The Port Washington Board of Education discussed regionalization during its Nov. 19 meeting, agreeing to release a letter outlining its concerns within the next few weeks.
Regionalization is a state education initiative to bolster educational equity and operational efficiency across school districts. The purpose is to address disparities among districts and financial challenges.
The board was presented with an update on the proposal from District Counselor Howard Miller.
“The state has recognized that the regulation was not the most artfully drafted of regulations,” Miller said. “Because of this, the state has gone to great pains to make certain clarifications.”
According to Miller, the state has made it clear that regionalization does not divest school districts of local control, does not require districts to share resources with another district and does not require districts to accept students from other districts.
What districts do need to do, according to Miller, is fill out a needs and strengths assessment by Dec. 6. Afterwards it is incumbent upon the superintendent of the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services to facilitate negotiations with other districts.
The proposal has been met with pushback from several Long Island officials and school districts. On Nov. 22, Long Island elected officials, school representatives, and residents gathered at a rally Thursday to denounce the state program.
Critics have said that regionalization will force school district compliance, taking away local control from school districts. Under state law agencies must accept comments from the public for at least 60 days after the proposal is published.
“We understand the concerns that have been raised. But this is not a mandate to do anything this board does not want to do” Miller said.
After Miller’s presentation, several members of the board raised concerns about the proposed initiative.
Board president Adam Smith questioned why the state felt the need to make the regulation an emergency act if all that districts needed to do was fill out what he described as a few surveys.
In addition, he complained about the New York State Education website’s layout, saying it was confusing to read. Members of the board also argued that the needs and strengths assessment is mandatory.
The Board was not against sharing resources with other districts. Members, however, to the idea of being forced to do so.
Despite the state’s assurances that the initiative will not supersede local control, Board members still raised concerns about some of the language within the proposal and expressed a desire to take advantage of the comment period to write a letter requesting certain amendments in their proposal’s language.
14 Fourteen Long Island school districts have–was a step too far. However, they did agree that having their objections, as well as what they like about the proposal, formally written would be beneficial. The comment is expected to be released soon and will be made available to the community.
The next meeting of the board is Dec. 17.
