Republicans fail to shake-up Regents board Many lawmakers saw the recent elections as a referendum on the failed Common Core rollout By Kelly Fay Staff Writer Amidst demands for major adjustments to the states education system, the Legislature voted last week to re-elect three members of the Board of Regents, the body bearing much of the blame for problems stemming from the rollout of the Common Core. Despite objections from a number of lawmakers — most notably Senate Republicans — current regents retained their positions on the board overseeing the states universities and education department. Incumbent Regents at-large Wade Norwood of Rochester and James Cottrell of Brooklyn along with Staten Island representative Christine Cea beat out potential newcomers. Despite criticism from some legislators over a last-minute application resulting in an interview just one day before the vote, a Monticello village justice was selected to represent the third judicial district. Josephine Victoria Finn will serve on the board as the only newcomer after incumbent Regent James Jackson withdrew his name from consideration the day before the contest. Each lawmaker receives an equal vote during the election, empowering the Assembly majority to weigh-in heavily on the members of the 17-member board. Assembly Democrats unanimously supported each incumbent as well as Finn, who was nominated by Democratic Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, D-Forestburgh. The Senate GOP has boycotted the Regents elections in the past but attended last weeks joint session with many submitting a no vote against all candidates in protest of the boards work on the Common Core and the overall selection process. This Board of Regents is responsible for the flawed implementation of the Common Core in New York state, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said before the vote. And I should point out that every single member has been essentially appointed by the Assembly and Senate Democrats to these positions. Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, later called the vote a missed opportunity to clean up the mess caused by the hasty rollout of new education standards and said Democrats had betrayed their constituents and school children by voting for the status quo. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver stood by the results, saying the Assembly could not elect Regents on their own; senators voted with members of the Assembly and provided the majority. We all agree that the implementation [of the Common Core] has been a problem and well work out whatever differences there may be, Silver continued. We are all looking at the same thing, looking to reach the same goal line and that is to prepare teachers to prepare students to implement this Common Core… The speaker also pointed out a continued commitment to the standards is required by the Department of Education to continue funding in certain areas. Chair of the Senate Education Committee John Flanagan joined his fellow Senate Republicans and voted against all the candidates saying, I respect the work of the Regents, but we are at a time where frankly thats not really going to be good enough. According to Flanagan, despite efforts on all sides to reform the problematic aspects of the Common Core, We find ourselves in the position where nobody is happy. I believe that it is time for a change, the senator said in his opening remarks. I believe we need some fresh voices and we are put here today and we have to make a choice — we have to decide whether or not we want to have people continue in the capacity that they have served up until now, and I am not going to join in that effort. Chair of the Assembly Education Committee Catherine Nolan, who supported all the incumbent candidates, highlighted the intense debate surrounding the vote and noted lawmakers had interviewed more than 25 candidates for the available positions — more than ever before during her eight-year stint on the committee. Im glad today to move forward and elect Regents, and Im happy to proceed with whatever motion Im supposed to be supporting in this moment, said Nolan, D-Queens. But I think its important that we have today the kind of support that we have had in the past for our Regents in recognizing there are challenges...but we have to keep moving forward. The Senate GOP was not alone in their resistance. A number of Democratic senators and Republican Assembly members also submitted no votes to reflect their dissatisfaction with the election process. Sens. Terry Gipson of Rhinebeck, Tim Kennedy of Buffalo and IDC newcomer Tony Avella were among the Democrats who opposed all of those up for re-election. Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk, a member of the Senate Education Committee, also voted against all the candidates, including potential newcomers to the board. According to the senator, alternative candidates did not have a chance at winning a seat and she had hoped to send a strong message that she does not approve of the current policies. I was frankly hoping that we would take the opportunity to send a strong message to the Board of Regents that we wanted to see policies that made sense and helped our kids in the classrooms, Tkaczyk said. Were not going to see much change coming from the Board of Regents because weve sent most of them back, it will be full speed ahead , it will be the same road were going down. Tkaczyk, D-Duanesburg, added she too found the last minute application of Finn to be problematic and rushed because lawmakers were not given ample time to meet with the candidate and assess her credentials. Despite unsatisfactory results, Tkaczyk said this election included much more debate and involvement from legislators than in the past, which she hopes will lead to more competitive process in the future. She was also hopeful about legislative adjustments to the Common Core and the opportunity to increase school aid through the budget process saying, We cant raise standards and keep cutting our education program. The governors budget continues education cuts in the classroom. Four Assembly Republicans nominated alternative candidates during the session, but were unable to combat the overwhelming support for the Democrats nominees. Assemblyman Al Graf nominated Michael Reilly — a retired New York City police officer and veteran who currently serves on the citys Community Education Board — to replace Regent Cea. Cea defeated Reilly by a margin of 86 votes. Graf, a member of the Assembly Education Committee, said the results were not a surprise. The Democrats became little robots and they voted for all the incumbents, said Graf, R-Holbrook. Whats really sad is they put politics over our children. The rollout of Common Core was bad and no one will say its been good, and to return these incumbents back into office after theyve done such a miserable job and performed so miserably is an insult to the parents and children of this state that are still hurting. Graf also challenged Finns application, saying during her interview the new regent deflected questions and told interviewers she would have an opinion once appointed to the board — I guess now well find out, he said. Assemblywoman Pat Fahy remained hopeful the results would provoke the board to take a different approach, saying Even if its only one regent replaced — again I maybe wouldve done it a little bit differently — the message was sent and I think now you will see a little more of a course altered. Fahy, D-Albany, was also optimistic about a bill recently passed by the Assembly that would delay the high-stakes decisions based on the Common Core and its associated programs. However, the assemblywoman said the Education Departments mishandling of the rollout of the curriculum has left all parties disappointed. Nobody really won today, Fahy said. The only thing thats true of all members is that nobodys satisfied right now, we all know something is completely amiss. The newly elected Board of Regents member Josephine Victoria Finn, left, stands with Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, who nominated Finn for the position. Despite protests from some lawmakers over a late application, Finn was chosen to represent the Albany area after incumbent Regent James Jackson withdrew himself from the contest. Finn currently serves as a Monticello village justice, has taught as an associate professor at Sullivan County Community College for 13 years, authored her own one-woman show and offers spiritually based weight loss consultation. Photo by AP.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 16:05:28 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015