Attach #SISchoolDays to all picture posts related to back-to-school festivities!

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- School officially begins on Staten Island Thursday.

That means new clothes, backpacks, notebooks, pencils, pens, stickers, and so much more.

Celebrate the new academic year with photographs of students, classrooms and schools by attaching the hashtag #SISchoolDays to pictures on Instagram and Twitter -- and feel free to post photos in the comment section below, too.

We've already asked educators to show off their decorated classrooms on Tuesday.

A series of photographs below come from Jewish Foundation School educator Sarah Cohen and Port Richmond High School Coordinator of Student Activities Vinnie Medugno.

We encourage folks to keep the school spirit going by continuing to use #SISchoolDays on their posts.

Also, here's a breakdown of what's being done help ease the upcoming fall commute.

Once again, have a great year!

School started Thursday. Take a look at the smiling students prior to their first day back.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Private and public school students returned to class for the first time Thursday, and parents made sure to document their smiling faces.

Twitter and Instagram users attached the #SISchoolDays hashtag to pictures of their young students.

The images showed youngsters beaming while holding their school bags, lunch boxes and other supplies.

Some pictures posted by teachers reveal decorated classrooms -- just in time for the start of the new school year.

Here's a rundown of the great responses we received from Staten Islanders. We encourage folks to keep using the hashtag for future school-related posts.

We thank you for contributing, and wish you and your families a wonderful academic year!

My daughter ready to star the school year!!! #SISchoolDays pic.twitter.com/oIBHbYUArG

-- Erika Cortes (@eriscort) September 4, 2014

my boys all geared up for St Ann's 1st day ! #SISchoolDays pic.twitter.com/LqqSLS60nj

-- dana whitford (@DanaWhitford) September 4, 2014

Up and running for second grade!!! #SISchoolDays pic.twitter.com/yezHw7aKiO

-- Heather (@HeatherIsAok) September 4, 2014

Back to school! #sischooldays pic.twitter.com/zNrAMKLtI4

-- King James (@jumpmanjr012) September 4, 2014

First day of school. #sischooldays pic.twitter.com/3KcjEjfRFd

-- King James (@jumpmanjr012) September 4, 2014

Carmine's first day of school! #SISchoolDays pic.twitter.com/TnStnlkckk

-- SW Gabel (@WGabel21) September 4, 2014

Ready for another year! #SISchoolDays #firstdayofschool #ps54 pic.twitter.com/xt3Zg4mpoO

-- Eric Webb (@edub0613) September 4, 2014

#SISCHOOLDAYS @siadvance 1st day!! #IS24 pic.twitter.com/h9kXpAN6aF

-- Kate Case (@kathyca912) September 4, 2014

Here's a look at what was shared via Instagram:

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Shorts and halter tops may have disappeared with cooler temperatures, but some Tottenville High School students continue to defy the school's dress code, with students and parents focused on the overall discipline code they say is too punative. School officials rounded up and detained more than  200 students last week for defying the dress code....

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Shorts and halter tops may have disappeared with cooler temperatures, but some Tottenville High School students continue to defy the school's dress code, with students and parents focused on the overall discipline code they say is too punative.

School officials rounded up and detained more than  200 students last week for defying the dress code.

The  code prohibits "tank tops, low-cut blouses, tubes/halter and midriff tops" as well as "short-shorts " and "mini-skirts," and mandates that "all shorts/skirts must be at relaxed hand-level" and also prohibits "visible undergarments."

According to students and angry parents, the school staff and administrators were pulling students from the hallways who they deemed were dressed inappropriately. Some of the girls were handed grey Tottenville athletic T-shirts or gym shorts to put on, before they could return to class. Others were forced to wait while a parent was called.

Students also complained  the dress code discriminates against female students.

The move is part of an overall enforcement of existing school rules and discipline code by acting interim principal Joseph Scarmato, whose daughter is also a Tottenville student.

Scarmato unleashed parent anger by sending home a six-page "contract" spelling out rules and regulations. The document had to be signed by the student as well as a parent or guardian and returned to the school.

In it, Scarmato explains that the regulations are necessary to prepare students for college and the workforce.

The disciplinary code lays out punishments for infractions, which range from an hour-long detention, to Staturday detention, and suspension.

Some took to Twitter to express what they thought of the code.

We are seriously going to have problems in tottenville I can't wait to see how this turns out[?] [?] #newprinciple #tville pic.twitter.com/REwBPBohxb

-- nina russo (@ninarusso2) August 27, 2014

Still some SILive readers defended the dress code and Scaramuto's efforts to raise standards at the South Shore school, one the largest public high schools in the city.

"There are approximately 4,000 student s enrolled in Tottenville High School; 200 students have been identified as not complying with the dress code. That's approximately 5% of the student population. So 95% of the students have complied with the existing dress code that is now being enforced by the new administration. The dress code will continue to be enforced. Let's move on," Community Education Council President Michael Reilly posted on his Facebook page.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A backlog of paperwork and computer glitches at the Department of Education (DOE) is being blamed for a delay in getting special education services to hundreds of Catholic school students since the school year started. As many as 450 Catholic school students on Staten Island receive these services, according to the New York Archdiocese. Irate...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A backlog of paperwork and computer glitches at the Department of Education (DOE) is being blamed for a delay in getting special education services to hundreds of Catholic school students since the school year started.

As many as 450 Catholic school students on Staten Island receive these services, according to the New York Archdiocese.

Irate parents are complaining that DOE has not provided services such as tutoring, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and tutoring since the beginning of the month for non-public school students across the board, and has not provided a timetable as to when the problem will be resolved.

One parent, Camille Polizzi of Oakwood, said her son, 14, and daughter, 9, who attend St. Joseph by-the-Sea and St. Charles School, respectively, have been without speech and tutoring required under their Individualized Education Plan (I.E.P.) since the first day of school.

Mrs. Polizzi said her son and daughter both receive tutoring after school for a learning disabilty, and her daughter also receives speech therapy during the school day. The DOE often contracts with outside providers to serve parochial and private school students.

"I called and called and called DOE, and was told they were backlogged with paperwork and were having computer problems, and that they couldn't tell me when services would be restored," she said.

"Somehow, though, they managed to get things up and running the first day in the public schools ... That's just not acceptable," she added.

Fran Davies, associate superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese, said the Archdiocese had received complaints from schools and families, and was working with DOE. She advised parents to call 311 to report that their child is is without special ed services.

Mrs. Polizzi said when she called 311 Monday, and filed a complaint, she was told that services would resume later in the week.

A DOE spokesman said the department has been working to restore services. "We're working closely with private schools and related service agencies to get all special education services in place for students attending these schools," said DOE spokesman Harry Hartfield.

Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina -- who has heard complaints from all sides during her visits to Staten Island -- has made special ed reform one of her priorities since she was appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in January.

The DOE's special education office, headed by CEO Johanna Chase, is in charge of day-to-day management of the system, which serves more than 200,000 students in public, private and parochial schools. This involves: supervising teams at 13 sites in all five boroughs, with more than 800 field staff; overseeing the administration of federal and state grants, and ensuring compliance; implementing services to children, and working with parents, advocates, community members and union officials.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Shorts and halter tops may have disappeared with cooler temperatures, but some Tottenville High School students continue to defy the school's dress code, which has SILive readers buzzing. The dress code prohibits "tank tops, low-cut blouses, tubes/halter and midriff tops," as well as "short-shorts " and "mini-skirts," and mandates that "all shorts/skirts must be at...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Shorts and halter tops may have disappeared with cooler temperatures, but some Tottenville High School students continue to defy the school's dress code, which has SILive readers buzzing.

The dress code prohibits "tank tops, low-cut blouses, tubes/halter and midriff tops," as well as "short-shorts " and "mini-skirts," and mandates that "all shorts/skirts must be at relaxed hand-level" and also prohibits "visible undergarments."

According to students and angry parents, the school staff and administrators have been pulling students from the hallways who they deem are dressed inappropriately. Some of the girls were handed grey Tottenville athletic T-shirts or gym shorts to put on, before they could return to classes.

Readers weighed in on the concept of dress codes in general; whether or not the  dress code discriminates against female students; the discipline code at Tottenville and whether it's too strict; whether the new principal is right or wrong in opting to enforce the rules, and what role parents should have in the matter.

Here's a sampling of what you told us:

Sensible1 had this message to parents: "They are the rules, they're what we live by,...rules and laws, Stop allowing your children to 'defy' them, that's not what free speech is about!"

Tottenville graduate Ashleigh_Arroyo_646 weighed in with this observation: "The dress code is nothing new from when i graduated from there  ... very few people came to school dressed inappropriately and no body complained ... but we're living in a generation where the kids think that it's acceptable to walk in to the school building in next to nothing like they're going to the beach or the boardwalk that is the main reason why the dress code is being enforced ... dress appropriately and get over it."

But reader Ed Ar thought Acting Principal Joseph Scaramuto went too far: "This principal has passed the line and is responsible for the nonsense attacks against our children noted on this site. He has sexualized our children and his efforts have lowered their self esteem. His enforcement efforts far exceed anything observed at other NYC public schools.

GabrielK shifted the responsibilty to parents: "Children rebel, it is in their nature. It is the responsibility of the parents to allow it or stop it ... If the school wants to dictate fashion style it should make a uniform mandatory."

"There is a reasonable way to protest and challenge these rules ... consistently breaking them with parent approval is not the best idea, and certainly not the best teachable moment for the children," observed Why The Anger.

"I think this Principals going to end up getting sued. A 6 page contract ? He can't do that in a Public School," predicted genx123.  "Kids are Kids..... NOT Adults. However it will be Adults who from what it seems, who will correct this Principals actions ... and i feel its certainly warranted."

Another Tottenville alum, collegekid73, stood up for the principal: "Trust me, as a past student of this high school, this school needs the dress code and these new rules ... This new principal is doing right here, folks."

And foulball29 had this succinct message for students: "Oh stop it!!!!  Dress for school and grow up." 

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders who want to learn more about high school are encouraged to attend a citywide high school fair Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brooklyn Technical High School, in that borough's Fort Greene section. At the fair,which is sponsored by the city's Department of Education, representatives from nearly...

New Dorp High School will be one of the schools represented at the citywide high school fair this weekend (Staten Island Advance/Hilton Flores) Diane C. Lore | lore@siadvance.com 

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders who want to learn more about high school are encouraged to attend a citywide high school fair Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brooklyn Technical High School, in that borough's Fort Greene section.

At the fair,which is sponsored by the city's Department of Education, representatives from nearly every high school in the city will answer questions about their schools and talk about the admissions process. Families can pick up a directory of high schools and a schedule of workshops explaining how to apply.

Students will receive their high school applications in mid-October and must return them to their guidance counselors by early December.

More information on the city's public high schools and admission process is available on the DOE website, or by calling 718-935-2399.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A grassroots campaign by students at several Staten Island schools will help raise funds toward the restoration of the landmark Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House in Dongan Hills. The house, at 1476 Richmond Rd., is Staten Island's oldest residential structure. The original section of the Dutch Colonial farmhouse, constructed of fieldstone, dates to the 1600s, when it served...

PS 48 students, from left, Miriam Zayed, Keyara Cruz, Anastasia Zalesski, Heebah Khan, Charlize Brennan, Nicolette Degeronimo, Benecia Odunbaku, Ava de Velasco,and Nicole kozlovsky will be making special pens to be sold to classmates, with the proceeds going to the restoration of the historic Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House in Dongan Hills. (Staten Island Advance) Diane C. Lore | lore@siadvance.com 

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A grassroots campaign by students at several Staten Island schools will help raise funds toward the restoration of the landmark Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House in Dongan Hills.

The house, at 1476 Richmond Rd., is Staten Island's oldest residential structure. The original section of the Dutch Colonial farmhouse, constructed of fieldstone, dates to the 1600s, when it served as home to Pierre Billiou, leader of the first permanent settlement in the borough.

Over the years, due to time and the elements, the historic house fell into a state of disrepair. Its shingle roof sagged badly, its plaster walls cracked, and the interior floor boards warped from water damage.

The structure received a new roof in April, as part of the first phase of restoration, and now funds are being sought to complete the second phase of the project. Although a fundraising gala will take place Sept. 28 at the Perine House, the campaign to get schoolchildren involved is the brainchild of community activist Steven LoBaido. LoBaido, a Dongan Hills resident, is one of the honorees at next weekend's gala, hosted by Historic Richmond Town.

"We want to get the house opened again to the public," said LoBaido. "This house is a living history resource for Staten Island students. It inspired me when we visited the house on a class trip in third grade at PS 48," he said.

LoBaido reached out to several schools, and so far seven -- PS 48, Concord; PS 53, Bay Terrace; PS 35 and Petrides School, Sunnyside; PS 23, Richmond; Marsh Avenue Expeditionary School, New Springville, and Staten Island Technical High School, New Dorp -- have offered to raise funds for the project during the school year.

"It's a great idea, any time we can encourage young people to get involved in the community and learn about our history," said Ed Wiseman, executive director of the Staten Island Historical Society, which oversees the Perine House.

At LoBiado's alma mater, PS 48, Principal Jacqueline Mammolito said students are planning to sell colorful pens in the cafeteria during lunch, to raise money for the restoration project. She said students learn about the history of the house as part of their social studies curriculum. Upper-grade students are also using the restoration project as part of their architecture unit in math.

"Our students want to help reopen the Perine House for all of Staten Island," Ms. Mammolito said.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Relief is on the way --  although it will take a few years -- for overcrowded Curtis High School. Planning is underway for an addition to Curtis that will include a new gymnasium and classroom space for more than 300 students, according to the Department of Education (DOE). According to the DOE figures, Curtis, the borough's...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Relief is on the way --  although it will take a few years -- for overcrowded Curtis High School.

Planning is underway for an addition to Curtis that will include a new gymnasium and classroom space for more than 300 students, according to the Department of Education (DOE).

According to the DOE figures, Curtis, the borough's oldest high school, built in 1904, is also the most overcrowded. The school -- which was named a New York City Landmark in 1982 -- has an enrollment of more than 2,300 students. The building was constructed to handle about 1,600 students.

The DOE's Capital Plan has identified a need for approximately 300 more high school seats on the North Shore in general, and the project will also meet that need.

DOE spokeswoman Marge Feinberg said the project is still in the design stage, with construction to start in the fall of 2015, with a September, 2017 occupancy. That's a light at the end of the tunnel for Principal Aurelia Curtis, who has been pushing for the project for years.

The new wing will be built adjacent to the current gymnasium wing facing St. Marks Place. It will include 360 classroom seats, including 11 regular classrooms, a competition gym and other specialty rooms such as a dance room and music room, according to DOE. Currently there are portable classrooms on the site, which was previously used as the school's tennis courts.

"They expect the new building to be ready in 2017, but then they also have to make some adjustments in the old building to connect the two," Mrs. Curtis said. "So then I think another year to 18 months,"  adding that the new gym and classrooms will not likely be ready for use before 2018.

The current Curtis gymnasium, named for former coach Harry O'Brien, is the smallest among the borough's public high schools, and is home to the Curtis basketball Warriors.

Mrs. Curtis said proposed uses for the current gymnasium space include a wrestling arena, weightlifting area and dance studio. The upstairs gym, where the Curtis girls' team practices and plays, is expected to remain as it is.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  -- The de Blasio administration is moving ahead with its plans to revamp the entrance exam for the city's elite public high schools -- including Staten Island Technical High School, New Dorp -- with the intent of diversifying enrollment. According to a report in the New York Post, the mayor's intent is to remove the perceived advantage...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  -- The de Blasio administration is moving ahead with its plans to revamp the entrance exam for the city's elite public high schools -- including Staten Island Technical High School, New Dorp -- with the intent of diversifying enrollment.

According to a report in the New York Post, the mayor's intent is to remove the perceived advantage by students who can afford private test prep classes.

Other changes being proposed, according to the Post,  would make it easier for immigrants not fluent in English to pass and would add an essay to the exam.

The administration's plan became public Wednesday when it sought bids for a new version of the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), a nationwide test currently used for entry into top-rated high schools across the country, including Staten Island Tech, Stuyvesant High School in lower Manhattan, and Brooklyn Technical High School -- where the mayor's son, Dante, is a student --  as well as the Bronx High School of Math and Science.

According to the Post report, the new exam is scheduled to be given in fall 2016, and would test students on material related to the state' new Common Core curriculum.

The city also wants to translate the exam into 12 languages and to add an essay, where the grading could be more subjective than in multiple-choice answers.

Department of Education spokeswoman Devora Kaye said the request for a new exam was "standard protocol" since the contract for the previous one was expiring.

Of 27,817 students who took the test last October, 46 percent were black or Hispanic. But only 5 percent of the 5,096 students accepted were black and just 7 percent were Latino.

Staten Island Tech, one of the nation's best schools, become the focus of controversy last year when less than 20 Hispanic students, and no black students made the cutoff for admission.

The lack of diversity at Tech isn't unique.

Seventy percent of the city's public school students are black or Hispanic. But black students obtained only 5 percent of the seats offered for this year at specialized high schools; and Hispanic students obtained just 7 percent.

At Manhattan's Stuyvesant High School, which is also a top goal of Staten Island eighth graders, the new freshman class of 952 students includes only seven blacks.

Mayor de Blasio has been pushing for test reform since the spring.

"I don't believe in a single test determining admissions to a specialized high school," de Blasio  said. "The fact is, going forward, we're looking to reform that process -- because the admissions don't represent New York City," the mayor added.

Admission to the city's specialized high schools is governed by a state law that bases admission entirely on how a student scores on the exam. It was unclear whether the state would have to approve the changes to the exam proposed by the de Blasio administration.

The mayor said he and City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina have been discussing the issue to see what they can do in the city, and that he'd press Albany for changes as well.

STATEN ISLAND,N.Y. -- Parents, students, staff and community leaders came together Thursday to celebrate Staten Island's first single-sex public school, the Eagle Academy for Young Men. The school, which opened Sept. 4, occupies the third floor of Dreyfus Intermediate School, Stapleton; it is one of several co-located schools approved by the Department of Education last year. The school's 62...

STATEN ISLAND,N.Y. -- Parents, students, staff and community leaders came together Thursday to celebrate Staten Island's first single-sex public school, the Eagle Academy for Young Men.

The school, which opened Sept. 4, occupies the third floor of Dreyfus Intermediate School, Stapleton; it is one of several co-located schools approved by the Department of Education last year. The school's 62 sixth-graders share science and library facilities, as well as the cafeteria and gymnasium with Dreyfus students. Eventually the school will expand to seventh and eighth grade. Admission is by

On hand for the dedication were Principal Jermaine Cameron, as well as Borough President James Oddo, who announced he will allocate $40,000 to purchase laptops for the school.

The mission of the Eagle Academy is to offer male teens in low-income areas an opportunity to receive a college preparatory education. The Academy, which has a contract with the Department of Education, and provides schools in Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx, is aimed at providing a small specialized public school education within a larger setting. The school is known for its small class size, rigorous academic program, and encouraging students to perform community service and get involved in leadership positions in their community. Admission is by lottery.

In 10 years since the first Eagle Academy opened, its graduates have doubled the national average of graduation rates for young men of color, from 52 percent to 84 percent, according to founder David Banks.

"I just want to emphasize the importance of the school opening on Staten Island, which has been largely overlooked by the education reform movement," said Juanita Scarlett, a spokeswoman for the school.

Principal Cameron explained to guests that the school is divided into four "houses" named after "positive role models" Nelson Mandela, Ben Carson, Caesar Chavez and Jesse Owens. Each "house" has a teacher or adult "mentor" who sticks with students throughout the year.

Students, dressed in light-blue cotton shirts with the Eagle Academy logo, gray slacks and black polished shoes, were also on hand to show guests around.

City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina, who visited the school earlier in the month, said the school was "building a culture of success" with its approach.

One man's high hopes for Atlantic City include "a tower of geniuses."

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- An investor with deep pockets has big dreams for Atlantic City's shuttered Revel Casino Hotel.

Florida developer Glenn Straub has placed a $90 million bid on the closed entertainment site, adding he has plenty of plans for the resort, including a university he called "a tower of geniuses," writes the Press of Atlantic City.

Straub said he'd build a second tower at Revel that would stand 30-35 stories. In it would be a colony of "some of the smartest people in the world," living and working on pressing global problems, like nuclear waste disposal, the publication wrote Friday.

"The university's going to go in," Straub said by phone Thursday to the New Jersey-based media outlet. "It's going to be for geniuses."

The investor noted he wants a casino at the site, but the focus to getting people to the area won't solely be on gambling.

He also mentioned a high-speed ferry and rail systems and an "underground passageway" for tourists to comfortably traverse Atlantic City during winter, said the Press of Atlantic City.

At a bankruptcy hearing Monday, Revel attorneys said Straub's company, Polo North Country Club Inc., is the sole bona fide bidder on Revel. An auction is slated for Sept. 24 if another qualified bidder emerges, the report read.

Revel is one of four Atlantic City casinos to close this year. The $2.4 billion location opened two years ago but never earned a profit. It closed on Sept. 10.

What's your opinion of Straub's plans? Do you think they can become reality?

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- SILive readers have a message for Mayor Bill de Blasio: Leave well enough alone and don't mess with the test. News that the de Blasio administration is considering changing the admission process to the city's specialized high schools,  including Staten Island Technical High School, New Dorp, and Stuyvesant High School in downtown Manhattan, in an...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- SILive readers have a message for Mayor Bill de Blasio: Leave well enough alone and don't mess with the test.

News that the de Blasio administration is considering changing the admission process to the city's specialized high schools,  including Staten Island Technical High School, New Dorp, and Stuyvesant High School in downtown Manhattan, in an effort to promote diversity among the student body, sparked a lively debate about diversity, educational choices, and the value of offering elite high schools, among SILive readers.

The administration's plan became public earlier in the week when it sought bids for a new version of the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), a nationwide test currently used for entry into top-rated high schools across the country.

A new exam is scheduled to be given in fall 2016, and would test students on material related to the state' new Common Core curriculum.

The city also wants to translate the exam into 12 languages and to add an essay, where the grading could be more subjective than in multiple-choice answers.

Seventy percent of the city's public school students are black or Hispanic. But black students obtained only 5 percent of the seats offered for this year at specialized high schools; and Hispanic students obtained just 7 percent.

Staten Island Tech, one of the nation's best schools, become the focus of controversy last year when less than 20 Hispanic students, and no black students made the cutoff for admission.

SILive reader Amazonbarbie doesn't think changing the admission test will hurt the admission process. "Nowhere does it say they are making the test easier.  I don't think a little writing skills hurt anyone.  Just as long as it doesn't become corruptible."

SuzieCreamCheeze thinks diversity shouldn't play a role in the admission process. "Being an elite school is not about being "diverse" it is about having the cream of the crop study and graduate from there," she wrote.

"The specialized high schools are geared so the top 3-5% have a place that they can learn and excel," noted thinx2much. "Instead of ruining the specialized high schools that are academic pillars, lets fix the middle and elementary schools that do not equip their students with an appropriate curriculum to succeed on these exams."

greatvalerio  doesn't think that changes to the admissions process will necessarily hurt  the schools.

"This is a change. Can anyone explain to my why it's a change for the worse? What's the value of a school, the admission to which is based solely on a test?  Why is that a good thing? And why is changing that sole criterion for admission a bad thing?

"This change isn't going to harm anyone currently at any of the affected schools," great continued,  and it isn't going to harm anyone who's going to be going to any of the affected schools."

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Every Staten Island public high school has a dress code --  based on Department of Education regulations -- but the emphasis each school places on enforcement of the code, and how it disciplines students in violation is a reflection of the school's priorities, and the management style of the principal and administration. The uproar at...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Every Staten Island public high school has a dress code --  based on Department of Education regulations -- but the emphasis each school places on enforcement of the code, and how it disciplines students in violation is a reflection of the school's priorities, and the management style of the principal and administration.

The uproar at Tottenville High School, that came with the crackdown of the dress code the first week of school is an example.

The school rounded up more than 200 students -- most of them girls-- at the door and in the hallways -- for being scantily dressed -- and detained them from class until they could cover up -- which in some cases involved summoning parents.

Acting Tottenville Principal Joseph Scaramuto unleashed a range of reaction for his handling, ranging from those calling it "arbitrary" and "sexist" to those who thought it taught the right lesson for the South Shore's student body.

There are items in the dress code that are the same at every school, such as a ban on wearing hoods, hats, bandanas, do-rags and sunglasses in the building; shirts with offensive or violent messages, and belts and accessories with chains or spikes, as well as all electronic devices, including cellphones and headphones. These items were banned by the Department of Education under the Bloomberg administration, in an attempt to discourage gang activity in the high schools.

The principal has the discretion of determining what creates a "distraction, is dangerous or interferes with the learning and teaching process."

Students were more frank.

CURTIS HIGH SCHOOL

Curtis High School junior, Jonathan Navarro says, at Curtis 'the deans watch us as we walk through the hallways.' (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

"They really enforce it. The deans watch us when we walk in and in the hallways. If they see you with a hat or hood on, a phone or earphones, they tell you to put it away, or they'll confiscate it," said Curtis junior Jonathan Navarro.

"Occasionally, a girl gets called into the dean's office if she's wearing something too revealing, and they give her a T-shirt to put on. They also tell guys to pull up their pants," he said. "But no detentions."

Junior Celeste Leno said she's glad that Curtis administrators are on top of the siituation, without "embarrassing" students. "They get the message out that we have to respect ourselves," she said.

McKEE HIGH SCHOOL

McKee High School athletes DeAndre Greene and Mark Perez say McKee is strict about boys wearing hats and hoods in the building. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

McKee freshman Esmerelda Ramon said all the rules are spelled out in the school handbook each student receives. "We can wear shorts, but not short-shorts," she explained.

Juniors DeAndre Greene and Mark Perez said McKee is strict about boys wearing hats and hoods in the building. "They call us out for that, but some of them still do it. They're a bit hard-headed, I guess," Perez said. He said deans will confiscate hats and tell students to remove hooded sweatshirts and change shirts if they are defiant.

CONCORD HIGH SCHOOL

Principal Ronald J. Gorsky of Concord High School said he instituted 'Spirit Fridays.' (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

"Any student who comes in improperly dressed, we provide them with a school T-shirt, and we talk to them about how important it is that they be prepared to learn," Gorsky said. "Once they realize what's expected of them, they comply."

"We shouldn't have to say 'cover up' to another girl. She should respect herself enough to know better," said Concord junior Cheyenne Mieles. "Maybe we need a class to teach  self-respect, and how to dress right,"  she suggested.

Joshua Monroy, a sophomore at Port Richmond High School, is not bothered by the dress code. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) 

PORT RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL

Port Richmond High School students said they didn't think the dress code was an issue in the school.
"We should be allowed to dress the way we want, within reason," opined Port Richmond sophomore Joshua Monroy.

Senior Venus Collins said she's seen a few of her classmates stopped for being scantily clad. "They give you a shirt or gym suit, to cover up," she said.

"I think that's the right thing to do. At home you can dress the way you want, but you should be dressed properly for school," she said.

SUSAN WAGNER HIGH SCHOOL

Sarah Cstellano is a freshman at Wagner High School. She agrees with her mother Evelyn Ocasio that the school is not a beach, and students should cover up. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

Susan Wagner High School students said Principal Gary Giordano and his staff "are pretty strict" about student dress.

"They're just doing their job," said junior Christian Hernandez.

Her daughter, freshman Sarah Castellano, agreed.  "I've seen girls walking around in halter tops and short-shorts. They need to learn that school is not the beach."

NEW DORP HIGH SCHOOL

New Dorp High School sophomore Christian Chesner said school officials try not to embarrass students who violate the dress code. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

At both New Dorp High School and Staten Island Technical High School, New Dorp, students said the administration is a bit more laid-back about the dress code, but students get the message nonetheless.

"They treat us like young adults; they don't embarrass us," said senior Rafael Zelayandia. "Most people are smart enough to know how to dress for school."

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Johannah Chase is out as the Department of Education's chief executive officer of special education, the Advance has learned. Her ouster, after only six months in the position, comes  after the Advance reported that Ms. Chase had no license in supervision and administration; no special education experience, and an expired teaching license, and a number...

Johannah Chase is out as the Department of Education's CEO for Special Education

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Johannah Chase is out as the Department of Education's chief executive officer of special education, the Advance has learned.

Her ouster, after only six months in the position, comes  after the Advance reported that Ms. Chase had no license in supervision and administration; no special education experience, and an expired teaching license, and a number of articles reporting on special ed problems under her watch.

Her replacement, announced Monday in an in-house memo from Deputy Chancellor Corinne Rello-Anselmi -- a copy of which was obtained by the Advance -- is Christina Foti, currently principal of PS 231 in Brooklyn.

The memo did not indicate whether Ms. Chase was leaving the DOE system, or why she was leaving her special ed post.

Christina Foti is the new chief executive officer of the Department of Education's Office of Special Education.

Acknowledging she had "mixed emotions" about Chase's departure, and while wishing her well, the deputy chancellor, in her memo,  also noted, "it is essential that the new leader of the Special Education Office have a demonstrated commitment to students with special needs and solid leadership skills."

SPECIAL ED EXPERIENCE

Ms. Foti has a bachelor's degree from Vassar; a master's degree in special education from the City University of New York and a postgraduate degree in education leadership from Hunter College. She has worked as a special education teacher, assistant principal and as a principal in District 75, which is comprised of special education schools throughout the five boroughs.

"In these roles she has developed skills in instruction, writing quality IEPs [individualized education plans], and professional support, as well as a deep understanding of the Shared Path framework," noted Ms. Rello-Anselmi, referring to the DOE's ambitious plan to revamp the special ed system.

The special education office is in charge of day-to-day management of the system, which serves more than 200,000 students. It involves supervising teams at 13 sites in all five boroughs, with more than 800 field staff; overseeing the administration of federal and state grants, and ensuring compliance, implementing services to children and working with parents, advocates, community members and union officials.

A central policy shift in the "Shared Plan for Success" reform is "home-zoning" of special education students. 

In the past, a student with a particular special need would often be placed at a school with the resources best suited to meet that need.

Under the reform, the student remains at his or her zoned school and the school is now responsible for providing the service.

PROBLEMS PERSIST

While the intended benefit is to keep students close to home, problems frequently surface when the school does not have the required programs or staffing in place. The reform is aimed at "home-zoning" all students, except the most extreme cases, which are shifted to an appropriate District 75 special education school.

But special education staff, parents and advocates complain that resources are scarce; parents say their children are not being served, and some say their child's individualized education plan (IEP) isn't being followed.

Those responsible for delivering services to students in need complain they are mired in bureaucratic paperwork, hampering their efforts.

Describing her philosophy of learning on her LinkedIn profile page, Ms. Foti wrote: 'It is my belief that all children, irrespective of disability, can rise to meet expectations when caring professionals provide high quality programs that support the academic, physical and social development of students."

ADVOCATE LAUDS DECISION

Special education advocates welcomed news of her appointment.

"If she can live up to her philosophy she'll be great for the kids, the parents, teacher and professionals. It's all about understanding the children and their needs. It sounds really simple, but to find someone who really understands a child is not easy," said special education advocate Laura Timoney, a member of the Community Education Council and parent of a special-needs child.

The ouster of Ms. Chase and appointment of Ms. Foti reportedly was endorsed by City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina, who has heard complaints from all sides during her visits to Staten Island and has made special ed reform one of her priorities since she was appointed by Mayor Bill deBlasio in January.

A TROUBLED TENURE

Ms. Chase was appointed special ed CEO in March. Since then, the Advance reported, several key administrators in her office were also found to have little to no teaching or supervisory experience in special ed, or lacked state certification in education administration and supervision.

Under her watch, the DOE mishandled $356 million in federal funds meant to cover special education services such as speech, occupational and physical therapy, evaluation and counseling and pupil transportation.

Most recently, a backlog pf paperwork in her office was behind a delay in special ed services for non-public schools.

Her office also received a storm of criticism from parents and special education advocates for slashing $250,000 from a small but successful program known as the Transitional Aspergers Program (TAP), which helps students diagnosed with Asperger's make the transition from intermediate school to high school. Money for the program has reportedly been restored after the Advance reported on the cut.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In response to the death of Miles Kirkland-Thomas, the high school football player who collapsed and died on the field during a routine practice, the Staten Island Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations wants an athletic trainer or sports physician at every public high school athletic practice. Kirkland-Thomas, who played as an offensive and defensive lineman for the Curtis High...

Dr. Thomas Bottiglieri speaks to members of the Staten Island Federation of PTAs about how to cut down on athletic injuries among school athletes. (Staten Island Advance/Diane Lore)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In response to the death of Miles Kirkland-Thomas, the high school football player who collapsed and died on the field during a routine practice, the Staten Island Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations wants an athletic trainer or sports physician at every public high school athletic practice.

Kirkland-Thomas, who played as an offensive and defensive lineman for the Curtis High School Warriors, died Sept. 1 during a varsity football practice. He was 16 years old.

"It's a serious situation," said Federation co-president Aaron Bogard. "Most sudden deaths and injuries occur during practice, when there is often no medical professional on the field." 

"There should be a certified athletic trainer or sports physician, or emergency medical technician (EMT) -- or some medical professional --  on standby at every practice. We don't want to see another kid lose a life or sustain a serious injury," he added.

Bogard said Public School Athletic League (PSAL) rules provide for medical professionals, usually EMTs, and an ambulance, on standby for games, but not for practices, which is when many student athletes sustain athletic injuries to knees and elbows, or encounter other problems.

A father of four, Bogard made his remarks during the Federation's first meeting of the school year, in the conference room of the Petrides Education Complex, Sunnyside.

He introduced Dr. Thomas Bottiglieri, who specializes in sports medicine and has offices in Charleson and Elmwood Park, N.J.

Recognizing the difficulties, including the cost factor, in having a medical professional at every varsity sports practice, Dr. Bottigierli proposed adding a  class in athletic training at every high school. Varsity athletes could enroll in the class to learn the basics about sports injuries and how to spot difficulties among teammates and alert adults -- with the overall goal of preventing injuries among players.

Dr. Bottiglieri, who also teaches sports medicine at Seton Hall University, said he is working with several school districts in New Jersey in developing a curriculum for high school athletes, and believes it could work for Staten Island schools.

"Eventually they could become certified student athletic trainers, and function as another pair of eyes and ears on the field with coaches," he said.

"It needs a proactive approach," he said. "If we sit back and do nothing, we're going to continue to see these kinds of sports injuries, emergencies and, tragically, even deaths, occur on the practice field."

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Special education students at Staten Island's PS 37 are getting ready to showcase a very special art project they've been working on since the spring. Jean Kennedy Smith, former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, is expected to be the guest of honor at a reception Tuesday morning at PS 37 to unveil artwork students completed through...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Special education students at Staten Island's PS 37 are getting ready to showcase a very special art project they've been working on since the spring.

Jean Kennedy Smith, former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, is expected to be the guest of honor at a reception Tuesday morning at PS 37 to unveil artwork students completed through a project called "Drawing on the Walls." She is the founder of Very Special Arts, an international organization that promotes art by and for persons with disabilities.

"Drawing on the Walls" was launched in April by Brooklyn-based non-profit Marquis Studios, in collaboration with PS 37 and Very Special Arts-New York.

Since April, Marquis Studio teaching artist Susan Gonzalez has been working with District 75 students at PS 37 -- all of the students are on the autism spectrum, many with severe disabilities -- creating  artwork that has replaced the damaged pieces that once surrounded the outside of the school building on Fairfield Street in Great Kills.

According to Principal Florence Gorsky, the project gives students the opportunity to beautify their school while expressing themselves through visual art.

The outside of PS 37's school building had been decorated with artwork that had been put up a decade ago, and over the years had faded or been damaged by the elements. The school reached out to Marquis Studios, since it had worked with the non-profit before. Funding for the project was secured through grants and donations.

The idea was to replace the old, faded and damaged art with a new, brightly-colored collage that would be installed.

Teaching artist Ms. Gonzalez worked with classroom teachers and paraprofessionals to create a curriculum, focusing on bright colors, and tapping into students' imaginations.

"They learned we can all look at art and imagine what we see," she said.

"The fundamental message of this project lies in showing what the students at PS 37 can do and the infinite possibilities that go beyond what we think we see."

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Sixteen Staten Island high school seniors, representing four of the borough's secondary schools, got a leg up on applying to college by being named as semifinalists in the prestigious National Merit Scholarship competition. Students named as semifinalists in the 2015 competition represent some of the nation's "best and brightest" high school seniors, according to the...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Sixteen Staten Island high school seniors, representing four of the borough's secondary schools, got a leg up on applying to college by being named as semifinalists in the prestigious National Merit Scholarship competition.

Students named as semifinalists in the 2015 competition represent some of the nation's "best and brightest" high school seniors, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corp. (NMSC), based in Evanston, IL, which has sponsored the competition since 1954.

According to the NMSC, which announced the semifinalists this week, "The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies."

Students named as semifinalists often tout their status on college admission applications.

Thirteen of the senior semifinalists are from Staten Island Technical High School, New Dorp, which has consistently ranked as one of the top public schools in the country.

Staten Island Academy, Dongan Hills, as well as Notre Dame Academy, Grymes Hill, and St. Joseph Hill Academy, Arrochar, also fielded semifinalists.

Tech semifinalists are: Nasir Asif, Matthew Bartolomeo, Harvey Cheung, Therese Rain-Cinco,  Alexander Evelson, Ariel Kieydman, Lillian Llang, Chelsey Lin, Kevin Lin, Freeman Lou, Erich Makarov and Simon Shalmlyev. Additionally, Darrin Goldberg was named a semifinalist in the NMSC's National Achievement Scholarship program for black high school seniors.

Also named National Merit semifinalists were Emma Master of Staten Island Academy; Kara Roche of Notre Dame, and Catherine Scibelli of St. Joseph Hill.

The semifinalists were selected for their high scores on the Preliminary Scholastic Appitude Test (PSAT), which they took in the spring, as juniors. About 1.4 million students took the test; 16,000 were named as semifinalists.

The semifinalists will advance to the next level, where they will compete for one of more than 7,500 National Merit Scholarships, worth a combined $33 million. The scholarship winners will be announced in the spring of 2015.

Mayor Bill de Blasio says he's looking into lifting the Bloomberg administration's ban on student cell phones in the city's public schools.(Staten Island Advance) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Calling it an issue of student safety, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he's making plans to overturn the controversial ban on student cell phones in the city's public schools. "I think...

Mayor Bill de Blasio says he's looking into lifting the Bloomberg administration's ban on student cell phones in the city's public schools.(Staten Island Advance)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Calling it an issue of student safety, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he's making plans to overturn the controversial ban on student cell phones in the city's public schools.

"I think it is, for parents, very, very important to know how to reach their kids, and we have to come up with a universal way to make sure that that opportunity is there for our young people," de Blasio told reporters at City Hall.

The mayor acknowledged that even his own son, Dante, a student at Brooklyn Technical High School, has used his cell phone in school to call home, in violation of the ban.

The ban on cell phones is included in the Chancellor's Regulations, which also govern school dress code, banning the wearing of hoods, hats, bandanas, do-rags and sunglasses in the building; shirts with offensive or violent messages, and belts and accessories with chains or spikes, as well as headphones and all other electronic devices. These items were banned by the Department of Education under the Bloomberg administration, in an attempt to discourage gang activity and violence in the high schools.

Cell phones were also deemed to be a "distraction" to learning.

The cell phone ban became an issue with parents during the latter part of the Bloomberg administration when school safety officers started using portable metal detectors for random scanning of students. The metal detectors were supposed to detect weapons, but hundreds of cell phones were also detected and confiscated.

Staten Island parents protested, arguing the ban put students at a safety disadvantage, leaving them unable to contact a parent in case of an emergency.

The Community Education Committee's (CEC) resolution to amend the Chancellor's Regulation, to allow students to carry phones to school, but keep them off and out-of-sight during the school day, was rebuffed by then-Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott.

CEC President Michael Reilly said members would revisit the issue with a resolution seeking to lift the ban. "Parents believed then, and still believe, that students need to carry cell phones for their own safety," Reilly said.

Do you believe it's time to lift the ban on cell phones in schools? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Mayor Bill de Blasio's plans to end the student cell phone ban in the city's public schools has sparked a lively debate among SILive readers. Calling it an issue of student safety, the mayor acknowledged that even his own son, Dante, a student at Brooklyn Technical High School, has used his cell phone in school...

SILive readers have their say over Mayor Bill de Blasio's plans to lift the Bloomberg-era ban on students carrying cell phones in school. (Staten Island Advance).Diane C. Lore | lore@siadvance.com 

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Mayor Bill de Blasio's plans to end the student cell phone ban in the city's public schools has sparked a lively debate among SILive readers.

Calling it an issue of student safety, the mayor acknowledged that even his own son, Dante, a student at Brooklyn Technical High School, has used his cell phone in school to call home, in violation of the ban.

"I think it is, for parents, very, very important to know how to reach their kids, and we have to come up with a universal way to make sure that that opportunity is there for our young people," de Blasio  said.

The ban on cell phones is also included in the Chancellor's Regulations, which also govern school dress code, banning the wearing of hoods, hats, bandanas, do-rags and sunglasses in the building; shirts with offensive or violent messages, and belts and accessories with chains or spikes, as well as headphones and all other electronic devices. These items were banned by the Department of Education under the Bloomberg administration, in an attempt to discourage gang activity and violence in the high schools.

Cell phones were also deemed to be a "distraction" to learning.

The cell phone ban became an issue with parents during the latter part of the Bloomberg administration when school safety officers started using portable metal detectors for random scanning of students. The metal detectors were supposed to detect weapons, but hundreds of cell phones were also detected and confiscated. At the time, Staten Island parents protested arguing the ban put students at a safety disadvantage, leaving them unable to contact a parent in case of an emergency.

Some SILive readers cheered Mayor de Blasio's efforts to revisit and lift the ban, while others questioned the need for students to carry cell phones to school at all.

"There is no need for a child to have a smartphone in school. If  you want to get in touch with your child, in case of an emergency, go spend $20 and buy them a Tracfone.  no Twitter, no Instagram, no FB. No distractions," wrote nycix.

"This would be a disaster!," predicted teacher byesi. Can't get in touch with your kids? CALL THE SCHOOL!!! As a teacher, there may be upsides to having a phone and they have potential for instructional use I'll admit but the drawbacks far outweigh the advantages."

But Piccadillycircus had a different take: "Any parent, or guardian of a student in any school system today that does not send their child to school with a cell phone is irresponsible - period.

"Folks who do not recognize the need for a child to be able to communicate with family/guardians from the moment they exit the school building upon dismissal,  and at any given moment during the day due to unforeseen emergency circumstances, are simply not living in the real world. . .That said, phones need to be turned off upon entering school, until existing at end of day.  The teacher will confiscate any phones that are visible/in use in class - and return the phone to the student at the end of class." Piccadilly wrote.

"A big problem is that most kids can't think unless their phone is within reach," noted putalshonher.

'My argument," wrote carryon031, "I like that I can allow my child to spread their wings without me being right on top of them yet still be able to get in touch with help or a question if they need to. I also like that I can get a time they'll be home and who they're with (a function that used to be done face to face back in the day)."

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Parents and special education advocates say they've been working with the Department of Education to restore staff and funding to a small, but successful, program that helps students diagnosed with Aspergers transition from intermediate school to high school, but it's not a done deal. The Transitional Aspergers Program (TAP) -- the only one on Staten...

The Trnsitional Aspergers Program, which helps students diagnosed with aspergers transition from middle school to high school, is based out of Barnes Intermediate School, Great Kills. (Staten Island Advance)
 

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Parents and special education advocates say they've been working with the Department of Education to restore staff and funding to a small, but successful, program that helps students diagnosed with Aspergers transition from intermediate school to high school, but it's not a done deal.

The Transitional Aspergers Program (TAP) -- the only one on Staten Island -- serves 36 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders throughout the borough, and is based out of Barnes Intermediate School in Great Kills.

The program, which was started nine years ago, reaches students through the media and performing arts, to help them build socialization skills and confidence to make the move to high school. Eighth-graders have gone on to high school where they have earned a Regents diploma, and been accepted to college.

This year, school officials told parents during an emergency meeting at the school during the first week of classes that DOE had cut $250,000 from the program, resulting in the loss of three teachers and other support staff, and forcing the school to combine two classes at each grade level into a single class per grade.

It has been pointed to as yet another example of problems schools have faced with implementation of the new chancellor's  vision of special ed reform.

FISCAL SLEIGHT OF HAND

Although parents and advocates have gone back and forth with DOE officials, by phone, and during a meeting last week at the school, the $250,000 is still in limbo, hinging upon a fiscal sleight of hand.

"The position that the DOE is taking is not that the $250,000 was 'cut' from TAP, but that the program was 'overfunded' to begin with, and is now being given a budget that DOE considers 'reasonable',"  explained TAP parent Mark Melaccio, whose son, James, is in the second year of the program.

"Whatever the case, the program is not being funded at the level it was last year, and that has lead to the situation we are in now," Melaccio said.

"The level of the law and our kids' IEPs says that 12 TAP kids in a class with general ed students is fine, despite the results of the program showing that six TAP kids per class is the successful number," he said.

"If $250K is indeed the number, split between 36 kids, that breaks down to an additional $7K per student, per school year, to fund this program," he noted.

Parents and advocates maintain that the funding level of previous years gave the resources for the program to be successful and have students who move on from the program require fewer special ed services down the line. Some students have successfully transitioned out of special ed completely by high school, and have gone on to college.

"The whole idea is to spend a little more now, to get them on their feet, and save money later, when they will need  less support," noted special education advocate and Community Education Council member Laura Timoney.

DOE spokesman Harry Hatfield said the department is working with school officials to find other sources of funds within the school budget to restore the program.

"Our top priority is always ensuring that we provide all students with the services they need to thrive in the classroom, and we have consistently funded the TAP program above what is expected for that reason.

"Following the outpouring of support from families for this program, the DOE worked with the school principal to identify where they may have been underutilizing other funding streams in their budget so that they can effectively restore this program," he said.

The school received extra funding from DOE in its budget for the 2014-2015 to add extra classes to accommodate a growth in enrollment. With the additional funds Principal Leonard Santamaria said a portion of the school's budget can now be set aside to restore the program to its smaller-class size structure.

City Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore) said Thursday that he and Borough President James Oddo have been working with DOE and the school to restore the program.

"My office and Borough President Oddo's initially reached out to DOE on September 2nd and have been advocating for the funding to be restored. We were advised yesterday that the DOE, after meeting with principal Len Santamaria, determined that the school was entitled to additional funds for register growth. This means that IS 24 will be able to make adjustments to reopen the two TAP classes," Ignizio posted on his Facebook page.

"Thanks to  Deputy Chancellor (Kathleen) Grimm and DOE officials for making the fix and for Principal Santamaria for making sure the needs of his kids came first," he said.

ILLUSTRATES PROBLEMS WITH SYSTEM

But Mrs. Timoney said the funding problems with the TAP program only illustrate the frustration of both parents and professionals with the city's special education system, and the roll-out of its plans for reform.

Special education staff, parents and advocates complain that resources are scarce. Parents say their children are not being served. Some say their child's individualized education plan (IEP) isn't being followed. Those responsible for delivering services to students in need complain they are mired in bureaucratic paperwork, hampering their efforts.

A central policy shift in the "Shared Plan for Success" reform is "home-zoning" of special education students. 

In the past, a student with a particular special need would often be placed at a school with the resources best suited to meet that need.

Under the reform, the student remains at his or her zoned school and the school is now responsible for providing the service.

While the intended benefit is to keep students close to home, problems frequently surface when the school does not have the needed programs or staffing in place. The reform is aimed at "home zoning" all students, except the most extreme cases, which are shifted to an appropriate District 75 special education school.

Mrs. Timoney said she welcomes the appointment of Christina Foti as the DOE's new CEO of special education. Announcement of her appointment was made this week.

"If she can live up to her philosophy she'll be great for the kids, the parents, teacher and professionals. It's all about understanding the children and their needs. It sounds really simple, but to find someone who really understands a child is not easy," Mrs. Timoney said.

Ms. Foti, who brings to the position experience as special education teacher, assistant principal and as a principal in District 75, succeeds Johannah Chase, who was criticized for having no experience in special ed as well as an expired teaching license.