Thomson Hailed As Champion Of Queens Kids

Thomson Hailed As Champion Of Queens Kids
Hundreds of Queens students, educators and elected officials turned out last week to honor Terri Thomson, Queens representative to the Board of Education.
Thomson, like the other eight members of the Board, served her last day on Friday, after Gov. George Pataki and the state legislature recently transferred control of the City schools to the Mayor.
"Terri is one of those people who is sincere and genuine and truly committed," said Ellen Raffaele, a member of School Board 30 in northwest Queens and one of several people who lauded Thomson.
Jill Xiang, a student leader from Newtown High School, said that Thomson was an inspiration to her "and all the students in Queens."
Borough President Helen Marshall questioned Mayor Michael Bloombergs cutting of $693 million from the capital schools budget, and credited Thomson for pushing through many of the school projects that were built in Queens in the past four years.
But perhaps the greatest praise of Thomson and the most humorous came from Schools Chancellor Harold Levy.
"I would not have this job but for Terri, so I come to this with mixed emotions," Levy said, as members of the audience laughed and applauded. Levy said that as a Board member, Thomson "voted her conscience every single time." And in what was as much a swipe at Levys political enemies on the Board as praise for Thomson, he said that he "wished that all the Board members had her passion, dedication and excellence."
Thomson said that she has many wonderful memories of her four years as a member of the Citys education-ruling body.
"Our children are the faces of the world," she said after the event. "You cant help but be touched when children are performing and learning together."
She also praised parents and school staff for their dedication.
"We have terrific parent leaders in the borough, that is why I am so glad that at least five of the members on the new Board have to be parents who currently have children in the school system."
Thomsons tenure was also marked by three major run-ins with former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In January 2001, she bucked Giuliani and former Borough President Claire Shulmans wishes by supporting Levy for chancellor.
Last May, she voted against the election of fellow Board member Ninfa Segerra for Board president. Segarra, who was formerly deputy mayor, had the support of Giuliani.
Last December, Thomson again locked horns with Giuliani after he asked her to give up the construction of a planned high school in Queens so that one could be build on Staten Island.
"I am proud that any vote I cast in my four years was always with the best interest of the children and the school system in mind," said Thomson. "That is not necessarily always the best thing for the adults."
The new state law calls for the disbanding of the present Board that has been in place since the school decentralization law 30 years ago. It will be replaced with a new 13-member Board consisting of eight members appointed by the Mayor and one each by the five borough presidents. The borough reps must be parents who presently have kids in the City schools.