By Matthew Monks
He was one of several parents who said their vested interest in the schools and fresh perspective qualify them for a seat on the new 12-person councils, which are slated to replace the city's community school boards on July 1.
Part of the mayoral initiative to improve city public schools, the 32 councils will each be comprised of nine parents elected by their local parent-teacher association officers, two community members selected by the borough president and one high school senior placed by the district superintendent.
The education councils will serve as liaisons between parents in the community and the school system, according to the Department of Education's Web site. They will evaluate superintendents, approve district zoning lines and meet with PTAs.
The 19 candidates at the March 31 forum were as varied as District 30 itself, one of the most diverse areas in the city, comprising 28 schools in Astoria, Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Woodside and parts of Corona. The 29,000 students in the district come from 112 different countries and speak 80 different languages, according to the district's Web site.
Scores of parents in this area speak little or no English, candidate Yolanda Baricevic said.
A native of the Dominican Republic with children in PS 149, Baricevic said she has visited school administrators on behalf of friends with poor English skills. Many non-native residents are intimidated by teachers or principals, she said, so their children are getting shortchanged because they cannot stand up for them.
Baricevic, who recited her speech in Spanish and English, said the community council needs multicultural representatives who can bridge the language gap between educators and parents.
Communication will be key to the council's success, said Jeffrey Guyton, whose 4-year-old daughter attends PS 150. A struggling actor with no political experience, Guyton said his craft demands that he work collaboratively. If the council is going to be anything more than a “rubber-stamp committee,” he said it is going to need flexible people who can form a consensus.
“The most important person to listen to is the person with whom you disagree,” Guyton said. “If we can't listen respectfully to each other, how can we teach our kids to listen respectively to us?”
Active in the public schools for more than a decade, former PS 122 PTA President Lavina Galatis said the council would need experienced leaders who know the ins and outs of the school system. One of the more polished candidates, Galatis said she would be an active voice for parents and urged people to visit her Web site.
“If you vote for me, I will work for you,” Galatis said.
While Galatis cited her credentials as qualification for a seat, homemaker Judy Thomas countered that the council would benefit from political outsiders whose only interest is protecting their children.
“I feel my best qualification is fresh eyes. I haven't been involved in public schools yet,” said Thomas, whose 5-year-old is a kindergartner at PS 122 as well.
Reach reporter Matthew Monks by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
