On Board Online • July 3, 2017

By Cathy Woodruff
Senior Writer

Imagine you're a high school senior sweating your way through multiple gym classes every school day. At night, you hit the books extra hard to prepare for New York's Earth Science Regents exam; you need to refresh your understanding of geologic processes, planetary orbits and other topics you last considered two or three years ago in a classroom far, far away.

Educators say that's not a far-fetched scenario for children of military parents who, after hopscotching around the country (or the world), want to graduate from high school in New York.

On Board Online • July 3, 2017

By Cathy Woodruff
Senior Writer
and
Eric D. Randall
Editor-in-chief

Following a rare, judicial-style hearing at the State Education Department, Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia is weighing a request from a majority of the Buffalo school board to remove a fellow board member, former gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, for allegedly disclosing confidential information discussed in executive sessions.

The charges against Paladino alleged that, in an email copied to members of the press, he shared confidential information about litigation discussed during an executive session in December.

On Board Online • July 3, 2017

By Cathy Woodruff
Senior Writer

At their June meeting, the state Board of Regents cut the number of state testing days for students in grades 3-8. State education officials said they hope the change will ease concerns of those who say the length of the exams stresses out students and robs them of valuable lesson time.

The change from a three-day schedule for each of the math and English language arts exams - a total of six days for both subjects - to a two-day test format (for a total of four days for both subjects) may serve to encourage participation and reduce test refusals, officials said. But Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said influencing current "opt out" advocates wasn't the only goal driving the decision.

We expect lawmakers will return to Albany at some point to address outstanding issues – most notably extending mayoral control of New York City schools – and correct what can best be characterized as an incomplete end to the legislative session. 

While we are grateful for the passage of much-needed technical adjustments to the tax cap, the major education issue of this session, mayoral control, hangs in limbo. The use of the mayoral control school governance model in New York City is preferred by nearly all interested parties. Therefore, it makes sense to separate this issue from other issues not so widely supported, and approve an extension immediately while the law's expiration deadline of June 30 is looming. Other issues can and should be taken up by the legislature at a later date. 

We urge the Legislature to resolve this unfinished business as soon as possible.

1. How is a school board member removed from office?
   A board member may be removed from office either by the commissioner of education or the school board. A school board’s authority to remove one of its members from office is separate and distinct from the commissioner’s authority to remove a board member. A school board member removed from office may not be appointed or elected to any district office for one year from the date of his or her removal.

On Board Online • June 12, 2017

By Eric D. Randall
Editor-in-Chief

First of a two-part series

Buying students devices that connect to the internet was made easier by the Smart Schools Bond Act. But figuring out how to use such devices most effectively in the classroom is a challenge now facing every school district with a 1:1 computing program.

Schools are entering a new world of teaching and learning in which the strength of a school's Wi-Fi signal becomes as important as having heat, light and plumbing, according to professors at the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester.

On Board Online • June 12, 2017

By Eric D. Randall
Editor-in-Chief

Lately, high school announcements at the Delaware Academy in Delhi are anything but routine and boring.

In response to the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why," students and staff in the 700-student district in the southern Catskills are reading self-revelatory statements over the public address system. They call it, "13 Reasons Why Not."

On Board Online • June 12, 2017

Timothy G. Kremer
NYSSBA Executive Director

It's that time of year for much pomp and circumstance. No, not the graduation march across the stage. I am referring to the annual fuss that occurs in Albany at the end of every legislative session.

Each year, an all-absorbing "crisis" seems to emerge during the waning days of the session. This year, as it has for the past two years, the dispute is over mayoral control of public schools in New York City, which directly affects the five boroughs of New York City only but indirectly stymies the prospects of nearly all other legislation that impacts school districts throughout the state. Until the mayoral control dispute is resolved (at least for this year), most other issues that matter to school leaders outside of New York City are on the proverbial back burner.