THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 17, 2002
COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD 30
Queensbridge Residents
Welcome New System
Claim CSB 30 Ignored Their Plight

by Michael Efthimiades
The big issues at last Tuesday’s Community School Board 30 meeting dealt with the entity’s possible replacement once it is eliminated in June 2003. Some attendees expressed concern that parents would lose their voice and bureaucrats would take over their children’s education.
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However, Rolando Bini, a parent and a member of the nonprofit Queensbridge Community in Action, charged that school boards didn’t do what they should have done and that no parent was shedding tears over their demise. He urged CSB 30 members to make some significant changes that will benefit children in their remaining eight months.
Many CSB 30 members took offense to Bini’s comments.
CSB 30 member Jeannie Basini said that board members get calls all day and night on various school-related issues. She said they visit schools and deal with various issues. And maybe it worked, as reading and math scores have risen.
CSB 30 member Dorothy Wilner pointed out how Governor George Pataki had stopped New York City from getting its fair share of state education dollars after a judge had ruled that city schools were not getting a fair share. Wilner said that Governor Pataki has the opportunity to meet with Campaign for Fiscal Equity before the upcoming March appeal but he hasn’t done so yet.
John Ciafone opined that school boards all but ended back in September 1996 when they were taken out of the budget process. But what disappoints Ciafone the most is that elected officials no longer bother to meet with CSB 30.
P.S. 2 Parent Association president Maria Dougherty thanked the board for listening to parents over the years and trying to help make the schools better. She said she understands that since 1991 some powers of the board were taken away. She added that the board always tried to help improve things at schools.
Presidents Council President Laura AlQaisi said that parents look forward to working with the school board for the remaining eight months.
Opening
CSB 30 President Giovanna D’Elia announced that Ellen Raffaele resigned on September 12. Raffaele had to resign upon being chosen to serve as a Democratic district leader in Jackson Heights. D’Elia said that a vacancy exists on the board and anyone interested in applying should contact CSB 30’s district office. Applications are being sought through October 23.
The person selected will serve out the remaining term, which ends on June 30, 2003.
Scores soar
In his report, Superintendent Dr. Angelo Gimondo stated that the results of the fourth- and eighth-grade math tests were positive. Students continued to improve on the tests as compared to the previous year.
In the fourth grade, 64.1 percent of students were at Level 3 or Level 4, which is on or above the minimum level. District fourth-graders rank in fifth place citywide.
Dr. Gimondo added that 31.3 percent of eighth-graders scored at Level 3 or Level 4 on the math test, which is also an improvement from the previous year. They ranked tenth in the city.
Dr. Gimondo informed that various math programs in place at the school will continue to be held during the current academic school year so that students can achieve even greater gains in the test this coming year.
Dr. Gimondo announced that the American Cancer Society and District 30 are sponsoring the Generation Fit program. As such, a series of health-related lesson plans will be made available to teachers for use in their lessons.
A number of individuals were recently appointed by Dr. Gimondo to various supervisory positions. They include: Eleftheria Delis, principal of P.S. 78; Sloane Titus, assistant principal of I.S. 145; Martha Vazquez, assistant principal of P.S. 69; Jennifer Lozano, administrator of the Committee for Pre-School Special Education; and Gypsy Olmann-Waite, administrator of the Committee for Pre-School Special Education.