Feb 4, 2009 7:18 PM
The Delegate Assembly of the UFT on Feb. 4 voted overwhelmingly to approve a report by the union’s School Governance Task Force that recommends reauthorizing the current school governance law with a series of modifications. In its report, the task force proposes measures that would establish institutional checks and balances, and more voice for the people closest to the kids — their parents and their educators.
“The debate tonight was vigorous, as it should be when you are wrestling with important issues,” said UFT President Randi Weingarten. “Discussion and debate are healthy and democratic, but unfortunately they are a large part what has been missing from the current governance model.”
“Despite a sense of feeling disrespected for the work they do by the chancellor, the delegates put that aside and really tried to figure out what governance system would help kids, give parents, teachers and the greater community a voice — not a veto — and maintain mayoral responsibility.”
The law that gives New York’s mayor control over the city’s public schools is set to expire on June 30, and its future will be decided by the State Legislature. The UFT’s multi-partisan task force report outlines a series of modifications to the law at the school level, the district level and the citywide level, as well as new legal accountability measures and another sunset of the law.
The UFT School Governance Task Force, which was commissioned in April 2007 and represents a wide spectrum of member views, was charged with evaluating the present school governance system. The task force held dozens of meetings and six public forums across the five boroughs. More than 1,200 people attended the forums, including classroom educators, parents, members of community groups, legislators, union members and other civic, labor and public officials.
Based on testimony and debate among its members, the task force endorsed several key concepts. They are that an effective governance system and structure should:
Guided by these six principles, the task force then developed the recommendations in the report.
The UFT’s multi-partisan task force report calls for:
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