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@nycboe.net

New York City Department of Education

Visit our website at www.myschoolonline.com/ny/cec24
Nick Comaianni Dmytro Fedkowskyj Dominic Coticchio Ernest Cury Vacant
President 1St Vice President 2nd Vice President Treasurer Secretary

Council Members Department of Education Region 4 Officials

Lelani Bomani Reyes Irizarry
Cecilia Chavez Regional Superintendent
Dan Creighton Charles Amundsen
Marge Kolb Deputy Superintendent
Catherine M. Powis
Community Superintendent

FINAL BOARD APPROVED MINUTES

Minutes of Calendar Meeting
June 20, 2006
I.S. 5, 50-40 Jacobus Street, Elmhurst, NY

1) Call to order and Roll Call -- The Calendar meeting convened at IS 5 at 7:00 PM

Roll Call – Present

• Lelani Bomani
• Cecilia Chavez
• Nick Comaianni
• Dmytro Fedkowskyj
• Marge Kolb

Roll Call Absent

• Dominic Coticchio
• Ernest Cury
• Daniel Creighton
• Juan Hernandez

Also in attendance

Catherine Powis, Community Superintendent

2) Approval of Minutes

Vote to approve minutes of May meeting could not be carried out due to lack of quorum.
3) Report of the President

Mr. Comaianni stated that Joanne Scichilone and Nancy Carbone had resigned and
further stated that the two above mentioned members did so out of frustration with the
DOE. Mr. Comaianni then gave an example of recent frustrations regarding the
NYCDOE cell phone ban. He stated that almost every CEC in the city passed a
resolution against banning cell phones and stated that the DOE will not budge on the
issue. Mr. Comaianni gave other examples as well.

4) Report of the Superintendent

Ms. Powis stated that in support of the DCEP under the Student Support Services, the
Department of Education announced on June 1st the start of the No Child Left Behind
(NCLB) Public School Choice Program for 2006-2007. Through the program, parents of
eligible students can request to transfer their child to a school that has not been identified
as a Title I School in Need of Improvement (SINI) or School Under Registration Review
(SURR) by the State Education Department (SED). Students who transfer through the
program will be able to start classes at their new schools on the first day of school in
September 2006. She further stated that application materials and information packages
will be mailed directly to parents of all eligible students. Completed applications must be
returned by mail postmarked no later than Friday, June 30th. All materials will be
available in nine languages. The Department of Education will provide community-
based and faith-based organizations, parent groups, public officials and other members of
school communities with informational materials for parents. Information about the
program is also available on the Department of Education website.

Ms. Powis then gave an update on the Empowerment Schools stating that in support of
the DCEP under Student Support Services, the Mayor and the Chancellor announced last
week that more than 350 principals applied to participate in the Empowerment School
program and 331 were invited to become Empowerment Schools. At these schools,
principals will commit to meeting realistic student achievement targets in exchange for
receiving additional decision-making and resources. She further stated that Region 4 has
a total of 15 empowerment schools, six from last year and nine new ones. In District 24
they are IS 93, IS 125, PS 49, and the 51st Avenue Academy.

Ms. Powis then gave a summer school update stating that in support of the DCEP under
the Student Support Services allocation of seats for the Summer Success Academy are
being finalized this week. Principals will be notified regarding the number of seats
allotted to them at their assigned site.

Ms. Powis stated that in support of the DCEP under Student Support Services, all schools
notified the parents of students who are mandated to participate in extended time sessions
next school year and parents of students invited to participate on a voluntary basis.
Parents of graduating students who are in the final grade of their current school have also
been informed if they are being recommended to participate in the extended-time
program in their new school.

Ms. Powis also discussed High School Now by stating that in support of the DCEP under
Student Support Services there will be a specialized high school summer program this
summer for students bridging the period between Middle and High Schools.

Ms. Powis closed her report by thanking each CEC member who has given of themselves
to ensure that all of our District 24 youngsters are provided with a quality education.

Ms. Powis took questions from the council.

Ms. Kolb asked if there was summer school only for current 3rd 5th and 7th grade students
and the rest will be left back to which Ms. Powis replied that 4th 6th and 8th will hold
summer school as well.

Ms. Kolb inquired as to the application process of the High School Now program. Ms.
Powis replied that students scoring a 2 or 3 on the ELA or Math exam are eligible.
Students could also be recommended by a teacher or a guidance counselor.

Marge Kolb asked Ms. Powis and the public if the principals of the empowerment
schools had met with parent leaders to which a member of the public responded that at PS
49 the principal spoke about it at a PTA meeting and asked for parent input.

Mr. Comaianni stated that part of the process regarding empowerment schools was to
have principals meet with parent leaders to discuss if the switch was something necessary
and beneficial to the school.

Ms. Kolb stated that principals of empowerment schools will have no one to report to and
be part of a network of 20 other schools and then there would be some kind of oversight
committee. She further stated that principals need work collaboratively with the parent
community.

Mr. Comaianni asked Ms. Powis how principals would report to the CEC to which she
responded that she does not have an answer at that time although she did go on to say that
principals of empowerment schools would be directly responsible to the parent
community and that she would have more information as time goes on.

Mr. Fedkowskyj inquired as to which schools in D24 would be open for summer school
to which Ms. Powis stated that a list has been provided in the folders.

5) Guest Speakers – None

6) Meeting with President’s Panel – None

7) Resolutions – None

8) Report of the Committees

Dmytro Fedkowskyj, Chair of the Building, Zoning and Maintenance Committee stated
that the Capital Plan will be fully funded so the Five Year DOE Plan is in place and will
create an estimated 4,660 seats, which is currently in the works to reduce overcrowding,
class size and create K-8 schools.

Mr. Fedkowskyj then recapped a meeting between CEC D24 and the School Construction
Authority which is as follows:

1) A SCA proposal for the Metropolitan Ave Complex will be designed as a 1,000 seat
locally zoned high school for D24 & D28 students and a 630 seat 6-12 city-wide High
school. Construction at this site could begin before year end.

2) The Early Childhood Center (PS 246) school in LIC will not be built; the plan is to
utilize 300 seats from a Catholic school in the area. This plan saves money and the
schoolyard at PS 199 for students.

3) PS/IS 260 is currently under construction for 1,000 K-8 seats, since this has been
originally classified as a CITY funded project, completion Sept 2008.

4) The Early Childhood Center (PS 245) school (440 seats) in Ridgewood will begin
construction this summer with a completion date of Sept 2008.

5) The Art & Leather Factory in Corona will be constructed to make three small high
schools with a total estimated 1,200 seats. The property is still under negotiations with
the owner, but the DOE feels confident they will get it.

6) An approximate 900 seat school addition for PS 102 will take the place of 450 seats
currently being used in the school yard by mini buildings and trailers.

7) An approximate 600 seat school addition for PS 13 will take the place of 350 seats
currently being used in the school yard by trailers.

8) An approximate 280 seat addition for PS 49 along with an approximate 440 seat
addition for PS 113 will provide these school communities an opportunity to reduce class
size and become a K-8 school.

9) An approximate 520 seat new school (replacing the main building of 200 seats) for PS
128 will provide the school community an opportunity to reduce class size and become a
K-8 school.
He closed his committee report by stating that the above mentioned school additions are
currently in design with possible openings Sept 2, 2009.

Mr. Fedkowskyj took questions from the audience.

Marge Kolb, Chair of the Curriculum Committee stated that D24 should fight for all the
high school seats in that other Districts do not have the overcrowding conditions faced in
D24. Ms. Kolb also stated among other things, that the CEC’s will no longer fall under
the Deputy Chancellor of Teaching and Learning and now the CEC’s will fall under the
oversight of the Director of Community Affairs, Brian Ellner.

9) Old Business – Busing issue from Middle Village to IS119 in Glendale.

Mr. Comaianni stated that he would like to have Mr. Scarpa, Director of Office of Pupil
Transportation attend our next meeting.

10) New Business – Dates were established for the summer meetings as July 25 and
August 22, 2006 at PS 58.

11) Public Agenda Session – the council members took questions from the public

12) Adjournment – Dmytro Fedkowskyj motioned to adjourn, Nick Comaianni

seconded. Meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM.