STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña on Thursday announced a new streamlined accountability system for the city's public school system, that places more responsibility for neighborhood public schools in the hands of local district and high school superintendents. Chancellor Farina, the keynote speaker during a morning meeting of the Association for a Better New York, said the reforms...
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina on Thursday announced a new streamlined accountability system for the city's public school system, that places more responsibility for neighborhood public schools in the hands of local district and high school superintendents.
Chancellor Farina, the keynote speaker during a morning meeting of the Association for a Better New York, said the reforms will create "clear lines of authority and accountability in the school system," as the responsibilities of hiring principals and holding them accountable for their schools will now rest with local superintendents.
Prior to 2002, before mayoral control of the schools, local superintendents were in charge of schools in the city's 32 school districts. They supervised principals and worked with local school board members to set priorities for the schools.
The current system, created by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and then-Chancellor Joel Klein, with the intent of improving accountability, followed a business model, removing power from the superintendents, and giving principals CEO-like supervisory power over the way their own schools are managed. Principals also set policy and priorities in their respective schools.
Principals received professional development and mentoring from one of 55 "support networks" throughout the system. Over the years the networks swelled to more than 1,000 Department of Education staffers, adding more than $300 million to the school system's budget.
The chancellor said the networks will be dismantled in favor of collaborative sharing and learning among teachers and principals.
The reforms to the school support structure system are also intended to serve parents and families, who can now reach out to their superintendent's office if they have concerns about a school issue, the chancellor said.
Under the new system, which will take effect for the 2015-16 school year, each superintendent will have six staff members who will work out of a newly-created borough field service center, to provide resources to principals, teachers, staff and parents.
"We are drawing clear lines of authority and holding everyone in the system accountable for student performance," the chancellor said.
"This system will create consistency and clarity across the school system, and help us better meet the needs of our students, schools, and school communities ... I am confident that this is an important step in the direction of making New York City the best urban school district in the nation," she said.
The changes could end up being a boost for Staten Island schools, local education leaders say.
"This new support structure offers my school the best of both worlds," said New Dorp High School Principal Deirdre DeAngelis.
"I look forward to working collaboratively with my superintendent and borough field service center to ensure that my students have the resources and supports they need to thrive."
Community Education Council President Michael Reilly also said the chancellor's restructuring would be good for Staten Island schools.
"We believe that the school districts functioned much more effectively when the community superintendents had more authority over their own districts and schools. We would like to see the community superintendent's role returned to its former duties and powers, he said
"We are the largest school district in New York City, the only district that encompasses an entire borough. These changes would help set a cohesive course, to make sure we're all aligned on the same page, to move us forward."
CEC member Sam Pirozzolo, vice-president of the New York City Parents Union, also applauded the changes.
"Overall it will be good to see control being brought back to a district level," he said. "Superintendents should have the power to act on what is in the best interests of their district schools."