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

[Ron Linville]

I am still optimistic, although I am definitely creeped out by viewing the senate republithugs as "allies".  Yet they are, and we must relate to them in a businesslike way, realizing they could turn on a dime on this issue, and certainly will be our enemies in thx future.
   But morelle and the Dems need a kick in their principles.  And I dont know why Gantt, a man I have enormous respect for on other
Issues, is stuck on this.  At the end of the day, his reasons only matter to us tactically-- he needs a fall, too!

Ron

Sent from my iPod

On Jun 20, 2010, at 3:27 PM, "Howard Eagle" <heagle at rochester.rr.com> wrote:

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  








       Forward email

             This email was sent to heagle at rochester.rr.com by morelle at morelle.com.
             Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeT | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by


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


_______________________________________________
imc-rochester-editorial mailing list
imc-rochester-editorial at lists.indymedia.org
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-rochester-editorial