My Testimony to the NYS Senate Democratic Task Force Hearings on School Governance and Mayoral Control at Queens Borough Hall, October 2nd...

Written Testimony of David M. Quintana – District 27 Parent

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."

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• 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...

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  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...

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  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...

Respectfully submitted by:

David M. Quintana

NYC Public School Parents: Unholy Alliance: Al Sharpton and Joel Klein

I would encourage anyone who appreciates this blog entry to become a regular reader of the NYC Public School Parents blog...it offers key analysis and insight into the actions of the Bloomberg/Klein school administration...

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June 13: See update and correction on funders here.

Lots of publicity for the Klein/Sharpton alliance, inaugurated at the National Press Club yesterday, where no doubt they faced a less skeptical press corps than they would have in NYC -- though the Washington Post pointed out that “It was the kind of odd coupling that seemed more like the premise for a reality show than a news conference on education policy.”

As predicted, this "new" coalition will focus on charter schools, union-busting and teacher scapegoating – with not a single word about the need for any of the reforms that have actually been proven to work to narrow the achievement gap -- like class size reduction.

This strategic alliance, or "beautiful friendship" as Klein likes to put it, appears to be based upon the ideological biases of its funders -- the Gates and Broad foundations.

Accordingly, at the news conference, their statements were full of ignorant and self-serving nonsense:

NY Sun: “Mr. Klein said the achievement gap had "barely narrowed" in the more than five decades since the Supreme Court ordered the desegregation of the schools in the landmark 1954 decision, Brown v. Board of Education.”

This is right-wing tripe that has been repeatedly disproved. The achievement gap, though still significant, substantially narrowed in the 1970’s and 1980’s. (See the analysis in this classic work, for example.)

USA Today: “Sharpton, a Baptist pastor and political gadfly, says that for years, civil rights leaders have been silent on education equity issues.”

Who is he kidding? While he has been missing in action on these issues, the NAACP and other mainstream civil rights organizations have led the charge on educational equity – including, most recently, helping sponsor the Florida constitutional amendment requiring smaller classes in all grades.

Baltimore Sun: “They [Klein and Sharpton] support … more accountability for everyone, including central office staff.”

Sure. Tell me a single educrat at Tweed who has been held accountable for their multiple fiascos, from the bus route disaster last year, to this year’s mix-ups with admissions to G and T programs, preK and middle schools. Not to mention the serial blunders of the Accountability office, from the ridiculous school grading system to failure of ARIS, the $80 Million plus super-computer system.

Meanwhile, according to the Daily News, “The entire English staff at closing Lafayette High School was handed walking papers this week, a move that would leave no licensed English teachers for next year's students, the Daily News has learned.”

Talk about educational equity! I guess those kids don’t need English teachers – another backwards version of equity, no doubt, in the twisted land of Tweed.

An article in the News reports on the continuing harassment of Sikh students, which unfortunately omits the fact that the DOE has refused to comply with a law passed by the City Council four years ago, requiring the reporting and disciplining of anti-bias crimes in schools.

Also see the article in the News about Marie Pollicino, Queens CEC member, who filed a complaint against the attempt by DOE to eliminate all authority of parents on School Leadership Teams to develop school budgets and Comprehensive Education Plans. See our blog in early January about this outrageous and illegal move by Klein et.al., just after the complaint was originally filed.

Meanwhile, this new coalition blathers on about the need for “increased parental involvement.”

As Sharpton said at the news conference, “Who is standing up for the children?"

Not either of these hucksters, that’s for sure. Nor the Gates or Broad foundations, which are bankrolling this unholy alliance.

Klein, City Council Rethink Upcoming School Budget Cuts by Mike Meenan - NY1

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City Council members interrogated Schools Chancellor Klein on Thursday, making him justify and revise some planned budget cuts. NY1’s Education reporter Michael Meenan filed the following report.

New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein faced intense questioning during a City Hall meeting with City Council on Thursday, as the man defended his close to $600 million budget cuts for the next school year.

About $180 million was stripped from school budgets this year.

"People want to see leadership as far as shown and communicated to them and the people of New York," said Robert Jackson, a Manhattan Democratic Councilman.

"I have no apology to make for my leadership," answered Klein.

Klein and a top deputy took questions for over three hours, regarding the costs for everything from computers to pre-K programs, and to go over potential budget cuts.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn got Klein to consider chopping his press office budget by office budget by 10 percent.

"We're always going to - in times like this, we're going to ask you to go back and do more like this. So no good deed goes unpunished,” said Quinn.

Klein said he is not hiding a dollar of bureaucratic fat.

"'We're probably as lean an operation as you could imagine," said Klein.

The Department of Education

- Plans to save $5 million by stopping high school kids from taking free lunches they're not entitled to.

- Will not cut a new $80 million computer program that lawmakers consider impractical but Klein insists is vital to improving the schools.

- Must still shell out about $22 million each year to pay teachers taken out of classrooms on charges but still on the payroll.

Klein also admitted that $30 million for half-day pre-kindergarten classes had gone unspent, and at a councilman’s demand, gave his own e-mail for families looking for those pre-k slots to contact.

Also, on the spot, Klein restored $10 million to a program that helps struggling teachers do better in the classroom.

He said he wished he did not have to make cuts, but said he has been told to.

"In my business, the ocean is big and the boat is small. And we're rowing as hard as we can," said Klein.

Klein said he will share more information with lawmakers about other necessary cuts, and hopes they use a “careful eye” when looking at his decisions.

- Michael Meenan

Forum Debates Mayor's Control Of City School System - NY1: Top Stories

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A state law that gives Mayor Michael Bloomberg control over the city schools' governing body is bound to expire soon. At a forum held Tuesday morning in Midtown’s Manhattan Institute, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said that such a law benefited the school system and deserved to be renewed.

The law in question replaced the Board of Education with the Panel for Educational Policy. Bloomberg appoints eight of the 13 members - leading to criticism that the panel rubber-stamps mayoral initiatives like ending social promotions.

Klein said that the mayor’s increased authoritative power has led to a rise in city schools’ test scores and graduation rates. He also said that while schools do need improvement, they are on the right track.

"If we abandon mayoral control, and take the mayor out of the ability to take on the tough and often politically controversial challenges, we will be making a huge mistake," said Klein.

Parents and officials at the meeting weighed the pros and cons of the mayor's influence.

"We have today a mayoral dictatorship, not mayoral control. I believe in mayoral control with an independent board," said Diane Ravitch of NYU's Steinhardt School.

Albany lawmakers will vote on renewing the law later this month.

Panel Votes To End Eighth Grade Social Promotion by Michael Meehan - NY1

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A panel with eight mayoral votes on it, voted 11-1 Monday night in favor of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to end so-called social promotion in the eighth grade.

Under the plan, students who fail either their eighth grade reading or math tests, or social studies or science class must attend summer school. If they pass the summer classes, they go on to high school. But, if they fail again, they must repeat the eighth grade.

A similar policy is already in place for third, fifth, and seventh graders.

Before the vote, community members and advocates, including members of the Coalition of Educational Justice, shouted for the vote to be pushed back.

Last year, the city says 18,000 out of 77,000 eight graders failed their classes. Advocates say it's not fair to punish students for the city's failings.

"When you look at outcomes of middle schools in this city, they're deplorable. So we're punishing kids for the failure of their schools," said Norm Fruchter of the Coalition for Educational Justice.

The protest grew so loud that Schools Chancellor Joel Klein issued a warning.

"Security is now advising if this continues, we'll evacuate," he said.

But the protest continued, prompting Klein to clear the room twice, before finally canceling the meeting altogether.

"It's a shame these sham policies are going forth in the name of reform," said city school parent Ernesto Maldonado.

The one vote against the policy came from the Manhattan borough president's appointee.

"The policy to hold kids back is the most damaging and expensive thing we could do," said appointee Patrick Sullivan.

Klein later met with reporters and said holding back kids who fail has worked in the third, fifth and seventh grades, and that parents want that in the eighth grade too.

"This will be a catalyst for improved performance, and the parents of this city will recognize that," he said.

The new policy takes effect in September with incoming eighth graders. In June 2009, if they don't pass their classes, they face the prospect of having to repeat the eighth grade.

Chancellor Klein Sets Huddle on Budget Cuts with School Principals by Erin Einhorn - NY Daily News

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Trying to salvage his reforms in the face of steep new citywide budget cuts, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein has summoned nearly 200 principals to cost-cutting meetings this week and next.

Klein is also reaching out to elected parent boards around the city for guidance, officials said.

"We're asking them to think about what services they value the most," said Kathleen Grimm, deputy chancellor for finance.

Most of Klein's major reforms - from a new school-funding formula that redistributes resources, to a major initiative giving principals more money for their schools in exchange for higher consequences if they fail to raise test scores - require significant funds.

Without the additional funding, both supporters and critics say they wonder what's left.

"They've created a system that says we're going to give the principal a budget and hold them accountable to a new set of requirements, but if you take out the budget, you're taking out one of the three legs of the stool," said teachers union President Randi Weingarten, whose organization is part of a coalition that opposes budget cuts.

Grimm said every effort will be made to protect the reforms.

"We're going to make them paramount....That doesn't mean that we might not have to retrench in certain areas."

School officials say privately that there are not many places in the central budget that could be trimmed and schools will likely have to share the pain.

On top of that, principals were forced to cancel tutoring and after-school programs last month when the current year's budget was cut.

Klein acknowledged that he may consider taking money from some schools to give it to others according to a formula he created that determines how much each school needs.

Last year, he told unions and other community groups that he wouldn't fully execute the formula until next year but, when asked about that promise last week, he said, "I'm going to look at all of my options."

Weingarten said she has a written contract barring the chancellor from redistributing school budgets until next year and that she'll sue to enforce it if necessary.

Electeds Seek Power Change in Schools by Howard Koplowitz - Times Ledger

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With the state law that gave Mayor Michael Bloomberg control of the city's school system set to expire next year, teachers and education advocates took the opportunity to assess the impact of mayoral control during a forum last week at the United Federation of Teachers' offices in Rego Park.

"We're looking for recommendations for future governance," said Emil Pietromonaco, the UFT representative for Staten Island and moderator of the forum.

Most speakers, including state Assemblyman Mark Weprin (D-Little Neck) the most vocal opponent of standardized testing said they were in favor of keeping mayoral control but having it modified so local schools and administrators have more of a say in education policy.

The state Legislature gave Bloomberg control of the school system in 2002. The law has a sunset provision that goes into effect in 2009, at which time the Legislature can extend mayoral control, make changes to it or eliminate it.

"I think, in the end, it makes sense to keep mayoral control," Weprin said. "It ended the finger pointing" between the mayor and the now-defunct Board of Education, which was responsible for appointing the chancellor.

But he said the state Legislature never would have voted for mayoral control "if we knew that the chancellor was going to be putting in place this haphazard bureaucracy."

"Changes have confused and alienated principals, teachers and parents," Weprin said, referring to the restructuring of the school system in the fall and changes to the school bus system last year. "We need to do [mayoral control] with some restrictions. ...It's crazy the stuff the mayor has changed."

Weprin said Bloomberg "turned our schools into test prep factories," eliciting applause from the crowd. "My son is learning less because they're testing more. It's the test prep that is killing our schools right now."

David Quintana, a parent from Ozone Park, said mayoral control has not led to "improved student performance" and ignores feedback from parents.

Rob Caloras, president of Community District Education Council 26 in Bayside, said Schools Chancellor Joel Klein should be more responsive to the concerns of parents and advocates.

"Our voice has been ignored or not sought," he said.

But Melody Meyer, a DOE spokeswoman, said Klein created a senior-level position whose "entire operation is set up to be responsive and hear the input from parents."

She also disputed Weprin's characterization of schools as test prep factories, saying that test scores are just one way the DOE evaluates schools.

State Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway Beach), who helped draft the law that gave Bloomberg control of the school system, agreed with Caloras, saying that she first learned that Far Rockaway High School was closing from the media instead of the DOE.

State Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone) said she had similar problems.

She said she e-mailed the DOE to find out whether PS 244, slated to open in September, would be a K-3 or K-5 school, but was told the DOE was unsure.

"I think we have to take a look at better solutions," Stavisky said, which included more community input.

She also said the chancellor should be "somebody with true vision who knows what it means to be a teacher" Ð a swipe at Klein, a lawyer without a teaching background.

"We in government like to say, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it,' " Stavisky said. "I'm here to say it's broke."

Klein Touts NYC Gains at TC Colloquium - Teachers College - Columbia University: News

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At a Teachers College colloquium this past week sponsored by TC’s Office of Policy and Research, Joel Klein, New York City’s Education Chancellor, outlined gains New York City has made for its public school students via increasing mayoral control of the school system.

Klein cited gains across a wide range of academic markers, from significant increases in student math and reading scores to a surge in graduation rates after nearly 30 years of stagnation. A large part of the success, he said, was due to the Mayor’s ability to limit the power and funding of school boards, and tie the funding system to students instead of schools.

Klein acknowledged audience member Michael Rebell, the head of Teachers College’s Campaign for Educational Equity, who previously won a series of court orders against New York State to bring billions of dollars into the New York City School system. “What Michael has done is fantastic—money is extremely important to the system,” Klein said. “But it isn’t everything. What’s more important is that it is spent well.”

In particular, Klein touted a number of leadership incentive programs, such as a program that can give principals bonuses of $25,000 or more if they have an excellent record, mentor other principals and are willing to lead high-needs schools. “You’ll have some principals making more than $200,000 a year, which will increase our ability to attract and retain the best candidates,” he said. He also noted a similar program for teachers offering bonuses of up to $10,000.

There’s still work left to do, Klein said. It upsets him that tenure is awarded to 99 percent of the teachers who remain in the public schools after three years on the job. “It shouldn’t be that way,” he said. “It certainly isn’t the case at Teachers College. Tenure is something to be earned.”

In a question-and-answer session following Klein’s talk, Rebell asked the Chancellor about reports that the city’s lead teachers program was faltering. Klein said that policy results take time. “You have to create a new culture” before policies can take hold, he said.

Asked about impediments that might prevent other cities from replicating New York’s successes, Klein talked about the human element. “People make rational choices,” he said. “If pay scales are similar in successful and failing schools, most teachers are going to want to work with motivated students.” Also, he said, “policy choices that work for children aren’t always going to work for the adults. Reducing tenure is going to be controversial—I get it.”

Still, Klein said, “the best days are ahead for best practices in education.”

NYC Public School Parents: What's Wrong with Mayoral Control by Leonie Haimson NYC Public School Parents blog...

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On Monday the City Council held hearings on Mayoral control; most of those who testified said that the current system was not working -- that the administration wields dictatorial powers with no checks and balances, exhibits an overwhelmingly arrogant and dismissive attitude towards parents and other stakeholders, and repeatedly introduces misconceived and badly executed policies.

Several speakers suggested that the Department of Education should at least be subject to city law, as are other city agencies. This would also allow the City Council to overturn the worst and most abusive policies. Others spoke of the need to reinvigorate district control and strengthen the authority of District Community Education Councils.

Much of the testimony was incisive. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer argued that the Panel on Educational Policy, now basically a rubber stamp for the administration, should be reformed to ensure more independence and actual input into policies; in his oral comments, he also pointed that he had never seen a bureaucracy that so enjoyed ignoring and refusing to meet with elected officials and parents. Other city agencies respond -- but not the DOE.

George Sweeting of the Independent Budget Office pointed out that the DOE routinely evades the sort of financial transparency required of all other agencies, making their job of providing adequate oversight nearly impossible -- and that Tweed's lack of disclosure had worsened over the last year. He also pointed out that rather than breaking down its budget by program as do other city agencies, "under the DOE’s current approach, a single unit of appropriation covers all of the $6.2 billion budgeted for general education purposes in the city’s schools."

Many parents expressed their frustration with the powerless they felt under the current system -- and stated that the unchecked imperial powers implicit in the current incarnation of Mayoral control is contrary to our entire system of government. As quoted on WNYC radio, retired teacher and gadfly Norm Scott pointed out that no one in power at Tweed has any experience in education:

" What would you think if Bloomberg suddenly called me up and said, "Hey Norm, I know you never dealt with money, but I'd like you to manage my hedge fund." This is basically what people are doing by turning the systems over to people who have never worked in the system."

See also testimony from Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, and a powerpoint from Chancellor Klein.

Susan Shiroma, president of the Citywide Council on High Schools, Lisa Donlan, president of Community Education Council in District 1, and Josh Karan, CEC member in District 6.

Leonie Haimson of Class Size Matters, Diane Ravitch, educational historian and Randi Weingarten, President of the UFT.

Eugenia Simmons-Taylor, parent leader from Manhattan, David Quintana, parent leader from Queens, and Dorothy Giglio, parent leader from Brooklyn.

Ann Kjellberg, D2 parent and Political Action Committee, Dave Palmer of NY Lawyers for the Public Interest, and Cecilia Blewer of ICOPE.

Send us yours at classsizematters@gmail.com

Education Notes Online: My Birthday Present...City Council Hearings on Mayoral Control by Norm Scott

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Gee, how did they know that is what I wanted for my B-Day? (Well, I did get my Beef Wellington at "One if By Land..." last night.) I get to cover for The Wave and then switch hats and spew my 2 minutes of venom. Back later tonight with a report.

Update:
The very disappointing news is that every politician seems to want mayoral control in some form but just wants to tweak it. Later in the day, when real parents and teachers spoke they really got to the guts of the issue. Some of them are sending their testimony which I'll put up on the Norm's Notes blog but probably won't get to it till next week.

Randi flew in from Ohio and was actually very good - the UFT should put up her testimony. She wouldn't take a stand on mayoral control because she's waiting to hear the results of the UFT governance meetings. Okaaay!

Leonie Haimson spoke and so did Lisa Donlon, who pointed to some achievements under community control. Queens' David Quintana also made a strong statement. As did another parent from District 24. Ellen Raider from ICOPE and Gene Prisco from ICE, along with me were on the same panel when we spoke. I'm not sure anyone was listening.

I spoke about getting politics out of education. Sure! Ask politicians to do this. I pointed to how shameless they were about staying silent when Joel Klein got a waiver to be Chancellor. I said a bunch more but need to check my notes and I'm too lazy to do that now. You've probably read it here already.

Know what I think? They're all scared shitless of Bloomberg and his money. When he is gone, he will still exercise enormous influence over education to assure the monster will not be dismantled.

Check out Tuesday's NY Times for Jennifer Medina's story. I'll add some pics to this post tomorrow.

I tried to blog live from the Council chambers but only got this far before my wi-fi conked out (I was using that little XO laptop). I walked in towards the end of Klein and Walcott's testimony.

City Council Chamber, City Hall
March 3, 2008

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After 5 Years, City Council Holds First Hearing on Mayor’s Control of Public Schools by Jennifer Medina - New York Times

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Chancellor Joel I. Klein, right, and Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott testifying on Monday before a City Council committee. Legislative approval of the new centralized system ends in 2009.

Since taking control of New York City’s 1,400 public schools, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has steadfastly maintained that centralized, mayoral oversight is critical to turning around the vast system. But that view came under sharp attack on Monday as the City Council held the first public hearing on the state law authorizing mayoral control.

During three hours of testimony that was at times tense, Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein and Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott adamantly defended the system, saying that since Mr. Bloomberg took charge more than five years ago, city schools have dramatically improved in matters like test scores, graduation rates, communication with parents and spending.

Mr. Klein said that improved management within the city’s Department of Education had led to greater accountability and had turned the city into a model for other urban systems seeking to eliminate turmoil from supervision by local school boards.

“In the absence of mayoral control, we’ve never been able to sustain continuity in the Department of Education,” said Mr. Klein, who is the longest serving chancellor in recent memory. “The fundamental governance structure of mayoral accountability and control, I think, is right and needs to be maintained.”

But several council members were skeptical.

“Parents have more information than ever before, but parents don’t have input into policy making, and that is something that many parents have come in very concerned about,” said James Vacca, a co-chairman of the Council’s task force on school governance. “We’re concerned about whether there is any place for meaningful oversight.”

Like other groups throughout the city, including the teachers’ union, the Public Advocate’s office and several universities, the Council is holding a series of hearings this year to draw up recommendations for the State Legislature as it considers whether to renew the law granting mayoral control, which expires in 2009.

Mr. Vacca and other council members suggested that they supported changing the law to grant “municipal control” over the schools, apparently a way to give the Council more power over the education department. He also said he would urge a more formal role for neighborhood superintendents, who have little power over the schools now, and for the Community Education Councils, which are organizations of parents and local leaders that also have little sway over policy.

Several council members called the Panel for Educational Policy, which replaced the Board of Education, nothing more than a “rubber stamp” that had no ability to influence the chancellor’s decisions.

But throughout their testimony, Mr. Walcott and Mr. Klein resisted suggestions that would potentially weaken the mayor’s power over the system, with Mr. Walcott going so far as saying that the current structure is “the best system that has existed in the last 35 years.”

“What we have today should not be undone,” Mr. Walcott said in his opening remarks. “It would be an injustice to our children. Accountability needs to rest with someone, and it should be the mayor, whoever that individual is.”

Still, Mr. Walcott and Mr. Klein acknowledged shortcomings, particularly in terms of community outreach. While the department had spent millions to hire parent coordinators in each of the city’s schools, Mr. Klein said he had waited too long to create the post of a “chief family engagement officer” to oversee the coordinators and work with parent councils around the city.

In testimony, several members of the parent councils criticized some of the administration policies — on class size, testing and promotion, for example — saying that the chancellor had not done enough to consider their opinions.

The Manhattan borough president, Scott M. Stringer, who voted in favor of mayoral control as an assemblyman in 2002, said the Bloomberg administration had exerted more control than the Legislature intended to give it.

“We thought they would be part of the life and breath of the city, but they think they don’t have to respond to questions,” Mr. Stringer said. Referring to the name of the education department’s building, he added, “They’ve gotten caught up in the Boss Tweed mentality.”

The harshest criticism came from Councilman John C. Liu, who suggested that several of the mayor’s education-policy changes had been politically motivated.

“Mayoral control was not meant to be martial law,” Mr. Liu said.

The words provoked a terse response from Mr. Walcott, who said that policy changes were not politically motivated and added, “I totally disagree with you.”

NY1: Lawmakers Weigh Pros, Cons Of Mayor's Control Of City Schools by Michael Meehan

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg has nearly total say over how to run the city's schools. But the state law that gave him that power expires in June of next year and already there's a debate about whether that power should continue.

Has putting so much power in the mayor's hands meant kids are learning more? Education reporter Michael Meenan filed the following report.

In 2002, the state legislature gave Mayor Michael Bloomberg the reins to the school system...and the men he's picked to run that system say, as you might expect, it's paid off.

"The school system prior to our control was a hodgepodge of different districts that were unstable, chaotic and at times corrupt,” said Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott.

But many at a Monday City Council hearing also say all the power has made Bloomberg's Department of Education very arrogant.

"That they don't have to invite elected officials to meetings, that they don't have to consult with parents – it's almost a DOE badge of honor,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

Now there are calls for a blue ribbon commission to study how the law is working and if kids are learning more because of it.

"A blue ribbon commission with qualified professionals who can tell us really if our schools are improving, how they are improving,” said city Councilmember James Vacca.

The law came with checks on the mayor's school power, first in the form of the Panel for Educational Policy, or PEP, the board that took over from the old Board of Education. The PEP has to approve every major school initiative. But since the mayor appoints and can un-appoint a majority of the members, critics charge the panel is little more than a rubber stamp.

“You either must go along with what the mayor says or the chancellor says or else you will be removed and that… is intimidating to those on the PEP,” said City Councilmember Robert Jackson.

The second power check consists of 32 Community Education Councils, or CECs, made up of elected PTA members. The CECs replaced the 32 old school boards where that corruption Walcott mentioned used to happen. Bloomberg fought in federal court to get the CECs, but Vacca says, according to school parents, he never bothered to get them really up and running.

"They may want to corner a CEC member, which used to be a school board, but they have no idea what a CEC member is,” says Vacca.

The education department concedes the CECs could be more effective. Perhaps that’s the sort of humility city lawmakers and others are looking for as they get ready to send on their recommendations to the state legislature.

Ultimately, it is state lawmakers in Albany who get to decide whether or not Bloomberg's successor gets the same power he has had in running the city schools.

– Michael Meenan

My Testimony at the UFT Speak Out - “Let's Make it Better” concerning School Governance and Mayoral Control

edWritten Testimony of David M. Quintana – District 27 Parent

February 28, 2008

UFT Queens Speak-out
97-77 Queens Boulevard - 5^th Floor
Rego Park, NY 11374

“Let's Make it Better” concerning School Governance and Mayoral Control

I'd like to start off by thanking Diane Ganz for facilitating this speak out and to the UFT for giving me the opportunity to voice my serious concerns with the present school governance system on behalf of our children, students and the parents of Queens...

I am David M. Quintana, parent and former District 27 Representative to the Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) and present member of Community Board 10 Education Committee (Press disclaimer: these are my personal views, not those of Community Board 10)...

I am the prideful parent of two daughters and a 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...

• 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...

• I call for the Elimination of the NYPD presence in our schools, which I feel creates a prison-like atmosphere in our schools...

• I feel that we should Put Educators back into Tweed Courthouse and not corporate “media spin doctors” who misinform the citizenry about the problems in our schools..

• I feel the six year experiment with Mayoral control of the NYC Department of Education has not achieved improved student performance...

• Mayoral control has eliminated the public election of community oversight bodies which violates the basic human rights of our communities and parents to participate in their children’s education...

• 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...

• Mayoral control has ignored the basic human 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...

• I believe that City Council members should have authority to monitor schools within their districts...and;

• I demand that our New York City elected officials and our Queens contingency of New York State legislators respond to this educational catastrophe and malfeasance by eliminating Mayoral control and remodeling the school system based on a human rights framework with a governance plan which incorporates local autonomy, school based decision making, parent and community involvement with strict oversight by independent bodies and the City Council...

Once again I'd like to thank the UFT for this opportunity to speak out...

David M. Quintana

Mayoral Control of Schools Could Be Expanded Upstate by Elizabeth Green - The New York Sun

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As various local interest groups and lawmakers push for eliminating or scaling back mayoral control of the New York City schools, Governor Spitzer's office is considering exporting it to other state school systems.

A proposal by Mr. Spitzer to grant three upstate mayors more authority over their school boards failed to pass the Legislature last year, but the governor's top education aide, Manuel Rivera, said the issue could be revived next year.

There may be no legislation on the table this year, but that "doesn't mean that this could not emerge as an important governance issue and legislative matter next year," Mr. Rivera said yesterday.

He said the administration would act only if communities show interest in moving to mayoral control, citing evidence from other cities that mayoral control works best when it enjoys broad support.

One upstate mayor, Gerald Jennings of Albany, said gaining more control of school systems is a popular subject among New York mayors. "There's a lot of mayoral discussion about it," Mr. Jennings said. "A lot of us are frustrated, because we're losing our kids."

Mr. Jennings, a former teacher and administrator, said Albany's schools need drastic change and leadership that school boards cannot deliver.

Mayors already control two of New York's big city school districts, New York City and Yonkers. The three others in the so-called Big 5 that are upstate — Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo — are run by elected school boards with no input from the mayors.

Mr. Rivera said the administration will watch the cities for signs of interest next year.

Mayoral control of schools, which has been introduced in cities stretching across about 40 states, can take on different forms. Eliminating a city's school board and allowing a superintendent or chancellor to run the schools is the New York City model. Mr. Spitzer's proposal last year followed Yonkers's model — preserving the school board but letting the mayor appoint some of its members.

Representatives of school boards and superintendents lined up against the proposal last year, and several groups said they would likely oppose governance changes in the future, too.

Representatives of the groups said that adding mayoral appointees to school boards would hurt democracy, as the school boards are now directly elected by the public. They also said there is no evidence it would improve education.

"We do not want to see it expanded beyond where it already is," the director of communications and research at the New York State School Boards Association, David Albert, said. "There really is no strong research out there to suggest that mayoral control improves student achievement."

The deputy director at the Conference of Big 5 School Districts, Jennifer Pyle, said the issue is a nonstarter upstate because none of the three mayors there have indicated they want to take more control. While in the past, superintendents, school boards, and mayors have clashed on education, she said the climate in the three upstate big cities is now cooperative.

"The relationships are working well as they are now," Ms. Pyle said. "We just don't see any need for it at this time."

The state Legislature granted Mayor Bloomberg control of New York City's schools shortly after he was elected to office in 2002. The law is set to sunset in July 2009, and though the city's business community is a strong supporter of maintaining it, many lawmakers and interest groups have been concocting plans to weaken the mayor's power.

Mr. Albert and Ms. Pyle each said their opposition to mayoral control upstate should not be taken as a criticism of New York City's governance structure. They said the system in New York City is an exception because school board members were designated by appointment, not direct election.

The New School - Who Rules the Schools? Mayoral Control After Bloomberg

Who Rules the Schools? Mayoral Control After Bloomberg

Thursday, March 06, 2008 8:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

When Mayor Michael Bloomberg took office, one of his top priorities was to repair the city’s ailing public schools. The state gave him control of the school system five years ago and must soon decide whether to extend that power to future administrations. Are the schools more accountable today? Are students and teachers more successful? Are parents more fully engaged? Are principals more effective? What is the track record of mayoral control—and should it continue after 2009? featuring a presentation by Joel Klein, Chancellor, New York City Department of Education SPEAKERS: Christopher D. Cerf, Deputy Chancellor for Organizational Strategy, Human Capital and External Relations, New York City Department of Education Carmen Colon, Executive Director, Association of New York City Education Councils Ernest A. Logan, President, New York City Council of School Supervisors and Administrators Alan Maisel, Member, New York State Assembly (D-Brooklyn) Merryl Tisch, Vice Chancellor, New York State Board of Regents MODERATOR: Samuel G. Freedman, columnist, “On Education,” New York Times, and professor, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism A light breakfast will be served beginning at 8 a.m. Supported by the Milano Foundation and the Sirus Fund.

Location: Tishman Auditorium, Alvin Johnson/J. M. Kaplan Hall, 66 West 12th Street Admission: Admission is free, but you must reserve a seat.

NY Daily News - Education Job Titles Stump Parents by Erin Einhorn

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Once upon a time, educators had easy-to-understand jobs: teacher, principal, superintendent.

Not anymore.

Five years into the tenure of Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, a major administrative restructuring of the city schools has brought the wacky culture of corporate job titles to the Tweed Courthouse.

There, among the ranks of top school officials working for Klein is a chief accountability officer making $196,000, a chief knowledge officer making $177,000, a chief talent officer making $172,000 and a chief portfolio officer making $162,000.

There's also a chief equality officer, but he's working for free this year.

Then there are all the corporate titles, in spades. Several divisions each have a chief executive officer, there's a product manager for knowledge management, a demand research manager, a director of virtual enterprise and dozens of senior achievement facilitators.

There was someone called the director of restructuring and human capital, but he's now the senior director of sustainability, at $123,000.

Parents say it's enough to make them dizzy.

"It's a whole mess," said Anastatia Davis-John, the parent association president at Brooklyn's Public School 135.

"It's totally confusing. They switched from districts to regions and now they've switched back, and half the titles you don't know what they mean. ... It's especially difficult for parents who can't speak English. They don't know who is representing what and who is doing what."

Teachers are still called teachers, of course. And principals are still principals - though under a new system that gives principals more autonomy and Klein often calls them "school CEOs."

During the previous restructuring, superintendents were redubbed regional instructional specialists. Now they're back to more familiar titles - superintendents - though they have less authority.

"They keep changing jobs and changing titles, and to me it doesn't make sense. Why don't they stick with what works?" asked Thea Schatzle, a Queens parent leader with kids in three schools.

Schools spokeswoman Debra Wexler said the titles "reflect the job responsibilities of the individual holding a particular position."

Chief Accountability Officer Jim Liebman, for example, heads Klein's accountability initiative to measure the success of schools. He spearheaded the new A-F school grading system.

Asked to guess what he does, though, most parent leaders interviewed by the Daily News were stumped.

"Does he make sure all the chancellor's [regulations] are in order?" asked Carlton Richardson, an elected parent leader.

"Is that the person that everybody else reports to?" Davis-John asked.

Chief Portfolio Officer Garth Harries once led the department's Office of New Schools, but his title changed when his office expanded its scope to include a portfolio of "school choice" options.

Asked what he does, most parents said they couldn't even guess.

"I have no idea," Schatzle said. "If people knew what they were doing, then they could be held accountable [to parents]."

eeinhorn@nydailynews.com

Chiefly confusing

Deputy Chancellor for Organizational Strategy, Human Capital and External Affairs / Chris Cerf $196,575 / Oversees administration, personnel, lobbying and communications

Chief Accountability Officer/ Jim Liebman $196,575 / Oversees school measurement including quality reviews and A-F letter grades

Chief Knowledge Officer / Photeine Anagnostopoulos $177,114 / Oversees development of a system for schools to share ideas about teaching

Chief Talent Officer / Amy McIntosh $172,247 / in charge of recruiting, evaluating and retaining good teachers and principals

Chief Portfolio Officer / Garth Harries $162,000 / Creates new small schools, charter schools and other student options

Chief Family Engagement Officer / Martine Guerrier $150,000 / Oversees outreach to parents and families

Chief Equality Officer / Roland Fryer $0 this school year, up to $195,000 next year / Develops strategies to better distribute resources throughout the school system