Reverend Floyd Flake and community leaders from all over the city gathered with a crowd of thousands in front of the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in Jamaica recently, as part of a “five-borough bus tour” for mayoral school control.
“It is absolutely essential that New York City continues to have mayoral control,” said Flake, a former U.S. Congressmember, to the crowd of some 3,000 parents, students, educators and community leaders.
“Since 2002, our schools have been moving forward in a progressive manner. The historical failures cannot rise again,” he said.
Learn NY, the non-profit advocacy group stumping for mayoral control since last July, began the two-day tour on Staten Island on Sunday, May 31. After stops in Canarsie and East New York in Brooklyn, the yellow school bus serving as rolling headquarters arrived at Flake’s congregation in Jamaica.
“Our students at every level are moving forward under mayoral control,” said Assemblymember Barbara Clark, who represents parts of eastern-central Queens in Albany.
“We need to continue mayoral control as it is because it results in accountability. Clark continued. “We don’t need to go back to the old system of pointing fingers when children fail,” she said.
“Under mayoral control the public schools are making progress and low-income children of color are closing the achievement gap,” said Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone and Learn NY Board Chair.
“Only with a majority of appointments can a mayor have the authority to turn around the school system, and only then can we hold a single person accountable for our children’s educational success,” he said.
Canada founded the non-profit advocacy group last July, to urge state legislators renew mayoral control of the city’s public schools when the issue comes up for a vote later this month.
Since then, the coalition has grown to include religious groups such as the Orthodox Union and Union of African Imams as well as numerous Christian churches. Social, community and cultural groups from the Association of Malians of NY to the Woodhaven Residents Block Association are also members.
Learn NY spokesperson Julie Wood pointed out that although the group is funded by contributions, “none of the money has come from Mr. Bloomberg,”
The gathering was entertained by student dance troupes and Calypso legend Mighty Sparrow, as families showed their support by signing a giant pledge card affixed to the bus, before it departed for a second stop in Queens at Flushing Town Hall.
“I can see my child’s school improving as a result of mayoral control. Schools are safer and better funded,” said Donna Santana, public school parent and member of the Greater Allen A.M.E. congregation.
“We need to make certain that every child in our city has an opportunity to receive the best education. Mayoral control is our chance to keep the progress going,” said Reverend Flake, before adding his signature.
