Want More School Test
UFT Joins Coalition Against Reorganizing

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

A broad new coalition of unions, community groups and parents announced its intention to fight Mayor Bloomberg's school re-organization plans Feb. 28 in front of an over-flow crowd of 1,500 people.

The Chief-Leader/Adrienne Haywood-James A SUGGESTION FOR CHANCELLOR: Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein, who has been accused of shutting Teachers out of the decision-making process even as he feuds with the union representing school supervisors, was a target of some of those protesting his new reorganization plan.

The alliance brings together organizations that have roots in local communities with groups that have clout in Albany. Those attending the raucous meeting complained that they were left out of the decision-making process and hadn't seen enough improvement in the schools.

The Department of Education said it would continue to meet with members of the coalition and listen to their opinions. Earlier that day, Mayor Bloomberg appointed a longtime parent advocate, Martine Guerrier, as Chief Family Engagement Officer for the school system.

Riding Bus Momentum

"You have the power to change what's happening," Bertha Lewis, co-chair of the Working Families Party, told the crowd. "You did it with the school bus debacle, you can do it again."

About 300 people stood in a line that snaked down the block and into the courtyard of the Murray Hill church where the meeting was held, because the building was packed to capacity.

Dubbed "Put The Public Back in Public Education", the coalition includes the United Federation of Teachers; the Coalition for Educational Justice, composed of dozens of community groups; the Chancellor's Parents Advisory Council; and the Working Families Party, among others.

The group says it opposes high-stakes testing, "high-priced" consultants and private management of public schools. Instead, it wants lower class sizes and equitable funding and resources for low-performing schools, English-language learners and struggling middle schools.

'Hiding Behind Shift'

Some of the people attending the rally said that while they had hoped that mayoral control of the schools would lead to improvements, they had become disillusioned during the past five years.

"I think they've made mistakes and they're hiding behind another re-organization," said Glenn Aldridge, who is in his fifth year of teaching math at IS 349 in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. "We're still carrying 32 or 33 kids in a class."

Parents also said that their frustration had been building.

"We're finally going to get more money from the state, but I'm worried it won't come down equally," said Crystal Fowler, whose two daughters go to Junior High School 265 in Brooklyn.

Some veteran education advocates said they had not witnessed such a broad coalition in decades.

"I don't know of something like this since the Ocean-Hill-Brownsville split between parents and Teachers," said Lisa North, an 18-year Teacher from PS 3 in Brooklyn, referring to the 1968 fight that pitted mostly white Teachers against mostly black parents. "The city needs this."

'They're Micromanaging'

Many Teachers said they felt they were losing the ability to make instructional decisions under the subsequent rounds of reorganizations.

"Now that they've empowered the Principals, they micromanage everything," said Rob Vincent, who is in his 6th year of teaching economics at Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn. He said he has repeatedly made suggestions and written letters about problems in the school with no response.

"We're the ones in the classrooms, but nothing ever gets changed and then they wonder why Teachers are frustrated and eventually become complacent," he said. "I think Klein just looks at Teachers and dismisses them."

DOE officials said they are consulting with a wide range of groups about the planned reforms. "The Chancellor met with members of the coalition [the afternoon of the Feb. 28 meeting] and committed to having regular discussions with them about the reforms," said DOE spokesman Andrew Jacob. "There's no deadline on when we're going to stop listening to community feedback."

UFT President Randi Weingarten was among the approximately two dozen coalition members at that meeting, which also included citywide elected officials.

'Will Klein Hear Us?'

"When we asked, 'Will you stop the reorganization until you've really heard from people in the trenches?' he said no," Ms. Weingarten told the crowd, who booed in response. "Today the Chancellor said he will listen, but will he hear us?"

DOE officials said they valued the community's input. "The feedback we get will have an impact on how we implement the reforms," said Mr. Jacob.

But coalition members say they want input about the content of the reforms, not just their implementation.

WFP spokesman Bill Lipton said that the groups were "blown away" by the turnout and level of frustration at the meeting and that the coalition would be meeting in the coming days to discuss future actions.

Meanwhile, several groups are holding actions aimed at shaking up the Mayor's plans. The Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council has organized a parents' lobby day in Albany on March 13, and high on their list of demands is lowering class size. Queens Assemblyman Rory Lancman introduced the Class Size Reduction Act on Feb. 28, backed by the UFT. The bill would mandate that the city spend at least 25 percent of the additional state funding it receives on reducing class size to about the state average.

No Class-Size Stipulation

Governor Spitzer has budgeted an additional $639 million for city education next year and $3.17 billion over four years, but has not earmarked an amount specifically for decreasing class size. His office said he would examine the new legislation.

In response to the bill, officials in the Mayor's Office said the city has a record of reducing class size during Mr. Bloomberg's tenure and pointed to the $13.1 billion school construction project and the fact that 60 percent of empowerment school Principals, who have more control over their budgets, have chosen to hire more Teachers.

"We believe reducing class size in these ways, rather than through state mandates, is far more responsive to the needs of communities and schools," a spokeswoman for the Mayor said in an e-mail.

The New York Immigration Coalition, which is also part of the education alliance, is holding a march and lobby day at City Hall on March 14. One of their top demands is devoting resources for English-language learners in the public schools.

The UFT has a day of action planned for March 16.

"There are too many changes without talking to any of us," said Byron Sterling, who has been a Teacher for 16 years and is currently at PS 186X in The Bronx. "At least do a survey, something. If they asked, they might hear some ideas that would work."