By Ayala Ben-Yehuda
Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg's reorganization of city schools, the seven Queens community school boards are set to be replaced by 11-member parent councils in July. Nine of those members will be elected in May by the presidents, secretaries and treasurers of all parent-teacher associations in the district and two will be appointed by the borough president.
Council members have “a voice in establishing educational policy for the district and in evaluating the community superintendents and the local instructional superintendents assigned to the district,” according to the Department of Education's Web site. They also approve district zoning lines, meet with PTAs and generally serve as the parent and community voice in the school system.
The 13 parents making speeches at Cardozo High School March 31 included a New York City police officer and at least one lawyer. Others held advanced degrees in education, psychology and sociology.
Some worked on Wall Street and at least one was a stay-at-home mother. A couple of candidates gave their speeches in halting but determined English.
All were committed to keeping schools in District 26 the top-ranked in the city by serving as a voice for parents in northeast Queens.
“I am a new immigrant to this country,” said Xiang Cho, who is Korean but grew up in China and speaks both languages.
Pointing out that 40 percent of students in District 26 are of Korean or Chinese heritage, she said, “I'd like to use my skills to bring our voice to the Education Department.”
Bona Sun, a Korean immigrant, said she faced culture shock and a language barrier when she came to the United States a decade ago.
But she said her son's teachers at PS 188 in Hollis Hills helped smooth the transition for him.
“I want to give back,” Sun said.
Sandra Gonzales, whose daughter attends PS 213 in Bayside, outlined four complaints common among parents: infrequent or late feedback on a child's academic progress, lack of knowledge about teacher training and evaluation, not knowing how to get involved in the child's learning and social promotion.
Candidate Cynthia Cousins touted her doctorate in education and emphasized the need for parents to provide support for teachers. Several of the candidates – such as Marie McDonegh, a New York City police officer and adoptive parent of three Korean special-needs children – hoped to serve as a voice for students and parents.
All of the candidates emphasized the need for communication among parents, teachers and the new school administration, something many critics say has been sorely lacking in the changeover to centralized governance.
Candidate Rich Olson said he was running because “this place is empty.”
“Nobody knows what's going on,” he said.
School Board 26 President Sharon Maurer calculated that the forum drew about 70 people. But when the council candidates, their spouses and Department of Education personnel were subtracted, the resulting number was “very disappointing,” she said.
“This is insane,” she said. “At least we had a full auditorium when we had forums for school board elections.”
Maurer speculated that the low turnout, even among those whose job it was to choose council members, could be a combination of rainy weather and poor notification by the Department of Education.
“If they get the word out maybe more people will come out” for future candidates' nights, she said.
Reach reporter Ayala Ben-Yehuda by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
