BOE Overview and Members

  • What we do

    The four major functions of the School Board are being a representative, leader, steward, and advocate.

    Representative:

    • “School board members are elected by the residents of the school district the board oversees.” (School Law, 31st Edition)

     Leader:

    • Together with the Superintendent, the Board sets the district’s direction.
    • Ensures alignment of the district’s policies, strategies, resources, programs and processes along with open communication.

     Steward:

    • The Board acts as a steward of public funds and is accountable for setting vision for the district and for all student achievement.

     Advocate:

    • Board members are advocates on behalf of all the children, speak out on issues and mobilize families, businesses, local government, seniors, public and private agencies to work together to address the needs of all the children and the community they serve.
    • The Board provides information services for legislators and actively influences the outcome of state and federal legislation on matters affecting education.  

     Some of the responsibilities of the Board of Education include:

    • Establishing goals and planning the district’s future
    • Hiring and evaluating the Superintendent
    • Reviewing and supporting the instructional program
    • Approving and monitoring the budget
    • Ratifying collective bargaining agreements
    • Overseeing school facilities and operations
    • Establishing and maintaining effective community engagement
    • Hearing appeals related to policies
    • Lobbying and collaborating with district, town, county, state, and federal organizations.

     

    Where and when we meet…
    The Board of Education meets in various locations throughout the district. The schedule of meetings, locations and presentations are listed on the website under Board of Education, meetings.

    Community concerns…
    All Board members encourage open communication between members of the community and the Board. Please feel free to email the Board, collectively or individually, at any time with any questions, compliments, comments, or concerns you may have. See above for a listing of names, and contact information.

    Meeting procedures…
    During each meeting, the Board of Education provides two opportunities for public comment. Please note that the public comment period is not designed to be an active discussion; the Board is here to listen. The Board has allotted thirty (30) minutes for this aspect of the meeting, and each speaker will be permitted to speak for up to three (3) minutes. During the first public comment period, the Board will give priority to comments relating to items on the evening’s agenda. During the second public comment period, after the Board has completed its agenda, members of the public may comment on any matter related to the affairs of the school district. Once recognized by the Board, each individual should indicate their name and affiliation with the school district. Speakers offering public comment should refrain from identifying individual staff members – either by name or by circumstances – regardless of whether the commentary is positive, negative, or neutral toward that staff member. 

    Here is a link to the Ardsley Board of Education Meeting Overview. The document will be available for the public at all Board meetings and provides insight to how the meetings are conducted.

    Questions/Correspondence to the Board:
    Any general questions pertaining to meetings, schedules, agendas, and minutes, can be addressed to:

    Donna Accurso, District Clerk
    daccurso@ardsleyschools.org
    500 Farm Road
    Ardsley, New York 10502
    914-295-5515

  • Who we are

     

    Hrishi Karthikeyan  
    Hrishi Karthikeyan, President    

    Hrishi Karthikeyan rejoined the Board of Education in 2022 after previously serving from 2017-20.  Hrishi and his wife have lived in Ardsley since 2008, and they currently have two children in the district -- one at Ardsley Middle School and one at Ardsley High School.
     
    In addition to serving as Board president this year, Hrishi also serves on the Audit and Finance/Budget Committee, as well as the Contracts Committee.  He is the Board liaison to the Westchester Putnam School Boards Association, as well as to the Village and Town boards covering the district (Community Relations Liaison).
     
    Hrishi grew up in West Virginia and is a proud product of the public school system.  He earned his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University and his law degree from NYU.  Following a twenty year legal career, he currently serves as Senior Vice President and Head of Business Strategy for the National Basketball Association (NBA).
     
     

    Viktoria Paroder
    Viktoriya Paroder, Vice President

    Viktoriya Paroder began her term on the Ardsley Board of Education in July 2022. She and her husband have resided in the Ardsley School District since 2013 and currently have one child in Ardsley High School and one child who graduated in 2020.

    Viktoriya has been actively involved in the community, serving on the High School PPLT since 2019 and more recently on the DEI committee. She volunteers for science research program events in Ardsley High School as well as judges local and regional science research competitions.

    In addition to serving as Board vice president this year, Viktoriya also serves on the following Board of Education subcommittees: Communications Committee and Curriculum and Instruction/Personnel Committee. Viktoriya is also the Board Liaison for AEF and PPLT.

    Viktoriya grew up in Moldova. She is a radiologist and clinical researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She received her MD and PhD degrees from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY and her Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry from SUNY Stony Brook. 

     

     Vikas Agrawal
    Vikas Agrawal, Board Trustee  

    Vikas Agrawal began his term on the Ardsley Board of Education in July 2021. He and his wife have resided in the Ardsley School District since 2013 and have two children in Ardsley Middle School.

    Vikas has been active in the local community. He serves on the board of Ardsley Little League and the Yonkers Health Advisory Committee. He is also captain of the local cricket team, the New York Cowboys.

    Vikas currently serves on the following Board of Education subcommittees: Audit & Finance Committee, Communications Committee and Contracts Committee. Vikas is also the Board Liaison for NYSSBA, and Special Education.

    Vikas was born in India. He is a Neurologist and has his own private practice. He did his medical training at North Shore University Hospital and the University of South Florida. Currently, he is affiliated with St. Johns Riverside Hospital and Montefiore Hospital System.

    Mitchell Kleinman

    Mitchell Kleinman, Board Trustee  

    Mitchell Kleinman began his term on the Ardsley Board of Education in August 2022. He and his wife have resided in the Ardsley School District since 2013 and currently have one child in Ardsley High School and one child in Ardsley Middle School.

    Mitchell has been an active member of the local community, including volunteering as a basketball and Ardsley Little League coach for many years. He is currently on the Board of the Ardsley Little League.

    Mitchell serves on the following Board of Education sub-committees this year:  Curriculum and Instruction/Personnel Committee, Long-Range Planning Committee, and Policy Committee . He is also the Board liaison to the Ardsley Panther Booster Club and SAYF.

    Mitchell grew up in Spring Valley, NY, and attended the public schools in the East Ramapo Central School District. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University at Albany - State University of New York, and his law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. After working as a prosecutor for the Office of the District Attorney, Queens County, he joined the private sector and is currently an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.

    Stella Urban, Board Trustee (Ms. Urban's picture will be forthcoming)  

    Stella Urban began her term on the Ardsley Board of Education in July of 2023. She and her husband have resided in the district since the Fall of 2019 and currently have two children in the Ardsley Middle School. 

    Stella serves on the following Board of Education subcommittees this year:  Long-Range Planning Committee and Policy Committee.  She is also the Board liaison for BOCES and the PTA. 

    Although born in Queens, NY, she spent her childhood in the Dominican Republic and returned to the United States at the age of 8.  She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University.  After years of working in medical research, she made a substantial career change and is currently a Lieutenant with the New York City Police Department.