Bill, Do you want me to share this with our CCSE list-serve? Dan : From: William Cala <wcala9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [regional_school] Update To: "regional" <regional_school@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 8:07 PM #yiv406527060 p {margin:0;} We are nearly complete with the first phase of planning for the Regional School. I have one last meeting with one of the planning teams next week. After that I will be planning a general meeting to discuss our progress. It is my intent to have committee chairs update us on the fine work that has been done by all Curriculum, Advisory, Social Justice and Discipline committees. There are a number of areas that will now need to be addressed: teacher selection, union representation, governance, transportation and others. We will aggressively tackle these areas this winter. On a related topic, I have been following the issue of mayoral control with great attention and serious concern. The Regional Academy is a school built on the pillars of social justice, civil rights and participatory democracy. Mayoral control is the antithisis of these important principles. Over the past year I have reached out to the mayor without response. This past week I have sought advice from friends whose opinions and guidance I respect. I have written a substantial essay on this topic and I have been debating whether or not to make it public. My major conceern is that the legislation for the Regional School would be stalled or killed as a result of speaking in opposition to mayoral control (The same bill drafters of the Regional Academy appear to be the principal parties who will draft the bill for mayoral control). The speed at which the movement for mayoral control appears to be heading toward Albany has created an urgency to respond. After much soul-searching and careful thought I do not feel that I can permit this assault on democracy without putting up a fight. We are creating a school whose major role is to produce good citizens who will forward not thwart democracy. To remain silent is not an option for me. Silence is democracy's most strident enemy. As a result, this evening I have decided to fight. I have sent my essay to City Newspaper. You can read it at: http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/articles/2010/01/COMMENTARY-Mayoral-control-doesnt-work-and-is-wrong/ I will also be on Bob Smith's 1370 Connection on January 29th @ 1 p.m. and will be speaking before City Council on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. If you agree that the urban poor of the City of Rochester should not be disenfranchised by losing the right to vote for school board members (as it is city residents cannot vote for their budget, a right suburban residents enjoy) I ask that you speak out and let your voices be heard. Another excellent analysis of the mayoral control crisis in Rochester is at: http://www.smugtownbeacon.com/news.php?viewStory=430 Thanks for understanding. Bill