October 2, 2008
Senate Democratic School Governance Task Force
Queens Borough Hall, NYC
“Oversight: Mayoral Control and School Governance”
I'd like to start off by thanking the Co-Chairs of tonight's hearing, Senator Shirley L. Huntley and Senator Martin Malave Dilan for giving me the opportunity to voice my serious concerns with mayoral control and the present school governance system...
My name is David M. Quintana, I'm a parent and former District 27 Representative to the Chancellor's Parents Advisory Council (CPAC), a present member of Community Board 10 Education Committee and a member of the city-wide parent group, Class Size Matters...
I am also the proud product of the NYC Public Education system in District 27 – a graduate of PS 60, MS 210 & John Adams High School and the former Co-President of the MS210 Parents Association in Ozone Park for two years....I feel the six year experiment with Mayoral control of the NYC Department of Education has not achieved improved student performance...Many speak about tweaking the system but I think it is in need of a massive overhaul to make it more responsive to the concerns and needs of their primary stakeholders, parents, teachers and students...
I believe that the development of a whole child requires the reinstitution of the Arts, Music, Physical Education (Gym), Student Governments and the teaching of basic American Civics – so students can learn how a basic democracy works so they can make intelligent political decisions in their own and their families self interest as adults and concerned citizens of our society...these skills have been neglected to make time for endless standardized test preparation..
I call for the elimination of the massive NYPD presence in our school buildings, which I feel creates a prison-like atmosphere in our schools...As the NYCLU has also noted, in its determined effort to bring these official vigilantes under control, that "this massive presence would make the NYPD's school safety division the fifth largest police force in the country—larger than [those of] Washington D.C., Detroit, Boston, or Las Vegas."
I feel that we should put Educators back into Tweed Courthouse and not corporate “media spin doctors” who misinform the citizenry about the conditions in our schools...
Mayoral control has eliminated the public election of community oversight bodies which violates the basic rights of our communities and parents to participate in our children’s education...As you will recall, Community School Boards were one of the first things on the Mayor's chopping block...effectively silencing and neutering the public from any public discourse on this paramount issue...
Mayoral control of the NYC Department of Education has not achieved improved student performance... According to the most recent NAEP for NYC, tests scores are stagnant, there has been no significant gains in scores during this period of Mayoral control...
Mayoral control has resulted in educational leaders being replaced by lawyers and corporate consultants as policy makers and decision makers, causing widespread demoralization within the system...
Mayoral control has resulted in costly no-bid contracts...such as the multi-million dollar computer systems, thereby taking money out of the classroom where it is urgently needed...
Mayoral control has ignored the basic rights of our children and had a major negative impact on an entire generation of student's elementary school experience; all of which has been driven by...
high stakes testing and constant test preparation...
limiting the scope and depth of a comprehensive curriculum...
lack of fulfilling special education mandates... and;
constant upheaval causing high anxiety...
The Panel for Educational Priorities (PEP) membership needs to be reconstituted in a fair manner to eliminate the total control the Mayors Office has on upon it - with 8 of the members of the 13 member Panel being named by the Mayor – furthermore, the CEC's have virtually no power and are basically ignored by the DOE...
I believe that City Council members should have authority to monitor schools within their districts...
I feel the NYC Public Advocate and/or the NYC Comptroller should have authority to oversee and assess the Department of Education performance city-wide; and;
I implore upon the New York State legislature to respond to this educational catastrophe and malfeasance by eliminating Mayoral control in it's current form and remodel the school system based with a governance plan which incorporates local autonomy, school based decision making, parent and community involvement with strict oversight by independent bodies - NYC Public Advocate and/or the NYC Comptroller - and the City Council...
Once again I'd like to thank the Senate Democratic School Governance Task Force for this opportunity to speak out on this important issue...
David M. Quintana
