May 14, 2025

Dear Bronxville Neighbors,

I am running for re-election for Board of Education Trustee.  The election is Tuesday May 20th.    

My wife Megan and I have three children. Peter is a senior at Villanova University and graduating next week. Michaela is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi and Matthew is a senior at the high school and attending Amherst College in the fall.  My three children were/are very different learners and the district nurtured and challenged all three differently and set each of them up for success. We will always be grateful to our educators and staff at The Bronxville School.

I have learned so much over the past three years. The current board has a nice mix of trustees with younger students combined with trustees whose children have already been through the system. We work well as a team and have a strong relationship with the administration. This does not mean we agree on every topic or subject area. Healthy disagreement is a sign of a strong board. Argue your opinion, come to a resolution and move on. No room for ego. Our goal is the best learning environment possible for students and staff while being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers.

Some of our accomplishments during my 1st three years on the board:

1. Hiring of Dr Rachel Kelly as our Superintendent: The Board went through two separate searches for a new superintendent. The first search ended with the Board undecided on a candidate and looking for more time to do a more thorough search.  The second search had us in numerous meetings and dinners with several highly qualified candidates. The Board learned that Dr Kelly (at that time our interim superintendent) was interested in the job.  We are very focused on process as a board.  Dr Kelly was put through the same interview process as we had with the other candidates. Dr Kelly’s experience, knowledge, positivity, energy and vision made her the best candidate to lead our district.

2. School Construction Project: The Board with massive work from administrators, architects and school staff was able to cull the current project down to a fiscally responsible project that focuses on needs over wants.  Exterior work on the D Wing must get done. Like choices many of us make for our own older buildings or houses, if you are addressing part of a building and other items (HVAC, windows, floors, classrooms) in that area have not been updated in 60+ years, it just makes good sense to address them in the same project.

3. Communication:  In the past 3 years Board communication has improved dramatically.  I believe communication from all of our administrators has improved substantially as well. We are always trying to improve communication. In meetings with the Board and Administrators we regularly discuss how we can improve and appreciate community feedback.

4. Front of school landscape renovations:  The Board, in conjunction with the generous support from the PTA and support from the village, is incredibly proud about how good the front of the school looks. The 8-foot-wide sidewalks makes so much sense, now that we have them, I’m shocked we didn’t do this years ago.

5. School Cell Phone Policy: The Board implemented the policy that has already seen incredible results for our children. Special praise should go to Eddie Lennon and Cristina Skinner for pushing other board members to really focus on our need for this policy. It is refreshing to have three board members with children in the Elementary School.

Please vote for me on election day.  I would also ask you to vote for the other two board members that are up for re-election: Michael Brandes and Eddie Lennon.  Michael and Eddie are tremendous assets to the board and we need their experience and commitment to the school for the next three years.

I truly appreciate your help!

Pete McSherry

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