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To: Regent James Dawson From: Dana Smith, NYSSBA Area 6 Director Date: 11/7/08 After seeing you at Crickets last evening, enjoying the evening and Barry's presentation, I felt I needed to get my thoughts together regarding where I think we need to go in finding a new Commissioner of Education. I have had no problem with the drive and direction Commissioner Mills has brought to the State regarding improved achievement and raising the standards. He had a vision and worked with the Board of Regents toward those goals, making great strides, I might add. However, the problem as I see it, is that we are still not where we need to be, it has cost us dearly, continues to cost us (monetarily), and there is no indication that our results are going to improve any faster, regardless of how much money we seem to throw in the direction of that issue. We need to keep the focus on raising achievement, but show the leadership that convinces our constituents that we are not simply throwing money at the issue. We are not at the top of the heap in terms of achievement, but we are at the top in terms of what it costs us per child, per year. It doesn't add up in the minds of Board members and our constituents. Commissioner Mills has seemed to be aloof, not connecting at the grass roots level. Most that I have had contact with on Boards of Education seem to feel he has not listened to the community constituents, but HAS seemed to listen, to some extent, to educators. He has alienated Boards. That seems to go along with the alienation between SED, its Commissioner, the Governor and the Legislature. I know this battle has waged for years because of the Commissioner of Education appointment system, but I feel the Board of Regents needs to reach out to the Governor's Office and the Legislature and find a way to work together, rather than at odds with one another and find mutual ground that will keep the system functioning together, rather than at odds. If there can be an agreement by all parties on what we need in a new Commissioner, maybe the angst can subside and we can move forward unilaterally, making gains in achievement while mutually agreeing to find ways to keep costs under control. The constant battle between the Board of Regents, the Governor's Office and the Legislature, with the Commissioner in the middle of the rancor, is not getting us anywhere. I am not advocating a complete capitulation on the part of the Board of Regents, but a sincere effort to come together might get us further along toward higher achievement with less spending. At any rate, I think we need to find a person who can successfully work with all parties and that we start off with all parties feeling good about the appointment. The Board of Regents needs to work in that direction. |
SBA Administration
President: Sharon Andrews
4016 SH 56, S. Colton, NY 13687 (315) 262-2084 Email: jandre@twcny.rr.com Vice President: James Lattimer PO Box 15, Brasher Falls, NY 13613 (315) 389-4943 Email: jklattimer@twcny.rr.com Secretary/Treasurer: Susan A. Collins 315-386-4504 x149 PO Box 231 Canton, NY 13617 scollins@sllboces.org Important Dates
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