By Kathianne Boniello
The purpose of the hearing was to explore ways to hold both a Back to School Night and two evenings of traditional parent/teacher conferences during the school year, according to School Board 26 President Sharon Maurer. Under the current teachers' contract, which expired in November, teachers are required to attend two evening events during the school year.
Middle schools in District 26 that have chosen to hold Back to School Nights have eliminated springtime parent/teacher conferences to accommodate the teachers' contract. That decision, Maurer said, was approved in a vote by parents, teachers and the school principal and was signed off on by the District 26 Superintendent Claire McIntee.
Several of those who spoke in favor of Back to School Night echoed the sentiments of Mary Frees, a parent at MS 67.
“I believe Back to School Night is as important to parents as a parent/teacher conference,” she said. “Each school should have the right to decide what's best for their school.”
Back to School Night, Maurer said, allows parents of middle- school students to follow a miniature version of their child's schedule, moving from class to class to learn about the student's curriculum, textbooks, testing and grading policies from each teacher.
Three of the five middle schools in School District 26 – MS 67 in Little Neck, MS 258 in Bayside and MS 216 in Flushing – now hold Back to School Nights.
About 50 people attended the hearing at MS 74 in Bayside, which was held after the board's regularly scheduled January public meeting.
School District 26 includes the communities of Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston, Oakland Gardens, Glen Oaks, and parts of Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Auburndale and Bellerose.
Bernice Siegal, a co-president of the Parent Teacher Association at MS 67 and a city council candidate, expressed strong support for her school's Back to School Night.
“When I went to Back to School Night, I became involved in a much earlier and more upfront way,” she said. “If it ain't broke, don't fix it – for us at MS 67 it's not broken.”
Nancy Schkufza, the other co-president of the MS 67 PTA, said “we've been holding Back to School Night at MS 67 for the last 10 years. It is highly regarded by our parents.”
Both Siegal and Schkufza said the issue of asking teachers to attend three nights of evening events should be addressed in the next contract.
Jack Friedman, co-president of the PTA at MS 74 and a former School Board 26 member, said he would like to find a way to have all three nights of parent/teacher-oriented events.
Traditional parent/teacher conferences feature a private meeting between a parent and a teacher either during a day or night session to discuss the child's progress.
Critics of parent/teacher conferences at the middle-school level said meetings with teachers are often brief and tense because of the high parent turnout. Some also said attendance at the spring parent/teacher conferences declines dramatically from the fall level.
Friedman said he would like to see the spring parent/teacher conferences revamped to allow parents who need the conferences the most more time to speak with teachers.
“I'm in favor of school choice,” he said. “But it's up to schools and school boards to protect unrepresented parents.”
Later Friedman said parents who are less involved or less vocal about their children's schools still need to be considered.
Marta Agosti, a parent at MS 67, said “District 26 schools have always been known for their own distinct personalities. Being active partners in our child's experience can never be compared to information sent through a notice we may never get.”
Adrienne Bernstein, also a parent at MS 67, said she was frustrated by the elimination of the spring parent/teacher conferences.
“I can't take time off during the day,” she said. “Back to School Night is great – absolutely. My son does well, but he needs a push. I need to see my son's teachers at night.”
Bernstein said she needs the spring parent/teacher evening conference to keep in contact with her son's teachers, but is often pushed aside by parents whose children have high academic averages.
Friedman said he would also like School Board 26 to review the fliers sent home to middle-school parents considering Back to School Night instead of a spring parent/teacher meeting. He said the fliers are often deceptive because they do not explain to the parents that choosing Back to School Night means the elimination of an evening session of parent/teacher conferences.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
