School District Reorganization Proceeds
BY RICHARD GENTILVISO

Schools Chancellor Joel Klien

With less than a month to go before the start of school on September 4 (sorry, kids), implementation of the second major revamping of city public schools is moving forward, Dr. Philip Composto, superintendent for District 30 schools, said.

"Things are still being reorganized," said Jeannie Tsavaris-Basini, president of Community Education Council 30 (CEC 30) at its August meeting, held at P.S. 234 in Long Island City.

After the first reorganization under Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, the 36 community school districts were included within 10 new regions citywide known as ROCs (Regional Operation Centers). "We're not a ROC anymore," Composto explained. The new administrative organization will be called the Integrated Service Center (ISC), with one for each borough.

Essentially, the 10 ROCs have been halved into five ISCs, said Composto. "I know it's a lot to digest- we've restructured," he said. "The Chancellor has put a lot more money into our schools. The goal is to capture every child in New York City."

Tsavaris-Basini is nonetheless perplexed. "Basically, we don't know who is doing what and I don't have contact information," she said. "It would be nice to know who's in charge of special education."

Composto said under the reorganization, principals have decided what support structure they will follow. P.S. 122, P.S. 111 and I.S. 204 all in Long Island City, and P.S. 151, Woodside, have all decided to be empowerment schools, while the rest, excepting P.S. 112, will follow the Integreted Curriculum model offered by Judith Chin. P.S. 112, Long Island City, opted to follow the model offered by Elaine Goldberg.

While principals were free to decide their individual schools' direction, there will also be increased accountability. "Each and every principal will be held accountable for the children's results," said Composto. Details are currently under negotiation between the Department of Education (DOE) and the supervisors' union regarding accountability, said Composto.

Composto also touched on new funding District 30 is receiving under the "Contracts For Excellence" monies the city is receiving from the state. The funding is targeted to be spent on methods to increase student achievement, particularly in low-performing schools.

DOE has said the funding, $258 million total, could be used to hire 1,300 new teachers and create more than 400 Collaborative Team Teaching (CTT) classrooms. CTT classrooms combine special education and general education students taught by two teachers.

Summer school students will take English language arts and mathematics tests from August 6 through 8. The students who are potential holdovers will be reviewed and notification to parents regarding promotion will be sent from August 9 through 17.

Composto said attendance at summer sessions has been "pretty good". "We're in the 80s (percent)," he said, noting at schools where the attendance rates were lower, calls have been made to homes.

"The Children First initiative has brought on changes," Composto said. Empowerment gives principals more authority and more accountability, he said. "My role has changed, too, as superintendent," Composto said, noting he is now also a Senior Achievement Facilitator (SAF).

"I am excited, I think the new movement is going to be good for us. No child is going to be left behind," he said.