Community Education Council 24

P.S. 91 Room 119/68-10 Central Avenue/ Glendale, New York 11385/Phone: 718.418.8160/Fax: 718.418.8168/ Cec24@nycboe.net
New York City Department of Education
Visit our website at www.myschoolonline.com/ny/cec24
Nick Comaianni Dmytro Fedkowskyj Nancy Carbone Ernest Cury Bill Kregler
President 1St Vice President 2nd Vice President Treasurer Secretary

Council Members: Reyes Irizarry

Dominic Coticchio Regional Superintendent
Marge Kolb Charles Amundsen
Joe Pahl Deputy Superintendent
Marcellino Rodriquez Catherine M. Powis
Joanne Scichilone Community Superintendent

FINAL BOARD APPROVED MINUTES

Minutes of Calendar Meeting
February 15, 2005
At P.S/I.S. 87, Middle Village, New York

1) Call to order and Roll Call -- The meeting convened at P.S/I.S. 87, Middle Village, NY at
7:00 PM

• Roll Call – Present

• Nancy Carbone
• Nick Comaianni
• Ernest Cury
• Dmytro Fedkowskyj
• Joseph Pahl
• Marcellino Rodriguez
• Joanne Scichilone
• Katelyn Ranzie, CEC High School Member

• Roll Call – Absent

• Dominic Coticchio
• William Kregler

Also in attendance

Sandy Brawer, Director of Operations, Region 4 and Amy Kissel-Steiger, Regional

Administrator, Special Education. District Superintendent Catherine Powis was ill and
did not attend.
2) Approval of Minutes

On motion duly made and seconded the minutes were unanimously approved, 8:0

3) Report of the President

• Nick Comaianni stated that the Chancellor passed a new regulation on zoning
which we, the Community Education Council District 24 do not agree with. The
new regulation calls for very little parent involvement. According to the new
regulation the community superintendent will be the one to devise a plan and give it
to us for approval. The regulation does not state any information in the event of
CEC disapproval.
• Mr. Comaianni stated that a meeting will be held to explain the new Metropolitan
Avenue site. The site will consist of 2 high schools and 2 K-8’s. All will be in the
same building. The plan calls for all 4 schools to share one lunchroom and two
gyms. There will be separate entrances but all hallways will be connected. Mr.
Comaianni stated that he is in total disagreement with this plan in that younger and
older kids will be mingled. Mr. Comaianni feels that rather than K-8’s what we
really need in our district are more high schools. Mr. Comaianni further stated that
he would rather two high schools with all the proper facilities such as a gym, a track
and a baseball field.

4) Report of the Community Superintendent – None

5) Resolutions – None

6) Report of the Committees

• Dmytro Fedkowskyj, Chair of the Building, Zoning and Maintenance Committee

stated that the Proposed 2005 Amendment to the Five-year capital plan was cut for
District 24. The changes were determined by comparing the SCA November 2004
Proposal to the February 2005 Proposal. Our School District 24 didn't fare very
well. We lost almost $29 million or 66% of the capital plan renovations that were
planned from 2005 - 2007. This money was to be spent within the next two years
based on the November Proposal, but now the work has been moved to the outer
years based on the new SCA Proposal, which doesn't specify the type or when the
work will actually get done. It gives a range from 2008 - 2010. All of our schools
will suffer because there is a lack of capital improvement funding, but the following
schools were scheduled for work that will not take place unless the Proposal should
change again.

PS 19 lost $1.5 million originally scheduled for 2007

PS 49 lost $7.4 million originally scheduled for 2005 - 2006
 IS 73 lost $1.4 million originally scheduled for 2007
PS 81 lost $6.9 million originally scheduled for 2007
PS 87 lost $1.0 million originally scheduled for 2007
IS 93 lost $5.9 million originally scheduled for 2006
IS 119 lost $1.4 million originally scheduled for 2006
PS 143 lost $.4 million originally scheduled for 2007

Mr. Fedkowskyj stated that we did pick up some new capital work for two schools:

IS 125 will get roof replacement in 2006 for $1.7 million

PS 14 will also get some roof replacement in 2006 for $700,000

The SCA didn’t give our CEC the professional courtesy of this newly revised
proposal, which was released on the 1st of February. PEP members were advised by
the newly formed ANYCEC Association, who then tipped us off. Mr. Fedkowskyj
stated that he is troubled by the fact that the CEC was not notified of this new
proposal when it was released. The CEC was mandated to file a report on the
original capital plan by the 25th of January only to find out now that it couldn’t
possibly be used for the revised capital plan that was proposed in February. We are
mandated to provide input on matters of concern and based on the lack of
professional courtesy; Mr. Fedkowskyj can only assume that certain departments of
the DOE feel this is not a matter of concern for the 38,000 students in our district.
The PEP members received their copies hot off the presses 2 weeks ago and the
CEC offices received their copies 4 days ago.

• On another matter, Mr. Fedkowskyj explained that his committee requested a

zoning change for PS 128. Across the street from the annex on 69th street there are
two homes which are not zoned for PS 128, they are zoned for PS 71. He further
stated that the CEC will be holding a public hearing on this matter and will need to
pass a resolution on it before March 31st 2005.

• Ernest Cury, Chair of the English Language Learners Committee has no report,
although Mr. Cury stated that the committee is planning a working meeting in
April. As soon as the venue is chosen and the date set we will make an
announcement.

• Marge Kolb, Chair of the Legislative Committee stated that she has yet to set a
date for another meeting because she wants to invite legislators when the
Chancellor comes. Nick Comaianni added that the Chancellor is in the process of
picking a month in which to attend our CEC 24 monthly meeting.

• Joanne Scichilone, Chair of the Special Education Committee stated that in April
she is planning to have a child who is autistic and a musician perform and have her
mother speak about autism. This event will hopefully give some inspiration to the
parents of autistic children. Ms. Scichilone also stated that Linda Wernikoff,
Deputy Superintendent for Special Education Initiatives will be sending 150 copies
 of the publications; A Parents Guide to Special Education and the Continuum. She
will not be sending the IEP Manual because she doesn’t feel it would be useful to
parents. Ms. Scichilone stated that she does not agree. She closed her report by
stating that she will give an update regarding the special education meeting at the
next CEC meeting.

• Joe Pahl of the Website Committee stated that Marge Kolb added new links and
that Joanne Scichilone added a special education page. Mr. Pahl also stated that the
site has received over 760 hits. He closed his report by stating that the website
address is www.myschoolonline.com/ny/cec24. Nick Comaianni added that if
anyone has any ideas for our web site or feel that something needs to be added
please feel free to contact our office.

7) Guest Speaker, Sandy Brawer, Director of Operations, Regions 4 and 5

• Mr. Brawer stated the new zoning regulation that came out dictates that the
Superintendent will propose plans to the CEC for comment, review, amendment
and changes. He also stated that he is sure that the Superintendent in Region 4
would not just submit plans without communicating with the CEC. Mr. Brawer
also stated that he is looking at various issues regarding the capital plan. There are
3 priorities: 1) to reduce overcrowding, 2) reduce class size and 3) to implement K-
8 schools. He also stated that the region wants this community, which has suffered
long term from overcrowding, to enjoy what other districts around the city have in
terms of reduced class size.
• Marge Kolb asked if any money was being spent in other districts to convert
schools to K-8 to which Mr. Brawer replied that it would depend on the building.
Ms. Kolb then asked if Mr. Brawer knew of any cases where money is being spent
to convert schools, to which Mr. Brawer replied that for the most part the DOE
could do changes to the buildings without much physical changes. Mr. Comaianni
then added that according to the School Construction Authority when they switch a
school to K-8 there are certain guidelines that they have to follow to accommodate
middle school kids, like labs, bigger libraries, etc. The SCA will determine if a
school could not sustain the different activities that a middle school might need,
then reconstruction or additions would take place. Ms. Kolb then stated that it is
unfair for other districts to spend money to change to K-8 before D24 gets adequate
facilities in our existing schools. Everyone should be at the same place and then
move on to the next level. Mr. Brawer replied that he does not think there is a lot of
construction being done on K-8’s in Regions 4 and 5. There is no doubt that we
need to get facilities up to date, at some point it will be addressed and be added to
the Capital Plan based on funds.
• Dmytro Fedkowskyj stated that regarding the SCA and the Capital Plan, the
Community Education Council had no idea that the last proposal was out there for
review and comment. We spent a great deal of time reviewing it. Just because the
state money doesn’t come down doesn’t mean that the city shouldn’t come up with
the money for these improvements. Mr. Fedkowskyj then cited a list of schools that
were taken off the drafted proposal and put off for years.
• The Council then took a series of questions from the audience regarding the Capital
Plan.

Nick Comaianni introduced Amy Kissel-Steiger, Regional Administrator, Special

Education.

• Ms. Steiger stated that the new initiative, Collaborative Team Teaching is a
program whereas inclusion is a philosophy. The program consists of a special
education teacher and a general education teacher who plan together and teach
together. The class is usually comprised of 40% of children with IEP’s and 60%
general education students. Both teachers collaborate and modify the curriculum
to meet the needs of all the children.
• Ms. Steiger stated that they are planning to keep the special education population
close to home either in their home zoned schools or close to them.
• Ms. Steiger closed her speech by stating that the DOE’s goal is to have every
child educated in the general curriculum.
• Joanne Scichilone stated that she spoke with Nancy Needle about her concern that
schools are closing down special education classrooms, completely closing down
their special education programs and telling parents it’s either general education
or self contained classrooms. She then asked Ms. Steiger what she could do about
this to which Ms. Steiger replied that what the DOE is trying to do is look at
children turning 5 this year and anticipate the kinds of programs they may need.
For example, what percentage of students will need CTT, etc., see where these
children live and then open up the programs to meet the children’s needs, rather
than opening up a class in a school without even knowing if a child will be going
to that school. It’s a long process and it takes time to make changes in the system.
• Ms. Scichilone asked who would tell the principals that they have to have a
specific program inside that school, to which Ms. Steiger replied that the DOE is
trying to meet the needs of all children zoned for a particular school. Nick
Comaianni rephrased Ms. Scichilone’s previous question and asked who will
enforce the IEP, to which Ms. Steiger replied that she is the enforcer. If a child
has an IEP, it’s the IEP that drives whatever programs are in that school. Ms.
Scichilone reiterated her concerns that someone must drive the principals to open
up those programs in their schools. The bottom line is that some principals do not
want to house the special education population because they do not want to be
responsible for the test scores.
• Ms. Steiger took various questions from the audience.
• Ms. Steiger cited the special education hotline number as being 718.391.8439.
• Marge Kolb asked what a District 75 school is and furthermore we’ve been told
that all new schools that are built have to have a District 75 school in them. Since
we’re getting 8 new schools in this district are we then going to get a
disproportionate number of D75 seats that will be serving kids from other districts
when we could use those seats for our own kids, to which Ms. Steiger stated that
D75 kids who live in D24 are in those seats. Ms. Kolb remarked that she has
asked Ms. Powis how many D75 kids in our district actually live in our district
and she hasn’t been able to get those numbers yet.
 • Joanne Scichilone asked about using Teachers College and America’s Choice
workshop models inside CTT classes. Ms. Steiger explained that the idea behind
America’s Choice is that you always have a variety of instruction, it does not
negate CTT or IEP’s. Ms. Scichilone then asked how many teachers in our
district have been trained in the Wilson method to which Ms. Steiger replied that
they are opening up more and more training but that the program cannot be turn-
keyed, i.e. everyone needs individual training. Ms. Scichilone stated that a lot of
teachers and school personnel are not trained in behavior management. She then
asked if there is a case manager for children with a functional behavior
assessment to which Ms. Steiger replied that parents, children and teachers need
to be part of a behavior plan and that a behavior intervention plan can be modified
at any time.

9) Old Business – School Security

• Dmytro Fedkowskyj stated that when all surveys are returned the CEC will
review them and report on them.

10) New Business – None

11) Public Agenda Session

• Pat Grayson remarked that the Glen Oaks campus which has 2 high schools
and 2 K-8 schools is very nice and she recommends that the CEC members
visit it.

12) Adjournment

• Nick Comaianni motioned to adjourn, Joanne Scichilone seconded, meeting

adjourned at 9:15 PM