Queens Mom Named To School Panel

Whatever works that sums up the educational philosophy espoused by Evita Belmonte, Queens representative to the new advisory panel designed to replace the old Board of Education in the citys school administration system.
Phonetics versus whole-language reading techniques? New math versus traditional? Rote learning versus the modern emphasis on individual problem-solving ability?
Belmonte says she doesnt take a solid stand on any of them. Leave it up to the individual school, she advises, the individual teacher, even the individual student. Whatever it takes to improve the learning ability of New York City schoolchildren, thats what she wants to do.
Speaking of reading, which she described as a key element in any youngsters early education, Belmonte added that she has "seen where phonics helps" by teaching children to sound out words and learn new ones a piece at a time, but she declined to put it above whole language techniques.
Belmonte is adamant on the need for more classroom space.
"It seems to really hit home when the teachers are faced with classrooms that are way above their contractual limits," Belmonte said. "It makes it that much more difficult to settle down a class of students. I know its going on citywide but it seems to be a really sensitive area here in Queens."
Neighborhood resistance to new school buildings is one hold-up contributing to overcrowded classrooms in Queens, according to some officials and residents. What would Belmonte tell those civic activists who fight against new facilities for the children?
"I would like to say that theres a lot of children and theyre very much a big part of our economic future," Belmonte said. "So if theyre not finding space to build schools for these children in a reasonable manner, its just going to snowball.
"Anybody thats an activist is going to have questions," she allowed, adding that some residents who are against putting up schools in their neighborhoods may not have enough, or accurate, information about the plans. School officials, therefore, should discuss their needs more closely with them: "When that dialogue is open and slowing, all these things can help to expedite the process."
Belmonte is a Jamaica resident with longtime ties to Laurelton, and has a daughter, Rosa, in John Bowne High School in Flushing. Her other daughter, Angelina, is a New York City school system graduate attending Nassau Community College.
Belmonte was named to the new Panel for Educational Policy by Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, who is providing her appointee with office space and equipment while the city hammers out its new school bureaucracy.
"I consider this an extremely important appointment that will have a direct influence on the lives of an extraordinarily diverse population of more than 265,000 public school students in Queens," the borough president said. "This will be an extremely demanding position for Ms. Belmonte, who will assume her duties under a new school governance plan that has not yet been tested."
Reversing more than three decades of city school policy, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is consolidating City Halls control of the system. He abolished the Board of Education, moved school headquarters from Brooklyn to Manhattan, and appointed a new chancellor, Joel Klein. The advisory panel consists of Chancellor Klein, seven mayoral appointees, and one representative of each borough.
"I would like to thank and commend each of the five borough presidents for appointing these dedicated and qualified parents," Mayor Bloomberg said. "These individuals share our commitment to improving the education of the citys children and will represent their respective boroughs as well as serving the city as a whole. The chancellor, myself and my appointments to the panel look forward to working with this group to improve our childrens future."
In Queens, Borough President Marshall also established a new Parents Advisory Council which, she said, will include parents from every school district. Belmonte will meet regularly with the group.
"Parents can now know that they have a strong voice speaking on behalf of their childrens futures," Belmonte said. "I am grateful to Borough President Marshall for this opportunity."
Belmonte receives no salary, stipend or benefits in her new position, she said. She had to give up a full-time job as a supervisory aide at IS 231 in Springfield Gardens, but said she could absorb the loss in order to help the children of the city. Belmonte also is a certified tutor, member of the 220th Street Block Association in Laurelton, and former participant in several committees that made recommendations on school administration appointments.
She credited her mother with enabling her to put so much time into educational issues.
"She was like the governing force in allowing me to do parent involvement as I did," Belmonte said. "Theres nothing like having a trusted, loving, close relative as a babysitter."