Marshall
Outlines
School Plans At SB 30
by richard gentilviso

Borough President Helen Marshall praised Gimondo for foresight and determination in getting more schools built within the once severely overcrowded District 30.

In many ways the June meeting of Community School Board, District 30 held at P.S. 149 in Jackson Heights was routine. District Superintendent Dr. Angelo Gimondo gave an end-of-school-year progress report and announced three supervisory appointments. But Gimondo was presiding for the last time as superintendent before taking on a new role as senior instructional manager for the arts in the new Department of Education.

Moreover, although District 30 will remain in place, it is to become part of a much larger region when Gimondo leaves on July 1. That finally became clear when settlement of the lawsuit seeking to block the reorganization of public schools into 10 regions was announced earlier the same day.

At first, Mayor Michael Bloomberg called for elimination of the 32 community district offices and community superintendents that had administered elementary and intermediate schools for more than 30 years. But under the deal that was reached, district offices, to be staffed by a superintendent, a paid parent coordinator and a clerk, will be kept in each of the 32 local districts within the 10 new regions.

A new community superintendent for District 30 will be chosen from among 113 local instructional supervisors who have been chosen to report to the 10 regional superintendents. Reyes Irizarry has been appointed superintendent of Region 4, which includes Districts 30 and 24 in Queens and District 32 in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Borough President Helen Marshall praised Gimondo for foresight and determination in getting more schools built within the once severely overcrowded District 30. "You weathered the storm and planned ahead," said Marshall. She added, "I am glad the new [Schools] Chancellor [Joel Klein] and the mayor have recognized your talents and skills in naming you to your new post."

Marshall also presented longtime community school Board Member Donald Stewart with a proclamation declaring June 10 as "Donald P. Stewart Day" in the borough. Stewart, who is retiring from the school board, was a member from its inception, noted Marshall. "As fate would have it, this is the last meeting of Community School Board 30," she said.

"We [Community School Board 30] were told that we’d be continuing for another year," said Board 30 President Giovanna D’Elia. "But we don’t have any details. We don’t know what we’re going to be meeting about, who we’re going to be meeting with, or where," she said. "So I guess we’ll see you next month [July]."

After Board Member Dorothy Wilner said recommendations for a new body known as Community District Education Councils made by a Special Legislative Task Force to replace community school boards had yet to be voted on, Marshall indicated community boards would soon be replaced by the new education councils. "There is a strong movement to terminate the present [community school] boards," said Marshall.

[State] "Senator [Frank] Padavan called me earlier today and I have heard from Assemblymember [Steven] Sanders’ office [chair of the education committee]," Marshall said, confirming the 32 community school districts will remain.

Although Marshall said that some things have to be worked out, it is likely the new community district education councils will be in place by the start of school in September.

"The composition of the new [parent] board remains eight parents, two appointees by the borough president and one high school student," said Marshall although she noted there is still some discussion about the role of a student on the board.

"I think it would be a wonderful thing to keep a high school student," she said. Marshall also said elections for the eight parents would be held at local Parent Teacher Association meetings only. Regarding the two appointments she will have in each of the seven community districts located in Queens (14 in all), Marshall said she’s looking for people with institutional knowledge and business experience. "I have to see who’s out there," she said.

Marshall described Board 30 as an example of why community school boards should continue. "Some boards were not," she added.

Noting Stewart’s more than 35 years of commitment to education, Marshall said, "He has given of himself hours and hours, days and days, months and months and years and years. We owe you a great deal of gratitude."

Accepting his proclamation, Stewart said, "This [service] has been meaningful to me and this [proclamation] means a great deal to me. Thank you."

Gimondo in the end-year comprehensive education review whose mission statement is "A world class education for all students," said such reports would no longer be required under new regulations.

He also said 90-minute blocks of English Language Arts in effect in District 30 for the last three years will be a requirement citywide next year. "The development of high expectations for all students has been our goal for the year," Gimondo added.

Mark Levitt, one of several former Board 30 members present, noted that districtwide attendance this year of 98 percent reported by Gimondo was much higher than the average of 89 percent back in 1982 when he served on the community school board.

Principal Libby Robbins of P.S. 85, Long Island City, called Gimondo a leader of vision, trust and encouragement while Board Member John Ciafone said "he has done a sensational job." Gimondo will next work on a new arts curriculum with Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg. Recently, during hearings on arts education in the City Council, Gimondo said, "We face a new era in the history of arts education in the city’s schools. Every child should receive regular instruction in the arts."

Gimondo appointed Thomas Semanski as the new principal at I.S. 204, 36-41 28th St., Long Island City. Two assistant principals, Karen Carmichael at P.S. 111, 37-15 13th St., Long Island City, and Lydia Kazakias at I.S. 126, 31-51 21st St., Long Island City were also appointed.