July 28, 2003

Dear Constituent:

This letter is to invite you to a very important forum scheduled for Monday, August 25, 2003 that will provide you with vital information regarding the Mayor’s changes in the city’s educational system, and your role, rights and responsibilities as a parent, or simply as a person interested in our city schools.

This past year has produced historic changes in our school system. Between the School Governance Laws passed by the state Legislature and the unprecedented changes undertaken by Mayor Bloomberg and School Chancellor Klein, the school system and its procedures will be almost unrecognizable to parents and others familiar with the old system. These changes offer an opportunity for great progress for our schools and our students but only if each of us is aware of the changes and make them work to the advantage of our students and ourselves. Topics to be covered include:

• Are you aware that your community school board will be replaced by a new panel to be voted on in October, and in order to vote on these members, you must be a member of the Parent’s Association of your school?
• What is a "Parent Coordinator" and how do they impact you and your child’s education?
• What are the "Parent Academies" and Parent Support Centers and how can they help you?
• Who do you contact to answer your questions or resolve your problems in the new system ?
• How do the new regions (10 citywide) affect your child or your school, and how do you contact them?
• Will this new system help your child to achieve more and improve his/her education and what can you do to make this happen?

These are but a few of the issues and questions to be addressed at this forum. Panelists invited and expected to participate include: Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott; Chancellor Joel Klein or his representative; Judith Chin Superintendent of Region 3 (includes Districts 25, 26, 28 and 29) ; Parent Coordinator and Parent Advocates; State education representatives to explain the state law and the district education councils (which replace the community school boards), and other experts to help you understand this completely revamped system.

This event is sponsored by me and other elected officials in southeast Queens, and will be held at York College (Atrium) 94-20 Guy Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, NY. The hours are 6pm until 9pm. Please call my office at (718) 657-5312 if you need more details.

Sincerely,
William Scarborough
Assemblyman, 29th AD

District Office: 114-52A Merrick Blvd., St. Albans, New York 11434, (718) 657-5312
Albany Office: Room 602, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248, (518) 455-4451