Community Education Council 24

P.S. 91 Room 119 68-10 Central Avenue

Glendale, New York 11385
Phone: 718.418.8160 / Fax: 718.418.8168/ Cec24@schools.nyc.gov

New York City Department of Education

Nick Comaianni Dmytro Fedkowskyj Lelani Bomani Ernest Cury Marge Kolb
President 1St Vice President 2nd Vice President Treasurer Secretary

Council Members Department of Education Region 4 Officials

Cecilia Chavez Charles Amundsen
Bill Kregler Regional Superintendent
Deborah Tscherne Catherine M. Powis
Peter Vercessi Deputy Regional Superintendent and
Community Superintendent District 24

FINAL BOARD APPROVED MINUTES

Minutes of Calendar Meeting
April 24, 2007
PS 58, Maspeth, New York

1) Call to order and Roll Call -- The Calendar meeting convened at PS 58 at 7:00
PM

Roll Call – Present

• Lelani Bomani
• Cecilia Chavez
• Nick Comaianni
• Bill Kregler
• Debbie Tscherne
• Peter Vercessi

Roll Call – Absent

• Dmytro Fedkowskyj
• Ernest Cury
• Marge Kolb

2) Approval of Minutes – Nick Comaianni motioned to approve the minutes of

February 27, 2007. Debbie Tscherne seconded; roll was called and minutes were
unanimously approved. Nick Comaianni motioned to approve the minutes of March 27,
2007. Debbie Tscherne seconded; roll was called and minutes were unanimously
approved.

3) (Out of Order) – Report of the Community Superintendent

Ms. Powis stated that on April 23rd the Chancellor held a Principals’ Symposium to kick
off the selection of the School Support Organizations. She stated that while the above
mentioned symposium was only for principals, the School Leadership Teams will have
an opportunity to attend information events in each of the boroughs. At these events
school community members will b e able to participate in conversations with
representatives from the School Support Organizations and learn more about the package
of services each is offering.

Ms. Powis stated that tentative plans for summer school have been established.
Elementary and Middle Schools will take place form July 2, 2007 to August 8, 2007.
High Schools will take place from July 5, 2007 to August 17, 2007.

Ms. Powis stated that on Wednesday April 11, 2007 Leonardo Da Vinci Intermediate
School IS 61 in Corona, Queens was visited by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and
Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz. They were also
accompanied by Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Thomas
R. Frieden and Dr. Jeffery Wigand, founder of the non profit organization called Smoke-
Free Kids and former chief scientist at Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corporation. In
preparation for this visit, students from IS 61 watched a documentary during their English
Language Arts classes titled, “Secrets from the Smoke” and generated questions to be
answered during the Mayor’s press conference. Displayed throughout the building were
posters created by the middle school students that helped to promote the city’s anti
smoking campaign.

Ms. Powis thanked the Principals, Teachers, Regional Staff and Parents for their help and
cooperation over the past several months. She also thanked Cecilia Chavez for her
participation in the Co-Interpretation meetings which were held on April 19th and 20th.
She also stated that Community Education Council elections will be held on April 30th
and May 1st at the Leonardo da Vinci Intermediate School 61, located at 98-50 50th
Avenue, Corona, NY from 7 AM to 9 PM. This year the PA/PTA selectors will have the
opportunity to either vote in person, by mail or by internet from their home computer.
Each PT/PTA will receive a voting packet explaining these options.

4) (Out of Order) Report of the President

Nick Comaianni reminded the members of the PTA’s and the School Leadership Teams
that there is shared decision making with the principals on different activities, different
things that are done in each school and before each principal makes a decision he must
inform the PTA’s and the School Leadership Teams. This is a law that has been violated
citywide, and many times members of the above mentioned organizations are not
informed of decisions. This is a serious problem. There is a state law in place that states
that principals must meet with School Leadership Teams. He stated that his
understanding is that about half the schools principals do not meet regularly with
principals.
Mr. Comaianni stated that those who wish to run for the Community Education Council
District 24 need to work hard to make a difference, need to be dedicated and make time
commitments. Mr. Comaianni expressed his anger that Mayor Bloomberg and the DOE
did not send out any informational flyers stating that the Mayor would be at IS 61 and
stated that it was disrespectful to the Community Education Council District 24.

5) Guest Speakers – None

6) Resolutions – None

7) Report of the Committees

Debbie Tscherne, Chair of the Gifted and Talented/Honors Committee stated that on
March 29, 2007 the committee met with Anna Comintante, Director of Gifted and
Talented in Region 4 who answered many of the questions of the committee pertaining to
gifted education in general and more specifically gifted middle school education. The
committee felt it was a very informative meeting. She also stated that her committee met
with Ms. Powis the night before and many questions were asked about the reorganization
of the Department of Education and not many answers were able to be given. She then
thanked Ms. Powis for all the time and attention she has given to this committee. Ms.
Tscherne stated that gifted and talented testing has been complete and parents are
awaiting results. This committee is arranging for a site visit of the District 30 Gifted and
Talented Middle School program to better understand a typical day of the students.

Bill Kregler, Chair of the Special Education Committee stated that if there is any
problem with summer school placement please contact the CEC office and he offered his
assistance to speak directly to principals.

Ms Chavez stated that it is difficult to fill out one parent survey if that parent has multiple
children in the public school system. Ms. Powis replied that she would look into the
situation.

8) Old Business--None

9) New Business--None

10) Public Agenda

The council took questions from the public.

11) Adjournment -- Nick Comaianni motioned to adjourn, Debbie Tscherne seconded.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:25.