Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-HammelBus departs Morris Intermediate School in Brighton Heights. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The nine-months-long battle to restore yellow bus service for thousands of borough students has heated up, with the case heading toward another showdown in court. The lawyer representing local elected leaders and parents denounced yesterday the city Department of Education's decision to eliminate...

Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-HammelBus departs Morris Intermediate School in Brighton Heights.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The nine-months-long battle to restore yellow bus service for thousands of borough students has heated up, with the case heading toward another showdown in court.

The lawyer representing local elected leaders and parents denounced yesterday the city Department of Education's decision to eliminate school bus service for intermediate school upperclassmen as "arbitrary and capricious." Nearly 3,000 seventh- and eighth-graders across the borough are affected.

"The actions taken by the [DOE] was clearly without any sound basis in reason, since it was taken, not without regard to the facts, but without any knowledge of the facts," wrote Sunnyside attorney Ronald Castorina Jr. in a brief submitted yesterday to a Brooklyn appellate court.

The city is appealing a ruling by Staten Island state Supreme Court Justice John A. Fusco in December that ordered school-bus service restored to Staten Island seventh- and eighth-graders.

Fusco determined that DOE's cutback had no foundation in law or fact and was made "without concern for the welfare and safety of the affected students."

The appeal has kept the buses from rolling again. Castorina's legal brief was filed in response to the city's appeal.

Last summer, in a cost-cutting move, DOE decided to eliminate school bus service to Staten Island seventh- and eighth-graders. That cut achieved an annual savings of more than $2.1 million, the city Law Department contends in a brief recently filed with the appellate court.

Staten Island is the only borough with a blanket transportation variance for seventh- and eighth-graders. Nearly all seventh- and eighth-graders in other boroughs must take public transportation to school, according to the city.

"There's no legal basis to take it away," maintained Castorina. "All they have are the hearsay allegations of these old-timers in the Department of Education" regarding why the variance was issued decades ago to permit the bus service.

According to Castorina's brief, one high-ranking DOE official, Kathleen Grimm, testified she had "no idea" as to the variance's genesis, although she and others suggested it might have been politically motivated -- an allegation parents and lawmakers here dispute.

"They looked at this without looking at the geographic problems that come up on Staten Island," Castorina said, noting the borough's lack of sidewalks and susceptibility to flooding in certain areas.

However, in its appellate court filing, the city Law Department contends the service elimination was a "rational cost-cutting measure that was neither arbitrary nor capricious."

DOE analysis showed that Staten Island students, on average, need walk only four-tenths of a mile and travel for about 27 minutes combined, via walking and public transportation, to reach school from home.

Moreover, attendance levels actually have improved during the current school year, the city maintains.

City Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore) isn't convinced.

"The battle continues," said Ignizio, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. "Clearly, the city has lost. Their decision to appeal is actually costing them more money than returning the service to kids who need it. We will fight this every step of the way, as we have since June."

Castorina has requested expedited arguments before the Appellate Division, Second Department, and hopes they'll take place in a few weeks. A date has not been set. The court would rule sometime afterward.

"My position is that we should be successful on the law and the merits of the case," said Castorina.

Should he fail, Castorina intends to ask the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, to hear the case.

After Senate OKs, Assembly leader says he won't touch measure

Associated PressMayor Michael Bloomberg delivers the fiscal year 2012 budget on Feb. 17 at City Hall.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's legislative effort to empower him to control teacher layoffs based on merit rather than seniority is now blocked by the state Assembly and Bloomberg said the Assembly's route will take too long to save promising young teachers from any layoffs.

A Senate bill would have ended the so-called last-in, last-out policy statewide in which promising young teachers would face layoffs before longtime teachers with poor records.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said today that although his chamber wouldn't consider the measure, it is committed to a teacher evaluation process already under way that could end the use of seniority as the main factor in deciding who is laid off.

Silver said the objective evaluation system is already required under the state's receipt of hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to improve education under the federal Race to the Top competition.

"We're not ready to abandon that," Silver said today. "We made a commitment to the federal government: 'Give us money and we will do this.'"

Silver said a final report from the state Board of Regents is expected before the end of the legislative session in late June.

With historic cuts in state aid, however, New York City and school districts statewide may have to resort to thousands of layoffs months before the fall semester.

"We have a budget crisis and a law on the books that will force us to lay off good teachers -- we need a solution now, not several months or years from now," said Bloomberg spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz. "The Flanagan bill makes clear that layoff procedures should be collectively bargained in accordance with a comprehensive evaluation system. But until that happens, it establishes a default system that will ensure we keep the best teachers in front of our students."

The Senate bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. John Flanagan, won the Senate Education Committee's approval today.

The full Senate could consider it as early as this week. Silver said the Regents' "objective standard" is needed "if you want to remove the last-in, first-out" practice.

"I don't see the Flanagan bill as being consistent with this process," Silver said.

The AFL-CIO labor organization, influential in the Assembly, also stated its opposition to the Flanagan bill today.

"Experience only comes with time and as such seniority must and should be the primary determining factor when there are no alternatives of layoffs," stated the memo to legislators from the AFL-CIO.

The bill also "will eliminate the ability of teachers to make decisions and carry out their required duties without fear of dismissal."

There was no immediate comment from Bloomberg, who long has been allied with the Senate's Republicans. Both chambers would have to approve the bill.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The city Department of Education is reaching out to Staten Islanders and those across the city who are interested in improving the public schools. The DOE wants city public school parents to run for a seat on a citywide or Community Education Council. The candidate application and selection process will be conducted online, with computers...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The city Department of Education is reaching out to Staten Islanders and those across the city who are interested in improving the public schools.

The DOE wants city public school parents to run for a seat on a citywide or Community Education Council.

The candidate application and selection process will be conducted online, with computers available in local libraries and some schools to make participation convenient for all parents.

This year, for the first time, Parent Association and Parent Teacher Association executive officers can self-nominate.

There are four stages to the process, beginning this month:

Nomination: Parents can nominate themselves online during March.

Candidates' Forums: The DOE and district parent leaders will host forums for parents to meet and ask questions of candidates.

Parent Vote: In April, parents can cast an advisory vote online, using an identification number that will be mailed to homes in March. While the vote is not binding, it allows parents to have an influence in the selection of their representative.

Final Vote: The president, secretary and treasurer of each school's PA/PTA will cast the official vote. Any president, secretary or treasurer who is a candidate will not be eligible to vote.

Information about the councils and the election process will be sent to every public school, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations and elected officials. Election materials will be available in nine languages.

Results will be announced in late May and early June.

For more information, call 212-374-4118.

After only 3 months at the helm, she will be replaced by Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott

Advance file photoSchools Chancellor Cathie Black is reportedly resigning her post.

The former magazine executive's decision comes after a brief and tumultuous period, where several high-ranking education officials have resigned and a poll showed her enjoying only a 17 percent approval rating in a Marist College-NY1 poll.

Ms. Black was appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to replace Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein -- a decision widely criticized by the education community, elected officials and parents alike because she didn't have prior education experience.

To many people's shock, Bloomberg named Ms. Black, who was an executive with Hearst Magazines, to run the nation's largest public school system. No reason was given, but the decision was reportedly mutual.

Ms. Black encouraged parents who hadn't gotten to know her to give her a chance when she met with the Advance Editorial Board in February.

She said then that she was hearing positive feedback from parents and educators she met.

"Up and down the streets, people kind of now recognize me. That had not occurred to me, like the doormen, whatever, it's like 'Yeah, go chancellor, good for you,'" she said. "I feel like the tougher part is behind me."

Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott has been named by Bloomberg as her replacement, the Times reported.

Cheers greet Cathie Black's departure

Staten Island Advance/Irving SilversteinDeputy Mayor Dennis Walcott gets high marks from those in the know.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A sigh of relief and renewed hope for the city's school system swept across Staten Island yesterday with word that a trusted deputy mayor with educational experience will now head the Department of Education.

Three months after being named schools chancellor amid a hail of criticism because of her lack of education experience, Cathie Black is gone, replaced by Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott.

Borough officials hailed the move to Walcott, even as some said Ms. Black didn't get a fair shake.

"I have the utmost respect for Dennis," said City Councilman James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/ Brooklyn). "He's genuine and accessible. When we've asked him to come to Staten Island, he has."

Walcott, a member of the Bloomberg team since 2002, was on the Island this week to lead the ceremony opening the Gerard Carter Community Center in Stapleton.

Lawmakers said he has long been the go-to guy on education issues at City Hall.

Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore) said Walcott had been "intimately involved in all levels of the Department of Education for many years."

"He is a qualified candidate," said Ignizio, a member of the Education Committee. "A great choice."

Associated PressCathie Black: She's kaput.

Ignizio said that Walcott had worked with him to craft new PCB abatement regulations for city schools, had helped secure money for Tottenville High School's athletic field and had worked to bring more school seats to the Island.

Oddo said Walcott was key in helping achieve the expansion of PS 48 to the site of the old Doctors' Hospital in Concord.

"There are a lot of people rooting for Dennis," he said.

While saying Walcott has the "knowledge and expertise" to run the city school system, Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) slammed Bloomberg for picking Ms. Black in the first place.

"I think it's ironic that the education mayor got an education," she said. "He claims that we must have the best teachers in the classroom but failed to heed his own advice when he hired Cathie Black to head the nation's largest public school system."

She said Walcott's "knowledge of the system and Staten Island should work to our advantage."

Ms. Black was the former chair of Hearst Publications and a friend of Bloomberg's in high-society circles; her appointment was slammed because she had no educational background and no experience of the city public school system.

Critics scoffed when Bloomberg said her managerial experience would make her a success. A recent poll showed that just 17 percent of New Yorkers approved of her job performance.

At a City Hall press conference yesterday, Walcott, in contrast, described himself as "just a city guy" from Queens and a former teacher whose family had attended public schools here for four generations.

Ms. Black did not attend the press conference.

It is thought that with his background, Walcott will have less trouble getting a needed waiver from the state education commissioner to take the job than Ms. Black did.

State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island), a member of the Senate Education Committee, said he would recommend Walcott get the waiver.

"I see no reason why he shouldn't get it," said Lanza, who said Walcott had worked to ensure that Asperger's syndrome kids from PS 4 got into the intermediate school their parents wanted.

"He's a fine choice," said Lanza. "He's very responsive and smart, with lots of experience. He has the right demeanor to head the school system."

Former Borough President Guy Molinari served with Walcott in the 1990s on a mayoral task force that aimed to improve police/community relations.

He also recalled Walcott from Walcott's days as president of the Urban League.

"He's a big asset," Molinari said. "They couldn't have thought of a better person. He knows his subject well. He's tough and smart."

Oddo gave Bloomberg kudos for admitting that Ms. Black "was not a good fit."

"I give him credit for not carrying her for three years," he said.

"Aborting this mission does take some political courage."

Said Ignizio, "It took a lot of guts to pull the plug on a bad decision."

Ignizio said that he thought Walcott would have been a better choice than Ms. Black when Joel Klein left as chancellor.

"The mayor made a mistake," he said.

But Borough President James P. Molinaro, one of Ms. Black's biggest backers, said that the now-former chancellor "wasn't given a fair chance."

"It's difficult to catch up after the slamming she took," he said. "She did have the best interests of the children at heart."

Molinaro said he has known Walcott through government channels for close to 20 years.

"He's a great choice," he said. "He's dedicated and committed."

In a welcome sign for lawmakers, Molinaro, Lanza, Oddo and Ignizio all said they received personal calls or e-mails from Walcott yesterday.

United Federation of Teachers president Michael Mulgrew said that Ms. Black's departure would give the city "the opportunity now to rethink its failed educational strategy."

"It should use this occasion to change its approach by emphasizing real learning, rather than test prep," said Mulgrew, an Oakwood resident. "To focus on fixing schools rather than closing them, and to stop making decisions based on ideology and to start really listening to the parents and teachers who know what the kids in our schools need."

Former Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott started tenure this morning

Associated PressFormer Schools Chancellor Cathie Black, left, walks with her successor, then-Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, center, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg in this file photo from earlier this year.

Appearing today on WOR Radio, Bloomberg called Black "a phenomenally competent woman."

Bloomberg announced yesterday that the two of them had mutually decided she should step down after three months on the job.

The mayor says he thinks Black would still gladly take on tasks to help the city if he asked.

Bloomberg also says he hopes to continue attracting staffers from the private sector.

Black, a former publishing executive, drew criticism for her lack of education experience. Bloomberg had said her private-sector accomplishments would make her a good chancellor.

Dennis Walcott, who had served as deputy mayor, began his new position by dropping his grandson off this morning at a school in Queens. He's been labeled a friend to Staten Island.

By VERENA DOBNIK Associated Press NEW YORK -- Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott is set to take over New York City's sprawling public school system, and parents who oppose Mayor Michael Bloomberg's education policies made sure yesterday that the new chancellor will have no honeymoon period. Two controversial issues dominate the New York school scene: The city's promotion of new...

View full sizeDeputy NYC Mayor Dennis Walcott, left, talks to the media in Queens after walking his grandson, Justin, 7, to PS 36-St. Albans School. He was nominated by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to replace Cathie Black as schools chancellor. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

By VERENA DOBNIK
Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott is set to take over New York City's sprawling public school system, and parents who oppose Mayor Michael Bloomberg's education policies made sure yesterday that the new chancellor will have no honeymoon period.

Two controversial issues dominate the New York school scene: The city's promotion of new charter schools and the closure of schools considered failures.

"We seek only to see that our children are treated fairly and are not relegated to second-class status in their own school building," said Lisa Steglich, a parent who held a news conference with elected officials outside the Brandeis Educational Complex on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Several parents filed a lawsuit in State Supreme Court on Friday to block the city Department of Education's proposed location of a charter school in that building. Walcott and the department are named in the lawsuit.

"While it's clear the administration is bent on proceeding no matter what parents, teachers and leaders in this community say, I am hopeful we will find justice in the court system," said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who joined the parents along with U.S. Reps. Charles Rangel and Jerry Nadler.

Brandeis was recently reorganized from a single high school into four smaller high schools. The parents say the plan to bring an elementary school into the building would lead to overcrowding and a loss of science labs, space for the arts and classrooms.

Later yesterday in Queens, state Sen. Tony Avella led a rally of students protesting the closure of Jamaica High School, which is housed in a building along with three specialized high schools.

Avella noted that the class size in the specialized schools is as small as 14, while Jamaica High School has classes that average 34 students. In addition, the Democratic legislator said, the specialized school students all have computers and "smart boards" -- interactive, electronic displays -- while the others do not.

"The department reduces resources to schools and then they turn around and say, the school has to close," Avella said. "I say, give the students the resources that they need and they will perform. There's no need to lose these schools."

In addition, he said, Jamaica High School accepts students who speak English as a second language, or special education students. "So naturally, their scores might not be as high as a specialized school that cherry-picks its students."

Yesterday afternoon in front of City Hall, schoolchildren held signs with the names of dozens of schools that have been shut under the Blooomberg administration. Joined by Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, the youths requested a meeting with the new chancellor, asking him to stop eliminating schools troubled by poor academic scores as a strategy to boost citywide academic performance.

"Education is a must! Don't close schools on us!" the students chanted on the City Hall steps.

"The change in leadership at the (Department of Education) gives the city a chance to fix the mistakes made in the past, including the DOE's habit of walking away from struggling schools rather than trying to fix them," Mulgrew said.

A Department of Education spokesman declined to comment on yesterday's criticism of charter school and closure policies. The city had no comment on the pending lawsuit.

Walcott succeeds Cathie Black, who resigned Thursday after a rocky three months on the job.

A former media executive who lives on Park Avenue, she was repeatedly criticized for having no experience as an educator, and for being out of touch with public schools in the city's five boroughs.

Parents now want to know what the new chancellor will do differently.

Yesterday, Walcott spoke in a Brooklyn church, introduced by the pastor.

"Now tell the truth: How many of you thank God that Cathie Black is gone?" asked the Rev. Mark Taylor of the Church of the Open Door.

The congregation answered with "Yes!" and "Hallelujah!"

Walcott will formally become the chancellor after receiving a waiver from the state.

NEW YORK -- An advisory panel is meeting to consider whether Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott should receive a waiver to serve as New York City schools chancellor. The nine-member panel of educators will meet this afternoon in Albany. Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed Walcott chancellor on April 7 after accepting the resignation of Cathie Black. Walcott needs a waiver from the...

Advance file photoDeputy Mayor Dennis Walcott speaks at the Gerard Carter Community Center in Stapleton in this file photo. He needs a waiver from the state to officially become New York City Schools Chancellor.

The nine-member panel of educators will meet this afternoon in Albany.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed Walcott chancellor on April 7 after accepting the resignation of Cathie Black.

Walcott needs a waiver from the state Department of Education because he does not have a superintendent's certificate. But he has been a teacher and he holds master's degrees in education and social work, so it is expected that the waiver will be granted easily.

The advisory panel that met in November recommended against a waiver for Black. Education Commissioner David Steiner agreed to grant the waiver on the condition that Bloomberg appoint a seasoned educator as second-in-command.

NEW YORK -- New York state's education commissioner has given Dennis Walcott the go-ahead to head New York City's 1.1 million-pupil school system. Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed Walcott as schools chancellor last week after publishing executive Cathie Black resigned. Walcott needed a waiver from Commissioner David Steiner because he is not a licensed school superintendent. Steiner said in his decision...

Associated PressDennis Walcott has approval from the state to be the city's next schools chancellor.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed Walcott as schools chancellor last week after publishing executive Cathie Black resigned.

Walcott needed a waiver from Commissioner David Steiner because he is not a licensed school superintendent.

Steiner said in his decision today that Walcott has had a long and distinguished career and that his knowledge of educational issues is unquestioned.

Walcott is Bloomberg's deputy mayor for education. He has taught kindergarten, headed the Urban League and started a mentoring program for young boys.

Black quit after a rocky three months. She also received a waiver from the state to serve as chancellor although she had no background as an educator.

Legislation introduced by Ignizio holds DOE's feet to the fire on toxin

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The city had better mind its P's-and-Q's when it comes to removing toxic PCBs.

Lawmakers including City Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore) yesterday introduced three bills calling for close scrutiny of the city's $708 million effort to remove the toxin from city schools, including many on Staten Island.

PCBs, polychlorinated biphenyls, were commonly used in construction until being banned in 1979, and have been found to damage the immune, nervous and reproductive systems.

The Department of Education (DOE) crafted a 10-year plan to remove the toxin from light fixtures in all public schools -- including about 70 percent of those on the Island -- after PCBs were discovered in PS 36, Annadale, in January.

Ignizio introduced bills requiring the DOE to designate a trained representative to answer questions and provide information about the removal to faculty and parents.

Schools will also be required to notify parents if PCB contamination is found during an inspection of a school.

"I am pleased the DOE has begun a proactive approach to PCB remediation," Ignizio said at a City Hall press conference. "Yet, the Council must also be aggressive in ensuring the schools are routinely inspected and the prompt notification to parents is made."

Councilman Stephen Levin (D-Brooklyn) put forth a bill requiring the DOE to issue a quarterly report to the Council regarding its progress on removing PCBs.

"While the remediation plan is a good first step, it is not enough," said Levin. "All schools should be thoroughly inspected for PCB contamination."

Advocates praised the legislation.

"Parents need to know which schools are being tested and how long the remediation will take," said Celia Green, parent leader with NY Communities for Change. "Parents need to know that if there are PCBs in the school, and how and where they are disposed of and by whom."

Measure, supported by state schools chancellor, includes more extensive use of student performance and more rigorous classroom observation

Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimoGov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed stricter teacher evaluation criteria.

Merryl Tisch says she'll recommend including all of Cuomo's proposals in a teacher evaluation plan. That plan will be considered by the Board of Regents on Monday.

Tisch says she made her decision based on conversations with Cuomo and other "stakeholders" in recent weeks.

Cuomo wants more extensive use of student performance on standardized tests and more rigorous classroom observation of teachers.

He also called today for the Regents to hasten the process so the evaluations could be used in place of the current seniority-based system for layoffs planned for this year.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Today was a milestone day for new nurses on Staten Island, as St. Paul's School of Nursing staged commencement exercises at the Hilton Garden Inn, Bloomfield, and the Wagner College School of Nursing held its pinning ceremony at the Grymes Hill campus. St. Paul's students were addressed by Rep. Michael Grimm. "You made the important...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Today was a milestone day for new nurses on Staten Island, as St. Paul's School of Nursing staged commencement exercises at the Hilton Garden Inn, Bloomfield, and the Wagner College School of Nursing held its pinning ceremony at the Grymes Hill campus.

St. Paul's students were addressed by Rep. Michael Grimm.

"You made the important decision to serve your community and society by helping those when they need it most: When they're ill, taking their last breath, or taking their first," Grimm (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) told them. "Our nation would not be able to deliver the highest quality health services in the world without nurses' compassion, professionalism, and capability to address critical issues in high-stress environments."

May 2011 graduates

Dana Acevedo, Natalie Amoroso, Natalie Aviles, Natalia Avros, Estera Babayeva, Elizabeth Baillie, Irina Bastonova, Christian Bergen, Sara Blanti, Jennifer Bravin, Timothy Brunton, Cheryl Busciolano, Maria Chow, Audrey Cineas, Marta Cox, Ralph Dominguez, Iman El-Sayed, Jessica Fasano, Elmadia Fici, Silvana Foglia, Andrew Freeman, Alexis Garcia, Katherine Giannettino, Caitlin Griffin, Lyubov Groysman, Joseph Guarneri, Igor Gugnishev, Ylfete Kanacevic, Mellisa Lindie, Denise Lombardo, Carianne Losco, Meghan Maloney, Cara Mulham, Tammi Nieroda, Hsuan-Wei Peng, Nicole Rehorn, Bianca Rizzo, Caitlin Rogers, Sharon Samuel, Laura Siani, Oliver Soemarsono, Michelle Spezio, Gabriella Taflin, Amanda Warner, Danielle Willis.

December 2010 graduates

Lauren Abbadessa, Danyelle Affrunti, Ololade Ajiborisha, Alex Apostol IV, Fran Barnett-Viau, Ashley Benitto, Christiana Cardinale, Bomi Cho, Laura Claire, Nicholas Dominguez, Suzanne Dumanis, Josephine Dy, Melanie Favorito, Francesca Filosa, Alisa Giambalvo, Susan Holmes, Juliana Joaquin, Kathleen Kennedy, Robert Kenney, Carol Lucchesi, JamieLynn Macari, Christine Mahoney, Patricia McAlarney, Valerie Merrell, JoAnn Miano, Oliver Mosley IV, Tiffany Pacheco, Donna Pisano, Josephine Rappa, Tammy Rella, Eugene Rydell, Damian Salatino, Vivianna Sandoval, Corrinne Scherel, Kristy Schirripa, Daniel Sicca, Robert Verardi II, Ivanna Veretchak, Melissa Warner.

Alla Adler, RN, Erin M. Alesi, Jessica L. Altschuler, Allison Amador, Dorothy Archibong, RN, Ashley M. Benvenuto, Carolyn Bochichio, RN, Annie Chang, Emilie Curcio, Christina DePhilips, Audrey C. Devlin, Carolyn D. Dixon, RN, Nicole C. Dmitra, Patricia M. Ednie, Halimattu M. Foday-Kappa, RN, Mary K. Groch, Aleksandr Groysman, RN, Dana M.Gualtieri, Noelle R. Huttar, Meaghan P.Krotulis, Elisabeth G. Laverty, Olga Manevich, Natassia M. Miller, Adrienne C. Nistico, Amy E. Oberfeldt, Tatyana Papirova, Vanessa A. Petitto, Amanda R. Power, Stefanie K. Rebholz, Cassidy A. Rothman, Alexandra I. Valles, Sieda Velija, RN, Yana Verbun, Karen K. Vitkus, Emily Werkheiser, Desiree West, Karen L. Wilson RN.

Earlier this year the Archdiocese of New York announced the 94-year-old New Brighton institution would be closing at the end of the academic year due to declining enrollment.

View full sizeStaten Island Advance/Hilton FloresSeventeen-year-olds Jill Sabatini of Westerleigh and Kelsey Geisler of Grant City smile and pose for a photo outside of St. Peter's R.C. Church, West Brighton. The St. Peter's Girls High School Class of 2011 is the last as the school will be closed for good.

Members of the Class of 2011 remembered their 16-year-old classmate, Johnny Ray, who died in a one-car accident in 2009.

View full sizeStaten Island Advance/Hilton FloresAlexandria Salaycik, 18, of Great Kills, gives up a thumbs up as she and the rest of the Moore High School Class of 2011  begin commencement exercises at the International Christian Center, Graniteville.

Second round of voting concluded May 25 after first vote was invalidated

Staten Island Advance/Bill LyonsPresident Sam Pirozzolo stood for re-election.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The head of Staten Island's Community Education Council 31 called the recent voting to elect new CEC members citywide a "fiasco," and said the Department of Education should have already released the names of the winners here because no run-off was involved.

CEC President Sam Pirozzolo also said poor communication with parents on the part of the DOE resulted in an abysmal turnout.

Advance file photoSam Pirozzolo is president of the Community Education Council

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With 1 million students citywide, reportedly only around 5,000 parents voted.

"It's a sham and a shame," said Sam Pirozzolo, a public school parent of two from Westerleigh who sought re-election. A DOE spokeswoman said she was unable to immediately provide the results of the borough's election because they are not yet considered final. She said the results could be released as early as today.

The spokeswoman, Deidrea Miller, did not respond to further inquiries, including the number of Island public school parents who voted and how many were eligible to vote.

An initial round of voting in early May was invalidated by Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott after he conceded the DOE "should have done a better job managing" the elections to ensure that they were "fair to the parents."

The second round of voting concluded May 25.

Critics had charged that parents were unaware of the election, that parents seeking to run were told they were ineligible for a variety of reasons and that the DOE didn't do enough to recruit parents to run.

Voting was done online.

"There was no general outreach to the population of PTAs," said Pirozzolo. "Mistakes were made, of who can serve and who can't serve. We should be well beyond the mistakes."

This after the initial elections were postponed "because DOE forgot to ask the [city] comptroller's office for funding to run it," charged Pirozzolo. "You would think if this was important to them, the DOE wouldn't have forgotten to put a line item in the budget to fund the elections."

Pirozzolo said one Island candidate was initially told -- incorrectly -- that she was ineligible to run, and another candidate, who has children in more than one school, also had his eligibility questioned.

That could not be immediately independently confirmed.

"They make up the rules as they go along," Pirozzolo said of the DOE. "There are different standards."

Eleven Islanders ran for nine open CEC slots. An additional two Islanders are appointed by the borough president to the 11-member CEC. The terms are two years.

New terms begin July 1.

CECs help shape educational policy in their districts.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Graduation rates at New York's public high schools statewide are scheduled to be released. The state Education Department is scheduled to release the graduation rates today. They will track the performance of students who entered ninth grade in 2006 and are part of school report cards. The graduation rates will be released on the state Education Department...

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Graduation rates at New York's public high schools statewide are scheduled to be released.

The state Education Department is scheduled to release the graduation rates today. They will track the performance of students who entered ninth grade in 2006 and are part of school report cards.

The graduation rates will be released on the state Education Department website at www.nysed.gov.

While grad rate for borough in 2010 was 72.2 percent, not nearly as many ready for college, careers

Staten Island Advance/Bill LyonsOn Staten Island, the graduation rate was 72.7 percent for 2010, and 74.4 if August grads were included.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The rate of students graduating on time in 2010 rose or held steady at most Staten Island schools, but when it came to a new standard measuring college readiness, many fewer students made the grade.

According to statistics released today, the city graduation rate for the class of 2010 was 61 percent, or 65.1 percent if August graduates were included, a record high. But just 21.4 percent of students citywide met a new "aspirational performance measure," scoring 75 or higher on the English language arts Regents exam and an 80 or higher on their math Regents.

The measure is designed to show if students are ready for college or careers after graduating.

On Staten Island, the graduation rate was 72.7 percent for 2010, and 74.4 if August grads were included. There was no boroughwide measurement of how many students met the Regents standards, but the figure ranged from 1.9 percent at Concord High School to 97.9 percent at Staten Island Technical High School.

While 63.6 percent of students graduated on time at Port Richmond High School in 2010 --up from 56.4 percent in 2009 -- just 15.4 percent met the college-ready Regents standard.

Similar disparities were evident at nearly every Island school.

At New Dorp High School, the on-time graduation rate was 73.7 percent -- compared to just 20.2 percent of students meeting the new standards. At Tottenville High School, the graduation rate was 82 percent -- but just 31.1 percent were college-ready.

  Staten Island Advance/Nicole BoffaMembers of the Class of 2010 at Staten Island Technical High School STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The rate of students graduating on time in 2010 rose or held steady at most Staten Island public high schools, but when it came to a new standard measuring college readiness, many fewer students made the grade. On Staten...

Staten Island Advance/Nicole BoffaMembers of the Class of 2010 at Staten Island Technical High School

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The rate of students graduating on time in 2010 rose or held steady at most Staten Island public high schools, but when it came to a new standard measuring college readiness, many fewer students made the grade.

On Staten Island, the graduation rate was 72.7 percent for 2010 -- 74.4, if August grads are included -- the highest of any borough, according to statistics released yesterday. There was no boroughwide measurement of how many Islanders met the new "aspirational performance measure," designed to show college readiness, but at most schools, the figure hovered in the 20s or 30s.

To meet the standard, students had to score 75 or higher on the English language arts Regents exam, and 80 or higher on their math Regents. The benchmark is based on what a student must typically score to avoid remedial course work in college, Department of Education spokesman Matt Mittenthal said.

The city graduation rate for the class of 2010 was 61 percent -- 65.1 percent, if August graduates are included, a record high. But just 21.4 percent of students citywide met the college readiness standard.

Mittenthal said the problem lies not with the students but with the standards. Students need only a 65 on three of five required Regents exams to graduate, well below the college readiness standard.

"They're meeting the standards that our schools have set for them, and our schools are doing that as well," Mittenthal said. "The state standards, it's widely agreed, are too low."

What's indicated, he said, is a realignment of "what it takes to get a high school diploma with what it takes to succeed after high school."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg focused on the rising graduation rates in his announcement of the statistics yesterday, touting shrinking achievement gaps and lower dropout rates at small schools that replaced larger, struggling ones.

"These new high school graduation rates are proof positive that the reforms we've adopted and the investments we've made are paying off in a big way," he said in a statement. "I'm proud of our students, teachers, principals and parents for achieving this all-time high graduation rate, and the fact that black and Hispanic students are reaching new milestones is great news for our City."

Locally, nearly every Island school saw a disparity between the graduation rate and the percent of students who were college-ready. While 63.6 percent of students graduated on time at Port Richmond High School in 2010 --up from 56.4 percent in 2009 -- just 15.4 percent were college-ready.

At New Dorp High School, the on-time graduation rate was 73.7 percent, an increase from 66 percent in 2009, but just 20.2 percent of students met the college-ready standards.

At the College of Staten Island High School for International Studies, the 2010 graduation rate was 95 percent -- but just 23.8 percent were college-ready. At Tottenville High School, the graduation rate was 82 percent -- but just 31.1 percent were college-ready.

The best-performing local school was Staten Island Tech, where 99.7 percent of students graduated on time, and 97.9 met the college-ready Regents guideline. At the Michael J. Petrides School 88.5 percent of students graduated on time -- down from 97.3 percent in 2009 -- and 39.8 percent were college-ready.

The on-time graduation rate fell at McKee, from 61 percent to 55.4 percent, with only 9.1 percent college-ready. At Curtis High School, the on-time graduation rate was 69.2 percent, less than a point off last year, but just 20.3 percent were college ready. The graduation rate rose at Susan E. Wagner High School, from 69.9 to 75.9 percent, but just 31.5 percent were college-ready.

Attempts to reach Staten Island high schools superintendent Aimee Horowitz were unsuccessful.

Closures pain pupils, parents and teachers -- Photo slideshow Watch video

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- At St. Margaret Mary School in Midland Beach, books are boxed up in classroom corners, and students and teachers are saying teary goodbyes. It might not be an uncommon sight for a school in June -- but there's a big difference from years past.

Come September, the books will still be in boxes. The students will not return to their desks at St. Margaret Mary School, or at any of the seven schools on Staten Island slated to let out for the last time this month, dismissing more than 700 students for good.

"I don't think it will hit anybody until September," Principal Rita Vallebuona said.

Four Catholic elementary schools and one high school, St. Peter's Girls, will close for good, with a combined 619 students, according to October enrollment figures. Trinity Lutheran School in Stapleton, with 126 students this year, also will close, as will the small El-Bethel Christian Academy in Westerleigh, with 34 students.

Overall, 779 students will see their schools close. On top of that, the building that houses another 210 students at St. Peter's Elementary School will be shuttered, with staff and students relocating to the former St. Paul School in New Brighton.

In addition to St. Margaret Mary, the New York Archdiocese is closing St. Sylvester School in Concord, St. Mary School in Rosebank and St. Roch School in Port Richmond. They are among 27 schools that lost their archdiocesan funding, as announced in January.

At St. Margaret Mary, where enrollment had dwindled enough to blend grades together, students wore shirts bidding "aloha" to their school this week.

"We tried to celebrate what St. Margaret Mary's was," Ms. Vallebuona said.

Marilyn Sims has been teaching there for 37 years; tears welled up as she discussed the closure.

"It's hard," she said. "I started teaching here and I've been here ever since. I've grown to love this place."

It terrifies her not to know where, or if, she will be working come September, Ms. Sims said. For the most part, teachers have been "in the dark" about their future, she said.

Some students are taking the closure hard. One first-grade student cried whenever it was mentioned, teacher Susan Sansone said.

"He said if he won the Super Bowl, he would pay to keep the school open," she said.

Ally Dwyer, a seventh-grader, has gone to the school since pre-school. Now she will be the only member of her family not to graduate from St. Margaret Mary.

"It's really sad. I wish it wasn't closing, because I only had one more year left," she said.

Fran Davies, associate superintendent for communications at the Archdiocese, said teachers would be assisted in accordance with their union contracts. Those who don't have a job at another Catholic school in September will be offered transition packages, she said.

It was too soon to say what would happen to the buildings left behind by the disappearing schools, Davies said. Some may be leased or used for other parish programs, she said. At St. Margaret Mary, the attached Olympia Activity Center, completed in 2005, will remain open.

On the Island, 63 percent of students from closing schools are already registered at alternate Catholic schools for September, Ms. Davies said.

Joel Sanabria, 10, had only been going to St. Sylvester School a few months when the closing announcement came. He had transferred over from the relocating St. Peter's.

"It's really sad," Joel said. "The people were nice. I made a lot of new friends."

When his family started looking around for a new school, they tried nearby Trinity Lutheran, said his grandfather, Jose Sanabria. But that's closing, too.

So next year, Joel will attend St. John's Lutheran School, in Castleton Corners. But not every parent picking up their children outside St. Sylvester had decided where to go.

All of Alma Arocho's children went to St. Sylvester, but her 9-year-old, Alyssa, will have to find a new place for the fifth grade.

"My daughter is very disappointed," she said. "She wanted to graduate from here, like her brothers."

Ms. Arocho said she was afraid if she sent her daughter to another Catholic school, it, too, might close. But Alyssa, as a fifth-grader, would only spend a year at public school.

"I really don't know what to do. I'm upset," Ms. Arocho said. "It's all about money. And the kids suffer."

Alyssa said she was sad about being separated from her best friend, Cayla Cruz, 10.

"When I first heard about it, I started to cry," she said.

Principal Evelyn Lacagnino said school officials have tried to make the transition comfortable for students. Even though many won't graduate from St. Sylvester, they will still have a history there, Ms. Lacagnino said.

"They're still alumni, as far as we're concerned," she said. "We'll always have a place for them."

At St. Roch School, the year went out with a bang, when a group of about 300 teachers, alumni and church leaders celebrated the school's 51 years at a party earlier this month.

Outside St. Mary St. Mary School in Rosebank this week, several parents expressed sadness about the school's demise -- after more than 100 years of education.

"It's a sin," said Ken Ryan, picking up his granddaughter, Genesis Alvarez, 5.

Olivia Amosun said both she and her daughter, Majesty, 6, would miss the school.

"I like the way it makes her feel," Amosun said. "She's been doing great."

Catholic schools are not the only ones to close under pressure of low enrollment or climbing expenses.

El-Bethel, operated by the neighboring Assembly of God church, is closing after 25 years.

"I'm looking over the final yearbook of the school," school board chairman Fred Tvedt said. "It's a sad thing."

Tvedt said he was thankful to the principal and staff for their hard work, and for taking a pay cut this school year.

"They have indeed sacrificed a great deal monetarily and every other way to teach at the school for the last year," he said.

NEW YORK -- With $40,000 you could buy a new Lexus or a foreclosed house in a depressed community. Or you could pay for one year at some of New York City's top private schools. The Riverdale Country School will charge $40,450 for high school students in the fall, and other schools are not far behind, according to a report...

Associated PressPrivate school education is getting more expensive in New York.

The Riverdale Country School will charge $40,450 for high school students in the fall, and other schools are not far behind, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The Hewitt School will charge $38,000, and Ethical Culture Fieldston will charge $37,825.

Added costs like transportation, books and supplies will bring the total annual tab at several schools up to $40,000.

Tuition costs at New York City's private schools have risen 79 percent in the past decade. Riverdale's head of school, Dominic A.A. Randolph, told The Wall Street Journal he was "perturbed" by the rising costs. But he said Riverdale's parents pay for an "amazing" education.