Relates to the appointment of members of the New York city school board of education

4 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• Martin Malavé Dilan
• Kevin S. Parker
• Bill Perkins

BILL NUMBER:S1406

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the members and powers of the board of education of the city school district of the city of New York

Purpose

To distribute the appointing authority of the board of education of the city school district of New York City among each borough president, city council, and mayor of NYC, to give parents and education professionals a greater voice in the process, and to grant the authority to appoint the city school district chancellor to the board of education.

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 2590-b of the education law, as amended by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, to require that the thirteen appointed members of the NYC Board of Education consist of the following: (1) consistent with current law, one member to be appointed by each borough president of NYC, with said ember being a resident of the borough and the parent of a child attending a public school within the city school district of NYC; (2) four appointed by the city council, one of which must be a representative of a college or university, one of which must be a member of a parent organization, and one of which must be a member of a community district education counsel; and (3) four members to be appointed by the NYC mayor. Each mayoral appointee must be a resident of NYC and one must be a parent of a child attending a public school within the city district.

Section 2: Amends the opening paragraph of section 2590-h of the education law, as amended by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, to require that the chancellor of the city school district of NYC be elected by the city school board. The contract length and salary of the chancellor shall be decided by the city school board.

Existing law

Under current law, members of the city school board of NYC are appointed by the five borough presidents and the mayor. Those members appointed by the borough presidents must be parents of a child attending a public school in the NYC school district. As such, the mayor appoints a majority of the thirteen members of the board. Additionally, the mayor is currently responsible for appointing the chancellor of the city school district of NYC, as well as determining the chancellor's contract length and salary.

Justification

This legislation will require that the New York City Board of Education be comprised of individuals appointed by several entities. This fact, coupled with the proposal that the Board appoint the city school district chancellor, will allow the Board to operate as an independent entity apart from the office of the NYC mayor. By

removing mayoral control over the selection of the chancellor, there will be checks and balances and a chance for public review of decisions made by the Board to ensure transparency and accountability.

Additionally, this bill will allow those with a vested interest in education, such as parents of school children and those in higher education, to be directly involved in the policy creation and decision making of the education system.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that the amendments to subdivision 1 of section 2590-b and the opening paragraph of section 2590-h of the education law made by sections one and two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such provisions and shall be deemed repealed therewith.