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Letter to the Community From Bronxville School Board Candidate Edward Lennon

May 4, 2022

Dear Neighbors, I hope this letter finds everyone well and looking forward to the spring and summer seasons. I am writing to introduce myself to you as a candidate for Trustee for the Bronxville School Board. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this letter to learn more about my background and why I am running for this position.

Born and raised in Bronxville, I am very committed to the village I grew up in. I am grateful for my time spent here, on the athletic fields and in the chess club, for the relationships that were fostered, and for the opportunities that the village and school have afforded me. I’m a proud member of the 13-year club, K-12 all at Bronxville School, and to this day many of my closest friends are people that I’ve known since my days at RCNS. My wife, Lauren, and I decided to move back to Bronxville to raise our three children – Hunter (5), Parker (4), and Ford (1) in an environment we knew well.
 
Professionally, I own and run an 88-year-old family business specializing in architectural and industrial coatings, with a major focus on medium-large facilities and have significant experience in building / facility maintenance and construction project consulting. Our school building, the crown jewel of Bronxville, is turning 100 years old, and with that comes ongoing capital projects that will no doubt come up over the next couple years. It is important to be proactive and not reactive, as the latter always ends up costing more. My career experience gives me key school board-related focus areas such as negotiating, budgeting, problem solving, capital planning, as well as dealing with vendors, trades, and contractors.
 
Parental Input: I believe it is imperative for parents to be active in the education process. The past few years have been incredibly busy and we are beginning to see the results of reduced broad-based parental engagement with the school. We need dialogue, transparency, debate, honesty, and consensus builders who want to engage and solve problems. Parents deserve to be a part of the conversation. We are stronger when we work together.
 
Curriculum Changes: Over the past 2-3 years, several curriculum changes have been introduced or put into practice, and many more are actively being considered. The most dramatic of these include proposals to replace grades with certifications of mastery and to remove or reduce Honors/AP classes. It is my belief that academic excellence is at the heart of the Bronxville School Promise and a key strength of our village. Frankly, it’s the main reason why we all choose to pay exorbitant taxes and raise our children here.
 
Ongoing Superintendent Search: There is an ongoing search to replace Superintendent Montesano, who announced his retirement at the end of last year. I know many of us are grateful for the professional and thoughtful approach Dr. Montesano took over his tenure, specifically the past 2 years to keep our schools open safely. We should all applaud his efforts and those of all our teachers, coaches, and staff as they have all done a remarkable job. Other school districts around the country didn’t have such fortune. Finding his replacement will be one of the key responsibilities of the board, an important decision as the new Superintendent will shape the school for decades to come.
 
“Hot Button Issues”: The combative climate that has developed around how we teach our children to engage as thoughtful and compassionate people is unfortunate. As an elected Trustee, I will be part of the solution. We all have the same goal of raising our children to honor the Bronxville Promise of being compassionate citizens. I would go further and state that our special Promise also includes treating each other as we would want to be treated, regardless of background, race, religion, sexual preference, socio-economic standing, or any other measure. I believe it is of the utmost importance for school curriculum administrators to be transparent with proposed changes and for parents to have an active role in that process. This is our school too and one of the key responsibilities of the Board is to advise on curriculum. There needs to be room for healthy dialogue around complicated topics, particularly at the elementary and middle school levels.
 
In closing, I hope this letter has served two purposes. First, for you to get to know a little bit about me, my principles, and the reasons why I am running. We respect our neighbors and their opinions in Bronxville, and everyone has a right to be heard and choice is healthy. And second, to encourage you to get involved in this election as there is much at stake!
 
Thank you for your time, attention, and consideration. I would welcome the chance to speak with you directly about my candidacy, and I encourage you to discuss these important issues with your friends and neighbors. I’m asking you for your vote. I will not let you down. Please consider me for School Board Trustee.
 
The vote is May 17 in the Blue Gym at the Bronxville School.
 
Sincerely,
 
Eddie Lennon

 

 

 

 

 

Editor's note:  MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements in letters to the editor, and the opinions do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff. Its objective in publishing letters to the editor is to give air to diverse thoughts and opinions of residents in the community.

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Bronxville Overview

Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.

While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.

Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.

The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.

Bronxville Village Government Directory

Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends

Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours

Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends

Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400

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