The Jericho Board of Education spoke out against the New York State Education Department’s Regionalization Initiative at last month’s board meeting.
“The Jericho Board of Education absolutely opposes any attempt by the state to control who we entertain,” said Board President Christopher Foresto.
According to the department website, the NYSED Regionalization Initiative aims to close regional gaps through district collaboration.
The website says the initiative is designed to bridge gaps in teacher recruitment, advanced course offerings and funding and aid.
“Our responsibility is to educate students who live within the Jericho Union Free School District and support our families,” Foresto said.
In a presentation to the community, Superintendent Hank Grishman said all regionalized plans must be approved by the district Board of Education.
“School districts need only pursue implementation of activities they have agreed TO??? and consented by their local Boards of Education,” he said.
Grishman said the Jericho board will protect the district’s programs and schools.
“Anything in the regionalization plan — anything and everything — will be under the control of our Board of E
ducation,” Grishman said. “We have been promised that that will take place.”
Grishman said the education department released a statement saying the initiative will not force districts into regionalizing.
“It is not a way to force districts into taking any actions that’s counter to the interests of that school district,” he said.
The district BOE will maintain its control over district practices and programs, Grishman said.
“Any change that’s recommended based upon this document and other documents cannot take place without the consent of our Board of Education,” he said.
“And I don’t have to underline one more time how our Board of Education feels about our resources and our educational program,” Grishman said.
Changes in State Language
Grishman said the education department has been unclear in previous documentation about what the initiative entails.
“From where I sit, there has been a great deal of misinformation, inaccurate information that has circulated,” he said.
Grishman said the initial plan “was poorly written, poorly distributed and was filled with statements that needed to be clarified.”
School districts across the county have been concerned about the loss of local control and state interference in district planning.
On the NYSED website, the department clarified that the initiative is optional.
According to the NYSED website, school districts are not required to have a collaborative activity in their school’s plan, but are expected to contribute to regionalization conversations.
Grishman said the New York Board of Regents will further clarify the initiative’s original language at its next meeting, which will be on Dec. 9 and Dec. 10.
The new language will state that the board must approve all regionalization plans of education, he said.
Fact vs. Fiction
In a presentation to the district, Grishman clarified what power the state has over the district.
Local officials and school districts have raised concerns about the loss of local control, but there are laws that protect each district. The state education department does not have the authority to change these laws, Grishman said.
There have been concerns about the role of the BOCES superintendent, the regional representative for local districts, in accordance with the initiative.
“Regionalization cannot give new authority to the BOCES superintendent,” Grishman said.
He said the roles and responsibilities of the BOCES superintendent are outlined in the state Legislature.
“That law, and the definition of that law, has not been changed in 60 or 70 years,” he said. “His powers and duties, again, are no different today than they were a year ago, 10 years ago, or 20 years ago.”
Local districts have been concerned about mergers as well.
“Regionalization cannot force mergers,” Grishman said.
According to state law, he said there would have to be a total of six affirmative votes to merge two districts. This would require approval from each district’s community and Board of Education.
In addition, the plan cannot force districts to enroll students from outside the district, Grishman said.
“This Board of Education, who is here to support us and our kids, it is up to them as to whether any nonresident student can attend Jericho schools,” he said.
Closing Remarks
Grishman said he is confident that the language changes indicated by the education department will be made on Dec. 9 and 10.
“We ask for your continued support as we ensure that the Jericho school district maintains its independence, maintains the quality of education that we have all together built,” Grishman said to the community.
Grishman said the Jericho Board of Education is committed to protecting the community and school district.
“We are all invested in the best school district on Long Island, the best school district in New York State and, I will argue, the best school district in the nation, because of that investment,” Grishman said.
“No one, under any circumstance, is going to interfere with that,” he said.
