By Anna Gustafson
City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein drew more boos than cheers at a Community District Education Council 30 town hall meeting at IS 230 in Jackson Heights this week, with a number of teachers criticizing him and the city on overcrowded schools, support for educators and what they said was a confusing math curriculum.
“There is a lack of trust in the field of teaching with this administration,” Katie Kurjakovic, a teacher at PS 11 in Woodside, said of Klein and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Klein and a number of high-profile city Department of Education officials attended the hourlong Monday night meeting, during which he touted educational gains in the past several years, including an increase in the citywide graduation rate and proficiency in math and English.
The chancellor noted that 87 percent of students in District 30 were labeled as proficient on state math tests in 2009, compared to 65 percent in 2006.
He also slammed state legislators for not passing a budget, which he said hinders the city’s ability to plan their own finances. Klein set off a round of boos when he spoke about the city’s decision to freeze teacher salaries — a move that has drawn ire from some school officials who criticized the DOE’s decision to give raises to 45 administrators and other high-level personnel.
“We won’t give raises, but we don’t have to do layoffs,” Klein told the crowd in the IS 230 auditorium. “Given the choice between no layoffs and no raises, we decided on layoffs.”
The DOE had said as many as 4,400 teachers could be cut because of a dire budget situation, but Bloomberg and Klein announced last week there would be no layoffs because they would save hundreds of millions of dollars with the pay freeze.
City Councilman Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) slammed the city’s plan not to give teachers raises, which normally happens every year.
“How can you say the heck with the teachers and the heck with the union?” Dromm said. “Unless you treat teachers right, you won’t have a good effect on the educational process.”
Reading a question written by an audience member, CDEC 30 President Isaac Carmignani asked Klein what he plans to do about overcrowded schools in the borough, an issue the statement said had “largely been ignored.”
“We need more capital money, more operating money,” Klein said. “We know we need more buildings in parts of Queens.”
Klein noted the city had added six schools in District 30 since he became chancellor.
Dromm also said the borough needs more school buildings.
“I’m very, very concerned about the space,” Dromm said.
Teachers during and after the meeting said they felt there was little support for them in a system they said too heavily emphasizes the importance of standardized tests. One question Carmignani read said English Language Learner teachers have spent too much time administering and scoring standardized tests rather than being in the classroom.
“I’d rather see teachers in classes than grading exams,” Klein said. “Our budget is very tight.”
Kurjakovic and other teachers said the city’s recently implemented “Everyday Math” curriculum has been a drain on educators and students, to which Klein said it has helped boost test scores.
“There are too many topics covered in a short period of time and it jumps around a lot,” Kurjakovic said. “It’s not clearly aligned with state standards.”
Reach reporter Anna Gustafson by e-mail at agustafson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
