Relates to the governance of the school districts in the city of New York; repealer

The Department of Education would repurpose Community School District Superintendents and staff displaced by the transition from community school districts to community board boundaries.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 amends the New York City Charter to: 1) integrate positions held by parent members of the community education councils into the community boards. Each parent member would serve for two years and be selected by the parents' association and parent-teachers' association from the schools in the Community Board's catchment area. 2) require each community board to submit a performance report on the activities of its education committee every month of the school year to the city board, or Panel on Educational Policy. 3) review major educational proposals by the Department of Education impacting schools in the community district including expanding or reducing an existing school, opening or closing a new school, instituting a new program, changing zoning lines, among other proposals. 4) require each community board to to create an education committee including all parent members of the community board.

Section 2 repeals subdivision 4 of section 2590-a of the education law defining community district education council.

Section 3 amends subdivision 9 of section 2590-a of the education law to remove references to community education councils

Section 4 amends subdivision 9 of section 2590-b of the education law to remove references to community education councils as they pertain to holding government and elective offices.

Section 5 repeals 2590-c of the education law relating to the composition of community district education councils.

Section 6 amends 2590-d of the education law to remove references to community education councils providing input in evaluating Community School District Superintendents.

Section 7 amends subdivision 4 of section 2590-g of the education law to remove references to community education councils.

Section 8 amends 2590-h of the education law to remove references to community education councils and requires the Department of Education to provide particular examinations and evaluations to the community boards.

Section 9 repeals subdivision 33 of section 2590-h of the education law.

Section 10 amends section 2590-p of the education law requires the community board to hold hearings and make recommendations on the 5-year education facilities master plan and capital plan.

Section 11 repeals 2590-q of the education law relating to the funding of community district education councils.

Section 12 amends section 211-d of the education law to require that the Citywide Contract for Excellence be submitted to the community board for review and comment at a public meeting.

Section 13 amends 2590-a of the education law to redefine community district as those aligned to the boundaries of community planning board districts as created in the New York City Charter.

Section 14 repeals subdivision 2 of section 2590-b of the education law empowering the city board to define and change community school district boundaries.

Section 15 amends subdivision 3 of section 2590-b of the education law to enable the existing redistricting advisory group to make recommendations for aligning current community school district boundaries to those of community districts in the New York City Charter. The redistricting advisory group shall make recommendations on the special education needs of the community and school children, transportation issues, among other recommendations. The redistricting advisory group shall hold public hearings, and issue an initial report of recommendations by November 2010. A final report will be issued by February I, 2011 to take effect July I, 2012. Section 15 also allows any student already attending a public school under current community school district boundaries to continue to do so.

Section 16 & 17 amend 2590-h of the education law to allow for the centralization and repurposing of community school district superintendents and staff displaced by the realignment from community school districts to community planning board districts.

Justification

It is essential that as part of the renewal of mayoral control, there be a more structured process for parents and community members to provide input in a deliberate organized manner before decisions are made on key educational policies. Community Boards have a long history of providing substantive input on issues ranging from zoning to land use. By mandating educational committees within community boards, and augmenting them with positions currently part of the Community Education Councils, parents will be linked to a body that has experience and skill in navigating government. The combination of parents and community leaders on the Community Board will bring together a diverse skill set and multiple perspectives to better advocate for the schools in the Community Board's jurisdiction. This integration will also streamline government while strengthening higher functioning structures to foster substantive parent and community feedback.

Realigning the 32 community school districts to the smaller units of 59 Community Boards will also foster more substantive parental input. Community boards have much more logical catchment areas that better represent the qualities and characteristics of their respective neighborhoods than many of the current community School Districts, which vary in size, are not coterminous, and represent different numbers of people and students.

Prior legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

None to the State.

Effective date

This act shall take effective immediately.