes the PTA and the Village of Bronxville. Thus far, the project has cost about $576.6k, with the PTA contributing $278k, the School contributing $230k, and the Village contributing $68.6k.
Carlin said that the School is expecting proposals from construction management services related to another upcoming project.
Carlin spoke about the Eastchester Fire Department fire inspection of the School, which, as of this writing, has taken place.
Report by Dr. Rachel Kelly, Superintendent of the Bronxville Schools
Dr. Rachel Kelly, Superintendent of the Bronxville Schools, provided the following update.
-The Board will be considering a Foundation Grant for a book profiling local veterans. The book will be written by a Bronxville junior.
-The Elementary School celebrated a new tradition where they shared photos of veterans and displayed them on the playground.
-The 7th Graders had a trip to Colonial Williamsburg.
-To honor Breast Cancer Awareness, the PTA donated pumpkins which the sixth graders painted pink and displayed on the front lawn.
-On October 30th, two assistant DAs came to the Middle School to talk about internet safety.
-Middle School students engaged in a World Kindness Week challenge and undertook acts of kindness for others and reflected on the kind acts bestowed on them.
-High School sports had a great fall season. Additionally, three student-athletes were recruited for college sports. You can read more about these recruited athletes here.
-The SFL is sponsoring the second annual school-wide spelling bee.
-The PTA Arts Council is collaborating with the Arts Council regarding a "Career in the Arts" night at the Bronxville library.
-Model UN Club has 21 delegates to the upcoming Model UN Conference.
-The French Club is traveling to Quebec in March.
Other Board Activities
-Bronxville School SFL Representative to the Board, Kara Kochansky provided an update on various student activities at the School.
-It was announced that the Foundation Fundraising Drive is open.












