Patricia Taylor Named Rye High School Principal

Starting July 1, Patricia Taylor will take the reins as principal of Rye High School.

Currently assistant principal of guidance and student support services, Taylor started her career at Rye High School in 1982 and worked at Bronxville High School from 1988 until her return to Rye in 2001. Taylor replaces . John Smith is currently interim principal.

After a year-long search process, “we came to the unanimous decision that our own Patricia Taylor was the best choice," school board president Josh Nathan said at the board meeting Tuesday night.

Open Topics Forum

At Tuesday’s school board meeting, school board members left their places at the meeting table to mingle with parents. Six small groups of eight to 10 community members had the opportunity to ask questions and make comments about any topic of their choosing.

Seated with 10 parents, board member Young Kim expressed her enthusiasm about the discussion. “This is the biggest turn-out we’ve had for the forums,” she said.

While discussion at Kim’s table quickly turned to the impact of Gov. Andrews Cuomo’s budget tax caps, other topics bubbled up around the room, from class sizes at Osborn to mold at Midland. Parents were also keen to see wireless capability up and running at the middle and high schools.

School business official Kathleen Ryan had guardedly positive news about the state budget. “We’re expecting finalized state aid numbers any day,” Ryan said. “We don’t think we’ll be worse off.”

If more budget cuts were to happen, the board indicated by straw poll that they were only comfortable with $250,000 of the $400,000 in cuts to programs and facilities spending.

President Josh Nathan and the rest of the board members wanted more details about some of the programs and facilities line items before making final decisions. “The target was good but [$400,000] pushed the issue,” said Nathan after the group discussed the list. “I’m not comfortable using the fund balance to reduce expenses.”

Edward Fox made a similar point. “I’m very uncomfortable putting everything on reducing the tax rate," he said. The board agreed to continue their discussion of the best balance between possible draws against the fund balance accounts and reducing the tax levy on residents.

With the end of their terms drawing to a close, board members Kim and Fox announced their future intentions. Kim has decided to leave the board at the conclusion of her term. Fox said he will run “for one more term.” Two seats will be filled in the next election.

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