Issue #020 · LatestWednesday, September 30, 2026 · an NRHS senior joins the school board · four events pack Saturday · paving starts Thursday on four streets
Who is the New Rochelle student on the school board? Lev Goldsmith takes a seat, and Saturday stacks four events downtown and on the water
Free local email · Monday + Friday mornings · written by Alex Tiratsuyan · 4-minute read
A high school senior holds a seat on the board that decides where New Rochelle's kids go to school. Lev Goldsmith, an NRHS senior, was sworn in as a Board of Education member on Sept. 10, at the board's meeting in the high school's Linda E. Kelly Theatre. Board President Makeda Lewis administered the oath. His term started July 1 and runs through June 30, 2027.
Goldsmith campaigned for the seat, and he told the board what he plans to do with it. "I made a promise to my peers during my campaign to ensure that each and every one of their voices is heard," he said. He asked members to weigh issues from student perspectives, and he credited the district's faculty and staff for the opportunities students get inside and outside the classroom.
The timing gives the seat weight. The district is weighing a major overhaul: middle grades reorganized into a 5-6 and 7-8 split, magnet status removed, Gifted & Talented programs removed, neighborhood elementary schools added, and new career and technical education. Those proposals sit in presentation materials the board has been reviewing, and they would rank among the biggest changes to New Rochelle schools in years.
The full swear-in story, including superintendent Dr. Corey W. Reynolds' welcome, is in Talk of the Sound's report. If your student mentions Goldsmith this week, ask what he promised his classmates. Then hold that promise up against what the board does this year, starting with the Lincoln attendance zone question.
The questions New Rochelle searches this week, answer first, source after.
Who is the New Rochelle student on the school board?
Lev Goldsmith, a New Rochelle High School senior. He was sworn in Sept. 10 as a Board of Education member, with Board President Makeda Lewis administering the oath at NRHS's Linda E. Kelly Theatre. His term runs through June 30, 2027. He told the board he wants members to see issues from student perspectives, and he campaigned on his classmates' voices being heard.
Not before late Friday night. Today runs mostly sunny near 74, Thursday partly sunny near 76, and Friday mostly sunny near 81. The first rain is a 30 percent chance of showers before 2 AM Friday night. Saturday stays dry, mostly sunny near 70, which covers the whole events day downtown and at the waterfront. Another 30 percent chance waits until after 2 PM Sunday. No coastal flood alerts are active for New Rochelle this morning.
Four things worth the walk. C-Town at 538 Main Street throws a 20th anniversary block party from 11 to 3 with a live DJ. Tag NR, the community tag sale rescheduled from last week, runs 11 to 3 at Anderson Plaza. Views & Brews returns to the Hudson Park bandshell from 2 to 7, free, bring proof of age if you want a drink. And Tutti Bravi stages Common Sense: The Story of Thomas Paine, 2:30 to 4:30.
The paving crew moves into four streets starting Thursday: Wilmot Rd between New Wilmot Rd and Dora Ln, Rutledge Rd between Harvard Rd and Waverly Rd, Andrew Lane between Ronbru Dr and Surrey Dr, and Marion Dr between Ronbru Dr and the dead end. Work runs 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM both days, weather permitting. Plan around it if you drive one of those blocks.
The weather cooperates. Today is mostly sunny near 74, Friday tops out near 81, and Saturday lands mostly sunny near 70. The next showers wait until Sunday afternoon. No coastal flood alerts are up this morning, and Metro-North riders should check mta.info before heading out.
AI Corner: one plain-English AI thing, every issue
This week: read the schools overhaul slides before you form an opinion.
Talk of the Sound walked through the district's presentation materials this month. On the table: middle grades reorganized so one building holds grades 5 and 6 and another holds 7 and 8, magnet status removed in favor of neighborhood elementary schools, Gifted & Talented programs removed, and new career and technical education added. That is most of the district's structure up for discussion, right? The slides are proposals, labeled "Options from 2025," and they arrive while enrollment keeps declining.
Try this before the next board meeting: "Here is the district's presentation [paste it]. List every change proposed, what each would mean for a student in [grade], and the five questions parents should ask the board." You get a clean brief in seconds instead of skimming slides at midnight. Then check the answer against the district's own announcements, because an AI summary misses context and this decision deserves the full picture.
Reply with questions; they become future AI Corner topics.
DPW milling and paving, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, on Wilmot Rd, Rutledge Rd, Andrew Lane and Marion Dr, weather permitting; Civilian Complaint Review Board, 7:00 PM
City Hall, 515 North Avenue · city calendar
Paving continues on the same four streets, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, weather permitting
Wilmot Rd, Rutledge Rd, Andrew Lane, Marion Dr · city calendar
Four-stop Saturday: C-Town's 20th anniversary block party, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 538 Main Street; Tag NR at Anderson Plaza, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Views & Brews at the Hudson Park bandshell, 2:00 to 7:00 PM, free admission; Tutti Bravi's Common Sense: The Story of Thomas Paine, 2:30 to 4:30 PM
Downtown and Hudson Park · city calendar
Taste of Leroy, 12:00 to 6:00 PM, Leroy Place from Division Street to Centre Avenue
Leroy Place · city calendar
2026 State of the City address, doors 6:00 PM, address 6:30 PM, with New Ro Biz and refreshments; free, seating limited, RSVP at newrochelleny.gov/SOTCRSVP
JCC Mid-Westchester · city announcement
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