Jane Ryan, Board President, began a discussion among board members at the March 9 Board of Education meeting on the many concerns they have with the 
NYS proposed educational reforms Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled during his State of the State address in January.
Ryan stated that the entire Board of Education and district disagree with the proposed teacher evaluation (APPR) revision. Currently a teacher’s evaluation score is based on 20 percent student state assessment scores, 20 percent student local assessment scores and 60 percent direct supervisor observations. Cuomo is proposing shifting the student assessment scores to 50 percent solely based on the state assessment results coupled with 35 percent independent evaluators observations and 15 percent direct supervisor observations. The Governor is proposing shifting the student assessment scores to 50% solely based on the state assessment results coupled with 35% independent evaluators observations and 15% direct supervisor observations. The failing school provision that allows the state to appoint a nonprofit organization to take over a district that is deemed failing for 3 years in a row is of great concern because the Governor does not clearly identify what it means to be a failing school. State tests and state evaluators would determine which schools are failing.
The failing school provision that allows the state to appoint a nonprofit organization to oversea the running of a district that fails to meet Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) for three years in a row is of great concern because Cuomo does not clearly identify what it means to be a failing school. Currently to make AYP, a district must meet the 95 percent participation rate of students taking state assessments and adequate performance indicators. If a school falls below the 95 percent participation rate, they automatically fail for that year. Currently, all six of the Massapequa Elementary schools and Berner Middle School have failed to meet AYP due to participation falling below 95 percent during last year’s assessments.
Ryan also stated that Cuomo refuses to release state aid figures to districts until his proposals are voted on. In addition, if the legislature passes all of his proposed reforms, Cuomo will increase state aid by 4.8 percent or $1.1 billion, otherwise the increase would only be 1.7 percent or $377 million.
“The proposed APPR is an insult to our teachers,” said vice president Maryanne Fisher. “The governor is engaging in bullying tactics.”
Secretary Gary Baldinger expressed the need to educate as many people as possible to the ramifications of these proposals and how they will adversely effect education. Trustee Timothy Taylor feels the governor wants to take local control away from districts and trustee Jospeh LaBella encouraged everyone to get involved.
Superintendent of schools Lucille F. Iconis recently sent a letter to Cuomo on behalf of the district. She shared an overview of the district with Cuomo and invited him to come visit and see what a successful school district looks like.
“Whether measured by graduation rate, AP rankings, or acceptances to some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country, the Massapequa School District continues to set the standard,” said Iconis. “We are a successful school system; a system that strives for continuous improvement, we are not failing!”
In partnership with the PTA, Iconis stated that there would be a letter writing campaign with the focus on educational and budgetary implications of Cuomo’s proposals.
Ryan also encouraged people to get their facts, as there is so much misinformation floating around.
“People need to band together with the district to work on stopping these reforms from going through,” she said.
Iconis stated that a letter would be sent out regarding procedures for those students whose parents opted them out of state assessments. Due to the overwhelming amount of students who receive accommodations during testing, there is no open spaces to allow opt-out children alternate locations to go to. In addition, every available TA, support staff and substitute teacher will be used to proctor exams.
It was made clear that there is no rule from the state or districts, for students to “opt-out” of taking state assessments. These are state-mandated tests and districts are required to administer them to all eligible students. It is not an option but, rather, a refusa. In cases where parents have notified the district with a valid letter and expressed that their child will refuse to take the state assessments, the district has the following protocol: a day or two before the test is administered, building administrators talk to the students whose parents have submitted valid letters to make sure they understand that they won’t be taking the test and to be prepared to bring a hard cover or soft cover book to read (no electronic devices such as a Kindle are allowed). The district does not have a ‘sit and stare’ policy as some other districts do in which students who elect to opt-out of a test must sit at their desks for the duration of the exam without any reading material or school work to do.
Iconis was made aware of a website called “Say no to tests.com,” where parents are electronically filling out and sending in to the district. She made clear that the district did not sign up for this third party forum and these electronic requests will not be accepted. Iconis stated that she respects everyone’s decision and knows they are making the best decision for their children. The next board of education meeting will take place on Thursday, March 19.
–Additional reporting from the Massapequa School District
