[imc-rochester] City of Rochester School Governance Reform Act

Sun Jun 20 12:27:20 PDT 2010

You can call it the so-called "City of Rochester School Governance Reform Act" or whatever you want  to call it, but we know that it's really about mayoral control of MONEY AND POWER. Even though you wouldn't know it (based on major media reports) --- parents and other community members made their voices heard very clearly during the recent, phony, staged, so-called "Public Hearing."  WE SAID NO. IN FACT, WE SAID HELL NO to you, Gantt, Duffy, Nolan, Patterson, Cuomo, Duncan and the rest. We will not sit idly by and allow outsiders and know-nothings to ram this ill-conceived, attempted hostile takeover and attempted political coup down our collective throat. We will continue to agitate, educate and organize. We will defeat mayoral control (one way or another). Bet on it!

Howard J. Eagle
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joseph D. Morelle 
  To: heagle at rochester.rr.com 
  Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 11:46 PM
  Subject: City of Rochester School Governance Reform Act

                          City of Rochester School Governance Reform Act

                          For the past few months our community has been discussing the best way to reform the Rochester City School District (RCSD), which has struggled with persistently low graduation rates. It has been a passionate discussion, yielding many great ideas and focusing everyone on the future of our children.

                          During that time I have been working hard with Mayor Bob Duffy, Assemblyman David Gantt and education experts in the Governor's office and the State Assembly to craft legislation that would best reflect the desires of our community for a school system that will demand accountability and improve educational outcomes.

                          Last week, Governor Paterson submitted the "City of Rochester School Governance Act" for introduction in both the Assembly (A.11404) and the Senate (S.8156).

                          This legislation is uniquely tailored to the city of Rochester and many of its components are the result of the dialogue that has ensued over the past several months. It would:

                            a.. Replace the current school board with a nine-member education commission appointed by the mayor and the city council, who serve fixed terms and can only be removed for cause 
                            b.. Create five-member parental advisory councils from each city council district 
                            c.. Establish city-wide councils on special education and English language learners 
                            d.. The superintendent would report directly to the mayor 
                            e.. Take full effect July 1, 2011 
                            f.. Provide a 5-year trial period to expire in 2016 if not renewed
                          This governance reform bill will not solve all our problems, but it will make the system itself far less of a problem as we fight to bring out the potential in each and every student. It has received support from nationally-renowned educational experts because of the checks and balances it includes and the prominent role it envisions for parents.

                          Without question this is the most important legislation in terms of local government that we have considered in nearly a generation. It represents an opportunity to fundamentally reform the way we provide more than 30,000 children with the precious resource of an education, as well as the hope and opportunity that education represents.

                          I am personally committed to seeing this through. This transcends the concerns of any one individual or the agenda of any one party. This is about the kind of city and broader community we want to have. I believe we will be remembered by succeeding generations for what we do, or fail to do, in this regard.

                          Public Hearing in Rochester

                          As promised, the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Education will host a public hearing regarding reform of Rochester City School District governance at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 18, 2010, at City Council Chambers, 30 Church Street.

                          All members of the public are welcome to attend. Those wishing to provide testimony may do so by completing and returning a public hearing reply form.

                          For more information regarding participation in the hearing, call Michelle Newman, Principle Education Committee Assistant, at 518-455-4881, or contact her via email at: newmanm at assembly.state.ny.us.

                          About Joe 

                          Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle represents the 132nd Assembly District, which includes portions of the city of Rochester and the Monroe County suburbs of Irondequoit and Brighton. He is Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and also serves on the Rules, Ways & Means, Economic Development and Higher Education committees.

                                NYS Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle
                                Irondequoit District Office
                                1945 East Ridge Rd, Rochester 14622
                                585-467-0410, Fax: 585-467-5342 
                         NYS Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle
                                Albany Legislative Office
                                716 Legislative Office Bldg, 12248 
                                518-455-5373, Fax: 518-455-5647  

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        NYS Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle | 1945 East Ridge Road | Rochester | NY | 14622 

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