Solely supported by course fees and tax-deductible gifts, Scarsdale Adult School (SAS)—a popular continuing-education institution operating in Westchester since 1938—hit a bump in the road with the 2008 economic crisis. “We saw our lowest level in revenue and biggest decline in the student body since we began,” says Executive Director Jill Serling. As a result, Serling was forced to cut programs, enact operational changes and dismiss some full-time staff members.
But the organization persevered, and, “We became a full-time, year-round program” in the summer of 2009, in order to counteract the losses, Serling explains. Since then, revenue has increased by nearly $200,000—and they hit a record high at the end of 2015. Now that SAS is stronger than ever, Serling looks forward to “expanding on what we do best,” offering topical lectures and discussions based on “what people are talking about right now.”
Serving more than 3,000 students annually from all over Westchester, Connecticut, and New York City, SAS offers classes in everything from literature, history, current events, and music to fine arts, cooking, and fitness, led by experts and professors from local colleges.
“We’re glad our students come back to us and choose our programs time after time. We’re once again the Scarsdale gem we always were,” Serling says, proudly.
