Opposing Mayoral Control Over Rochester City Schools: There Are Better Solutions For Our City
- by: Jarred Christopher Jones
- recipient: Assemblymen Joseph Morelle and David Gantt
Mayoral control of city schools effectively removes Rochesterians from any meaningful say in the education of their children and the future of their schools. We don't want to lose our voices or our schools. With such an enormous change at stake, taking away the right to vote for a school board and to decide our own educational affairs should not be an option. Teachers, parents, and students together seek to tackle the root causes of problems (e.g., poverty) in our city. Mayoral control will not fix the root causes of problems in our city. The experience of school systems under mayoral control in other cities is very negative. We desire more dialogue, a vote, a say, and evidence-based solutions to help our city's children tap into their true potential for success in life.
We the undersigned, do not see Mayoral Control over the Rochester City School District as a solution to "a failed and broken system." Extensive evidence shows that in NYC, Chicago, D.C. and elsewhere, parents, students, teachers and residents are more disenfranchised under mayoral control. Mayors are less accessible and accountable, and the level of education is further lowered after such takeovers. In addition, Mayoral control does not significantly improve student achievement. Mayoral control also gives free reign to for-profit organizations. No doubt change is needed, but mayoral control is not the direction Rochester's citizens want to go or experience.
We oppose Mayoral Control because of its negative effects. According to research, studies show the following results:
1.) There is a lack of democracy with appointed mayoral school boards and a concern about education becoming too involved in politics.
2.) The larger role mayors play, the more costly their elections become, opening the door for big business involvement in elections (Meier, 2005).
3.) There is a greater risk of limiting minority participation through mayoral control (Wong, 2006).
4.) There is debate over whether mayors or other non-educator administrators can offer the expertise necessary to transform a school (Wong & Shen, 2003).
5.) Mayoral control does not address root problems such as reducing top-heavy administration or the multiple layers of bureaucracy overseeing the school system (Council of Great City Schools, 2007).
6.) There is no evidence that there have been improvements to the budget process.
7.) Financial stability remains unresolved with mayoral control (Henig &Rich, 2005; Wong & Shen, 2005).
8.) Minority students are disproportionately underrepresented (educational opportunities) with appointed school boards. Elected school board members are more likely to represent the makeup of the community, and these elected officials make it their business to advocate for them (Leal et al., 2004).
We desire solutions that emulate democracy. Please consider the following solutions before creating the mayoral control bill:
1.) Starting a campaign to re-elect our current School Board candidates.
2.) Eliminate salaries for School Board members, which would reflect a suburban school board model.
3.) Eliminate party affiliation in order to be placed on the ballot.
4.) Institute term limits.
5.) Uphold the right to an informed vote.
6.) Rather than attacking the schools, recognize that decades of concentrated poverty and segregation are major problems. The real solutions should begin with investing in children ages 0-5, not starting at ages 14-18.
7.) Community leaders and legislators should look at research based recommendations of the Children's Agenda.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. There are more viable paths available to achieve better results for urban kids than mayoral control.
Sign PetitionSign PetitionWe oppose Mayoral Control because of its negative effects. According to research, studies show the following results:
1.) There is a lack of democracy with appointed mayoral school boards and a concern about education becoming too involved in politics.
2.) The larger role mayors play, the more costly their elections become, opening the door for big business involvement in elections (Meier, 2005).
3.) There is a greater risk of limiting minority participation through mayoral control (Wong, 2006).
4.) There is debate over whether mayors or other non-educator administrators can offer the expertise necessary to transform a school (Wong & Shen, 2003).
5.) Mayoral control does not address root problems such as reducing top-heavy administration or the multiple layers of bureaucracy overseeing the school system (Council of Great City Schools, 2007).
6.) There is no evidence that there have been improvements to the budget process.
7.) Financial stability remains unresolved with mayoral control (Henig &Rich, 2005; Wong & Shen, 2005).
8.) Minority students are disproportionately underrepresented (educational opportunities) with appointed school boards. Elected school board members are more likely to represent the makeup of the community, and these elected officials make it their business to advocate for them (Leal et al., 2004).
We desire solutions that emulate democracy. Please consider the following solutions before creating the mayoral control bill:
1.) Starting a campaign to re-elect our current School Board candidates.
2.) Eliminate salaries for School Board members, which would reflect a suburban school board model.
3.) Eliminate party affiliation in order to be placed on the ballot.
4.) Institute term limits.
5.) Uphold the right to an informed vote.
6.) Rather than attacking the schools, recognize that decades of concentrated poverty and segregation are major problems. The real solutions should begin with investing in children ages 0-5, not starting at ages 14-18.
7.) Community leaders and legislators should look at research based recommendations of the Children's Agenda.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. There are more viable paths available to achieve better results for urban kids than mayoral control.
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