Okay, good evening everybody. Welcome uh welcome to CEC District 2. My name is Craig Slutzkin. I'm the president of the council and I'm going to call this calendar meeting of CEC2 to order. I will ask the interpreters to
make their announcements. Yes. >> Hello. Good evening. This is an announcement for Spanish interpretation services. Hello. So, the following announcement will be in Korean. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much. Okay. So, I'm going to now ask our recording secretary, Council Member Carr, to take the roll call. Okay. Allison Bowen. Allison Bowen is not here. >> She's uh excused. She's sick. >> Gloria Chu.
Gloria Chu is here. Daniela Egro is >> excused. >> Daniela is excused. Gavin Healey. Gavin Healey is here. Aaron Carr is here. Cody Linquist. Cody Linquist is here. Sam Low. Sam Low is here. Tall Maschay
Tall is here. Roo Mlinov Room is here. Tamira Reed. >> Tamira is coming late. Yes. >> Um, Sabina Serene, >> it's going to be late, but she'll be excused for now. Just kidding.
>> And Craig Slutskin here. >> Craig Slutzkin is here. We have quorum with one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight members present. and Rachel Kenny. Rachel Kenny is here. Ethan Quac. Ethan Quac is here.
Uh before we begin, let me just move this over. Before we begin, I just want to remind everybody that we're here for the children of C of District 2. We have student representatives as part of the CEC. We also have a number of students here and watching at home. So, I'll ask all speakers to be mindful of that when
speaking. Uh reminder that you need to sign up for the speaker uh session. Uh hold on, I will put that in. Uh you need to sign up within a half an hour of the uh meeting start. So we'll say 7:15.
Uh hold on, let me just put that in and I'll add you in a second. uh when you're signing up, if you are a student or you're signing up for your child to speak, please please please note that you there's a place you can you can actually note it because we will put them uh at the top of the at the top of
the list. Uh before we move on, I just want to take a moment to review how we'll be using the chat tonight. It's the same procedure as we've been doing for the past few months, and I think it's been going well. The chat's going to stay open for most of the meeting. It's going to be closed during the deputy superintendent's report and during public speaking. Outside of those
two sections, it will remain available. When the chat is open, we ask everybody to keep comments respectful and focused on the meeting. Chat is public, including to students. So, a good guide is to write in a way you'd be comfortable with your own child seeing. You're welcome to raise points or quest
ask questions in the chat. Council members will check it periodically, but our main responsibility is running the meeting. We won't be watching the chat at every moment, so we may not see things right away. Uh, and we're trusting everybody to keep the space constructive. If something crosses the line, name calling, profanity, anything
similar, we may remove someone or close the chat after a warning. Because we're not monitoring continuously, we may not catch issues immediately. We ask for everybody's patience and understanding. The goal here is simply to keep the meeting running smoothly for everyone.
Council members also won't be deliberating in the chat. Those discussions need to happen in the open where everybody, including those watching on YouTube or attending in person, can follow along. When the chat is closed, participants will still be able to message the hosts for technical reasons. For example, if the sound stops
working, so this way we know. A quick reminder, the most effective way to make your voice heard is by signing up to speak during the public session. The chat is not the official avenue for raising or debating issues, and it isn't part of the public record. If there's a topic you want to be a council to
address, the public speaking session is the right place to bring it forward. Thank you for helping us keep the meeting respectful and productive. Uh we will start off uh next on the approval of the minutes from the April meeting. The minutes have been
distributed to you and they've been posted on the website. Are there any corrections? Hearing none. Uh if there are no further no corrections, the minutes are approved as distributed. Thank you. Okay, now we will present the first res resolution. We only have one resolution
tonight. Resolution 299 calling for transparency, community input, and independent review of the DYCD middle school after school procurement process and reinstatement of Manhattan youth as the afterchool provider at affected D2 middle schools. I think I might have
broken the record for longest title on a resolution. Um, but in any event, it's not the record I always figured I'd be doing when I was a kid. Um, I will present I'm going to present that tonight. We will discuss it more later on. So, I wanted to briefly discuss or
summarize what resolution 299 calls for and why I think it's necessary. DYCD, which is a city agency, it's not DOE. It's a totally different agency. Quietly replaced after school providers across the city, including at many of our D2 middle schools without any notice
to families, without opportunity for input, and without any public explanation. Long-standing providers were removed overnight. New providers were assigned, some with little or no middle school experience, and the people most affected, families, students, and
school communities, were kept entirely in the dark until the decisions were already made. Principles were told they can only include one other administrator and zero families or students in the ranking process. And then even after PR principles in our district overwhelmingly ranked Manhattan youth as
their top choice, those rankings seemingly were ignored. No scoring, no rationale, no transparency. No appeals process that families can actually access. Just a decision handed down from above with the expectation that communities would quietly accept it.
This has disrupted afterchool program for hundreds of families in District 2 and thousands citywide. This is not just a District 2 issue and it's not just a disruption. It's the message that it sends. Families don't matter. School leaders don't matter and the city can make sweeping decisions about children's
daily lives without involving the people who live with the consequences. Meanwhile, my understanding is Manhattan youth has been doing exceptional work for years. Robotics, debate, journalism, chess, ML sports, uh, and the kind of consistent high-quality programming
families rely on. Many incoming families even made their middle school decisions based on the expectation on these prop that these programs will continue. The community response has been enormous. Over 400 emails to this council and others. It's a it's a widespread email. Almost 5,000 petition signatures,
rallies, outreach to elected officials and parents and students mobilizing because they feel they've been blindsided and excluded. Resolution 299 is our response to this breakdown. First, it calls why D calls on DYCD to reinstate Manhattan youth that every district 2 middle school if where the
principal ranked them first. Second, it calls on the New York City controller to conduct an investigation on how this procurement was handled, the scoring, the qualifications of the of the providers, the exclusion of families, and any potential conflicts of interest. And third, it demands real standards for
future procurements, mandatory public notice, real opportunities for family and SLT input, transparent scoring, and a meaningful appeals process. At its core, this resolution is really about accountability throughout saying that Pam family should not be shut out. Principles should not be ignored. I will
also say that our friends at CEC3 issued a letter last week similar to this resolution. I've also spoken to my counterparts at several other CEC's including CEC25 in Queens, CEC20 in Brooklyn amongst others. Thank you.
So that is the resolution. We will dis we will uh discuss it as a council in a little bit. Uh we will also allow for obviously public comment. I know there are a lot of people who wish to speak about it. So, now we move to our program presentations and we're I'm going to
introduce uh our deputy superintendent, Kelly Shannon, who's going to introduce our guests. We are privileged tonight to have uh several of our assistant principles who have who are now tenured assistant principles in our district. They're across various schools, various levels of schools. Uh we're proud that
they were uh promoted and we're proud of the job that they have done. Uh and we're glad we're uh excited to hear from them tonight. So, uh, Deputy Superintendent Shannon, uh, I will turn it over to you and you should be able to unmute yourself. >> Yes. Thank you so much, Craig. Um, good evening to the council, to the community
members. We're happy to be here tonight. Um, we're excited, as Craig shared, on behalf of Superintendent McGuire and myself, um, to really celebrate our newly tenured assistant principles. This recognition really reflects not only their dedication and leadership, but the meaningful impact they are already
having in their school communities. What has been especially inspiring is that these leaders recently presented during our district assistant principal roundt conference where they shared the focus of their work um this past year. So much of what was learned from each of them.
So much was learned from each of them. One of the values we hold deeply in district 2 and one that connected to our belief connected to one of our beliefs is that we grow stronger when we share our expertise, our thinking and our learning with one another. These leaders modeled that beautifully. Tonight, each
assistant principal will briefly introduce themselves, share a little bit about their journey, highlight the focus of their work, and speak to a key area of focus moving into the fall connected to their school goals. We are incredibly proud of their leadership and grateful for the ways they continue to strengthen
our schools and support our students, staff, and families. So, it's my pleasure to introduce them this evening. So, first up, we welcome Jerome Ellison, the assistant principal from the Clinton School. Thank you, Kelly, for introducing me. Um, I just want to start by saying I'm
very grateful to be receiving tenure as an AP in a district 2. I've been in the DOE for 18 years. Uh, I started out in Brooklyn in district 13 at a school called PSA. I taught in Brooklyn Heights. I taught first grade. I've
taught fifth grade, middle school math. I was a middle school math coach, the dean at a middle school. and then now I moved into district 2 as an AP. Uh this is my fifth year at the Clinton School. Um so I would say at Clinton I I do a
few things but mainly I things that I focus mostly on is restorative practices um community belonging equity and then mathematics. Those are like I would say my key things that I like to hang my hat on. Um the last over the last couple of
years we've really really tried to do a lot of work with community and belonging and equity specifically this year in math going through the tenure process and sharing with other APs. One of the things I focused on was how do we you know we have we're using IM. So, how do
we create an environment in the classroom in the math classroom that's conducive to to mathematical learning, right? So, how do we create an environment where students are willing to take risks, where they're willing to collaborate and share with each other um and and not only just talking about the
environment, but providing feedback to teachers in a in a thoughtful way that allow them to get support with creating this classroom environment. Um, we all we've also looked at how do we engage parents, you know, parents of students with special needs, parents of students of color, and how do we do that in a
more restorative way so that we can get feedback to continue to create the environment that's conducive to success. So, I think one thing I always try to reiterate to my staff is, you know, looking at students as as as seeds, right? And we're we're trying to plant seeds so that they can grow and thrive,
but instead of looking at the seed as being the problem, how do we create the environment? and how to make sure they have the right sunlight, the right amount of rain, the right soil so that they can thrive. And it's really about relationships, making sure they feel like they can connect to adults, making sure they feel like they can connect to
each other, and making sure they feel seen and heard in the classroom. So um doing that work, leading that work, modeling that work for teachers and I think um like I said providing thoughtful feedback to teachers and how they can create that environment and and
and do that to students and then even get feedback from students and how we can be better in that. I think we've seen a lot of growth I think this year even in our I already scores and I think also will show up in our state testing scores where students are just more engaged in the learning and they're
they're more excited to learn especially in math. Um and I think that that is you know the type of environment we want to create so students can thrive. >> Thank you so much Jerome. Really appreciate your presentation. And next up will be Susanna Plunkett from PS3.
Hi everyone. Good evening. I'm Susanna and um this is I think it's my 21st year in District 2. So I'm a proud District 2 educator. I I started out at an an elementary school on the Upper East
Side. Um now I'm at PS3 in the West Village. And um a good chunk of those 21 years I was a classroom teacher and a few of them an instructional coach focused on math. Um and it's been one of
the highlights of my job this year to have the opportunity to focus on math and math instruction. And a big part of my focus this year has just been working alongside teachers with the planning, coaching, giving them meaningful
feedback, um, and opportunities for professional development to build more capacity for, uh, good math instruction and consistent math instruction, um, no matter what classroom you might be visiting at PS3
or grade level. And um I really think that the collaboration that my talented staff has um engaged in this year has really made tremendous growth in that endeavor that we are
working together to be more consistent and more focused on state standards and also what kids are doing and saying um and how they're feeling um about math. So, um, looking ahead to next year,
um, I'm hoping, like I said, it's a highlight for me when I have the opportunity to focus on instruction. I it's it's why I became an educator. So, I love the opportunity to do that and I want to continue um focusing on math and
strengthening consistency uh just in our core instruction and also helping teacher teams really use um student data to think about how they can improve their core instruction um and
make sure that everyone is engaged and making progress um and has access. So, thank you so much. I I I second what Jerome said. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a part of District 2 and also to for the for earning tenure.
So, thank you so much. Uh good night. >> Thank you, Susanna. Really appreciate it. And next up is um Kelly Buck. And we're excited to hear from Kelly. >> Hi, everyone. I'm I'm grateful to be here tonight as well. I'm from Wagner Middle School and I've been a proud wolf
since 2013. Um I started as a science teacher there um and then transitioned to this role in 2021. Um over the past couple of years we've been working hard with our large staff um on building coherence. How can we get all of our
teachers moving in the same direction? Um and we've collaboratively engaged in the question of how we're changing the experience the everyday experience of our students particularly in priority groups like our students with disabilities and our multil- language learners. Um, so last year we began this
work by using data to develop student center schoolwide goals that everyone has a piece of from our PE teachers to our science teachers to our math teachers. Um, and then we developed professional learning uh with our staff that engaged them in how they're
changing their instruction, how they're changing what they're doing so that our students have a different experience. Um, and it's been really exciting to see our teachers engage in this work. um and we've really been able to build it out into an action research. So all of our teachers um are collecting data, they
are making informed changes and then they're going back to the students or going back to their partner teachers to get data and feedback about how it's actually working or not so that they can make another informed decision. So and I I think that process I'm an engineer by
training and I I really value that iterative process of let's try something see what's working and not. um and all of our staff is along on this journey of of trying getting data and trying something new. So, we're hoping to kind of continue with this pattern um next year in all of our spaces and all of our
departments and self- selected groups um so that we're all continually pushing our own practices forward so that we see different outcomes from our students. Um it's really been an honor to have helped lead this work and I'm excited for the future. So, thank you for the opportunity.
Thank you so much, Kelly, for sharing with us. And I'm not sure Kathy's here right now. So, we're going to move to Matt McInley from lab. No, no, Kathy's here in in She's present. >> Oh, she is. Okay. So, Kathy's next. Kathy is our assistant principal from um LMC.
>> Yes. Okay. Um hi, I'm Kathy Sheay. I am the assistant principal at Laura Manhattan Community Middle School. This is my fifth year. Um, I was a teacher at Wagner Middle School for 12 years before that. So, I've always been in district 2. I was an ELA teacher. Um, and before
that, I was a journalist up in Rochester, New York. Um, so I what my focus is at LMC, uh, humanities. I head the humanities department, but also this year I've been really focused on the literacy side of MTSS. uh and really
supporting our teachers in how do we provide supports, reading supports to our students, intervention services in the tier one setting because we have limited time, limited resources. Um and we've been really focusing on that this year doing trying to implement uh small
group reading instruction when we can. And then going forward into next year is going to lead us into because we um are we have not implemented win wisdom yet. So we're excited to implement it starting next year. So, we're trying to think about how we can weave in the reading support that we've been doing
the MTSS work with this new curriculum by still implementing it with fidelity, um being able to give the same uh levels of rigor to all our students, but also really supporting our students with uh with learning disabilities, uh English language learners, and really still um
holding true to that small community vibe that we have um that we are proud of at LMC. Thank you. Thank you so much, Kathy. Really appreciate you. Um, and last but not least, Matt McInley from Lab.
>> All right. Thanks, Kelly. Good evening, everyone. My name is Matt McInley, and I am incredibly proud to serve as an assistant principal at New York City Lab Middle School. This marks my 14th year at Lab, a community that has truly become a second home to me. I began at
lab as a special education teacher through the NYC teaching fellows and over the years I've had the privilege of also serving as an intervention teacher, special education department leader and dean before stepping into my current role five years ago. I consider myself deeply fortunate to work in a school
where leadership is rooted in collaboration and shared responsibility. That supportive structure has been instrumental in my continued growth as an educator and as a leader. While our team shares the work of running the school, my primary areas of focus are technology, school climate and culture,
new teacher mentoring, and logistics. This past year, we were given a wonderful opportunity through class reduction funding, allowing us to thoughtfully transition from 33 down to 23 students per classroom. Maximizing the impact of this shift has been a central focus for us, and it will remain
a top priority next year. We are thinking creatively about our physical spaces, ensuring we fully leverage the power of two educators in our co-taught classrooms and building in more frequent meaningful assessments so our teachers can truly keep a pulse on student learning and well-being. Looking ahead
to the fall, another major priority for us will also be the adoption of the wet and wisdom ELA curriculum Kathy mentioned. Our dedicated staff has already leaned into this transition, engaging in numerous trainings and visiting other schools to see the curriculum in action. We are energized
by this change and incredibly optimistic about the academic benefits it will bring to our students. Finally, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the CEC for the invitation to be here tonight and the opportunity to share a bit about our work. I also want to thank Superintendent Magcguire, Deputy
Superintendent Shannon, and the entire district team for your ongoing support and guidance. It is the honor of my career to serve the students and families of this city and I am profoundly humbled to receive tenure in a community and from leaders I respect so deeply. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much Matt and thank you to all our assistant principles as I shared last week when they presented at the assistant principal conference. Each of them left an indelible mark on those who are able to listen to the work that's ongoing and created a new opportunity for them to branch their work not only
with their school but with schools across district 2. And there's so much power in the collective effort. So, thank you to all of you and I look forward to the coming weeks as we finish out this school year and I get to visit each of your schools. Thank you for being here with us this evening.
So, I want to I want to thank all of the assistant principles for I want to thank all the assistant principles for for coming. Um, I think we are blessed with with an abundance of of really talented uh people. It's always good to see upward mobility within the district as
well. We it's it's a testament to the princip the amazing principles and the district leadership that we are able to to uh really cultivate some some really good talent uh in the district. I also I I heard a lot of we're going to be implementing Whiten Wisdom when one of
the things that that we're lucky about in district 2 is that we have a number of schools uh that have been that have implemented it either last year or even the year before like my school. Uh so there's a wealth of experience uh that you can draw upon from from other principles and also of course uh
Superintendent Maguire and Deputy Superintendent Shannon uh who are you know leaders in this area. Um, does my I want to ask my council if they have any questions for the for the um new assistant principal or sorry the newly tenured assistant principles. Sorry,
they're not new assistant principles. Sorry. We'll we'll save that for for the fall. I know I I know of one that is just looking forward to coming. Kelly, are there any questions from the council? Okay. Well, thank you all so
much for being here. Thank you. Where where are you? Thank you. Somewhere back there. Thank you for me. Thank you so much for coming tonight. Thank you for coming out tonight. Appreciate it. Uh and we are looking forward to uh seeing you. I know we had our school spotlights, the superintendent school
spotlights at some of your schools. I know PS3 we were at for example. I'm sure we will uh have seeing be seeing you at some of them next year as well. So uh looking forward to working with each and every one of you. Thank you so much for coming.
Okay. Uh moving along, uh the next uh item on the agenda is the is uh the New York City Public School Division of Enrollment. Uh we have the chief enrollment officer, Travonda Kelly, and her team here tonight. Um there were some questions at the last um at the
last meeting about uh how middle school admissions played out in district 2. There were questions on waiting lists and how it worked with uh inzone and out of zone students. Uh so superintendent Magcguire and I thought that it would be a good idea to bring uh enrollment in uh
into this meeting to answer some questions. We did some of the council members did submit questions. I will Travonda will talk about this but I will I will also preface it that getting a lot of data takes a lot of time and the division of enrollment is in its
probably busy I you can disagree with me if you want Travanda but it's probably its busiest year time of the year because you have high school enrollment, middle school enrollment, G&T enrollment, kindergarten enrollment, pre-K enrollment, 3K enrollment, and now
2K enrollment all at the same time. So they, you know, some of the some of the requests that we made will they will the responses will be forthcoming. Uh but in fairness to the division of enrollment, they just they don't have they they just could not gather all the information tonight. Uh and and I want to be respectful to them and their time as
well because they are doing a a huge amount of work, especially this time of year. So um Travanda, do you want to introduce yourself and your team? >> Yeah, sure. Um good evening everyone. I'm Travanda Kelly. I'm the chief enrollment officer. I hope you all can
hear me. Okay, I'm in the process of still trans transporting from um the office. Um but happy to be here and you know Craig once thanks thank you so much for the invitation. I think it's always good for us to be in the space to have conversations like this and to answer
whatever questions and provide uh context on decisions that we make. um to the point that he made about what we're working on. We have very we have been very busy with admissions um getting our offers and we just recently um these
offers for 3K and as mentioned we're about to open up the 2K admissions process. So while we are so appreciative of the questions that were provided up front um just to be completely candid and transparent we don't have that data
available. Um what we do have is answers to questions. I do have someone from the team who's been very much involved. He actually leads the middle school admissions process. And so when we looked at the questions that you all have, we know that uh middle school admissions questions are at top of mind.
So I'm happy to have my colleague here to answer those questions. As far as those data requests, some of them we can provide information. We do provide an admissions summary in June. So in a few weeks we'll be able to provide the summary of what those
outcomes look like so that there's more information that can be provided there and then also additional requests that have been made can also be provided um ad hoc and so we're happy to do that as well. So I I wanted to kind of start that off and and thank you so much for
Craig for you sharing that information and we can get into the specific questions that you all have now that we are able to answer. Um, I'll pass it over to my uh colleague to introduce himself and we can go ahead and answer questions. Thank you for having me again. >> Thank you, Tronda, and thank you
everyone for inviting me. My name is Ahmad Chalet. I lead the middle school admissions team at the office of student enrollment. >> Should I just let you should I just start with the questions we are able to answer? Oh, are you guys able to hear me?
>> Yeah, we can. It's just low and we're fixing that, but go ahead. >> Oh, okay. So, should I just start with the questions? We are able to Okay, so question five. Um the question was are outofd district students who are being admitted to the
zoned general program at a zoned school limiting the number of in district students being admitted to the screen program at those schools. So um the short answer is no. Out of district students in zone programs do not limit or reduce the number of screen seats
available to ind district students. Target seat numbers for screen programs and zone programs are determined independently prior to the cycle opening. So a school's total building capacity accommodates both, but one program does not cannibalize the seats
of other programs. Um to question seven, for the screen programs, were there were there any priority groups um aside from district 2 priority? No, the only priority group there was there's only two priority groups. The first one is D2
priority. The second is everybody else. For question eight, please confirm district 2 priority means students who either live in district 2 or currently attend an elementary school in district 2. I can confirm that when a student
receives district 2 priority, it means they either attend school in district 2, an elementary school, or they live in district 2. The next one was question nine. The DOE website says applicants receive a new
random number for each weight list that they're on. Can we confirm that this is accurate and actually happening in practice as parents can't verify that? So yes, this is functionally accurate and it is performing exactly how it was
designed. Um just to confirm a student's original lottery number from the main application does not carry over to the weight list. The random number itself is a backend technical string just purely used to just sort the students. If
student if families are interested in what their weight list random number is, they can just reach out to us at MS Enrollment and we can share that information with them. The reason why we do not show it is because it it's just a string of numbers and if you do not have
the if you do not know the other students weight list uh numbers, you kind of won't be able to figure out if it's uh like a strong random number or a weak random number. the same way you're able to do it during the main application. >> Are there any additional questions to
that before I move on to the next one? >> So, >> about the weight and I I'll ask the council, but but but you said reach out to you, Travonda or something. Could somebody put in in the chat just where to reach out to like >> like either you or Travana if you can at some point do that in the chat.
>> I'll drop Yeah, I'll drop it in the chat. No problem. >> Thank you. And sorry, do any of the council members have questions on what they've said so far? >> Thank you. Okay, go ahead. >> Okay. Uh, question 12. >> Sorry. Sorry. Just for the record, just
uh Victor, Council Member Reed is online, so she's she's here. She's on the meeting. Thank you. >> Go ahead. >> So, for question 12, has a comparison been done between the number of students accepted into a school and building
capacity? For example, is there more space at, let's say, Wagner than students actually admitted? We're wondering if that is done to prevent other schools that students generally may not rank higher into funneling more students into those
schools. So, yes, a comparison between projected enrollment and building capacity is conducted every single cycle. However, we do not artificially restrict available seats at high demand schools to intentionally force um families to be fun students to be funneled into like um schools that may
not be um may be considered underenrolled. So, um these targets are based on a school's physical building capacity, you know, laws around uh class size u metriculation rates and retention metrics.
So, those were the questions that we were able to answer that as Travonda mentioned before, the data question. We will have that for you um sometime in the future, but right now we don't have it. But does anyone have any questions regarding what I just went over?
>> So, are there any questions from the council on what either what they went over or anything else for that matter? Because we have as long as we have enrollment here, ask away. Yeah. >> Okay. How's that? Um, oh, so can you I I
think the question the data question was my question that that you don't have an answer to right now. Um, can you let us know when you will provide us with the answer to that question? >> Hi. >> Hi, Gavin. Yes. um one of your question
that is one of the questions there were tons of data questions and yes >> that's another one of the questions >> so so yes um we're working on them I think for your question in particular I don't believe we'll have the data exactly the way that you asked but we will be we'll be able to provide you
with some data and have conversations around what it is that you're looking for and how we can provide get closer to what you you're asking for but there were a lot more data requests than just Thank you. Yeah, just just for the record, the the question I asked was
around um the demographic data around our fours uh middle school programs that have screen admissions. uh just to get a sort of comparison between the demographics in terms of terms of race,
gender, um ELLL status, uh SVD status, and also um ENI poverty level between uh those four schools that have screened admissions and um uh versus their their sort of general um education cohorts.
>> Second. Okay. Any other questions? Shanda, I think we're letting you off pretty easily tonight. I've been in other meetings with her where we haven't let let her off so easily. >> Traban is great though, by the way. So, >> definitely my pleasure and and I hope this is not the last time, first or last
time that we're here. Um, we want to be able to provide as much information as possible. We know that the admissions process, enrollment in general is complex and as much information as we can provide and answers to questions, we're willing to do so. So, please, you know, let us know. I know that we're here talking about middle school, but
obviously there are a lot of other um admission processes that may touch your world, and we're happy to answer any questions that you may have about any of them. >> Thank you. Okay, thank you so much. Uh Amed Travza, thank you so much for coming. Uh we'll uh look forward to
seeing you maybe maybe in the July or August meeting if you're around. Uh you know by then hopefully we'll have some some more at least some of these these uh questions we might have the data for. I I know it might be iterative. We might get some you know a little at a time and that's that's fine. Totally get >> correct. That that's that's fine. I saw
a question or maybe a couple that come came in the chat. Um you can always send them to me and I can uh provide some responses so you can get back to >> Yeah. Yeah. And some Yes. And some of them are not some of them like about implementation of class size. >> No, I was talking about specifically
>> former some some of them will will direct towards the super the deputy superintendent but uh you know we know some of them are are more for your department. >> Yep. >> So >> thank you. I appreciate it. >> Thank you so much. Thank you so much both of you for coming. >> All right. Byebye.
>> Okay. Um so before the ne the next piece would be my my report and then uh the deputy superintendent's report. However, we do have a number of students here tonight that want to speak. Would anybody have an objection to letting the student just reversing doing the public
session just for the students now so if they want to get out of here they don't have to wait another 20 minutes or whatever that okay with everybody? >> Okay. >> Okay. Good. I want to get you home. I was going to say for Dallas, but age aging myself. Um,
uh, okay. So, uh, the way it works is we have you're going to go if you're a student when we call your name, you're going to go up to the podium up there. If you want to take your parent with you for moral support, that's totally fine. And then you just speak and you get about two minutes. We'll we'll be a little bit flexible with for the for the
students up there, but you're going to go up to the podium. If you're not comfortable sitting standing at the podium, that's fine. And if you want to do it somewhere else, we're I I think we're all okay with that as well. Okay. Okay. So, now we're going to start off
with people who are here. And by the way, this I'm reading off of who is a said they said they're a student. Okay. So, the first person is Julian Ruiz. Just right. Just right there, please.
>> By the podium by the fan. Right. Right by the fan. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> I got put in Wagner Middle I put Wagner Middle School as my top choice for middle school when I was in fifth grade. And that was because of the film making after school that made Wagner stand out to me. When I entered Wagner in sixth
grade, I also did many other school classes, after school classes, such as comic book, screenwriting, myths and legends, and so much more. These classes were all amazing, and I made so many great friends in those classes. These friends were interested in the same
things that I was, and I could not have met them without Manhattan Youth Program. I cannot forget that the classes could not be as great as they are without amazing teachers like Dylan and Rose who are always so kind, helpful, and encouraging to me and all the other students. I also cannot forget
Marilyn, the director of the Manhattan youth, who is constantly doing things to make everyone enjoy the program and was very successful in that mission. I cannot imagine Wagner Middle School without Manhattan Youth and that is why we need to save Manhattan Youth. Thank
you. Thank you so much. Great job. The next student is Satie Walker. I'm a seventh grader at Wagner Middle School and I'm speaking to protest the defunding of Wagner's after school program with Manhattan Youth. Manhattan
Youth means so much to me and everyone else in these middle schools they work with. And I can't believe the DYCD in the city would even think about taking it away, especially without taking our opinion into consideration. We are the ones who take this after school. Shouldn't we be a major part in the decision? Manhattan Youth is the reason
I am always excited to come to school. I come to this after school from 2:40 to 5:45 almost every day. The Manhattan Youth staff were what kept me going all the time. In the musical, they gave me confidence and helped me make more friends and be a better friend myself. In fact, a majority of my friends are
from the musical. Next year is my last year at Wagner. I finally gained enough confidence to try out for a big role, maybe even a lead. But no, the DYCD in the city had to go and take away this afterchool opportunity away since Manhattan Youth runs the music school. This is so messed up. The Manhattan
Youth after school staff know me. The real me, not the one trying to fit in with everyone else in middle school. Not the one trying to impress the teachers. The real me. I have enjoyed every single one of these after schools and they have meant so, so much to me, more than anyone could ever understand. I'm always
excited knowing I have chorus and newsletter on Mondays, the musical and paint and chip on Wednesdays, the musical and myths and legends on Thursdays, and filmmaking on Fridays. Manhattan Youth has made middle school some of the best years of my life, which I know is unusual for middle school. This is why the city and the DYCD need
to keep Manhattan Youth at Wagner. We have the largest middle school in Manhattan, and Manhattan Youth can reach so many more people who need this program now more than ever in these years. Manhattan youth is what makes Wagner such an inviting, exciting, and vibrant community. Manhattan Youth Whoa.
Middle School is a really, really hard time for many kids. And a large reason I have benefited, learned from it, and had it be awesome is because of Manhattan Youth. We have had Manhattan Youth at Wagner for eight years. And those eight years have made such a big difference in our community. I also know in every middle school Manhattan Youth has been
in, they have benefited the community. I've read many comments from people in other middle schools, and we all want Manhattan Youth to stay. The staff at Manhattan Youth know everyone and always bring a smile to people's faces when they see them walk by in the hallway. Marilyn, Gray, Zia, Lyric, Tiana, Tana,
Angel, Josh, JP, Dylan, Lexa, Lauren, and many, many more are always so nice to us and share so many memories with us. We can't lose that. The DYCD and the city can't take this away from us. When I heard the news, I looked around and all I could see was everyone crying, full-on balling. Me included. Manhattan
Youth means so much to us, and I don't know what the school could ever do without it. If anyone would even see one of our performances, a musical or film festival or arts and crafts festival or even the online petition, which has almost 5,000 signatures, they would understand how much this really means to all of us, every single one in the
school. I've been to many, many different after schools, but no one has made me feel as welcome as Manhattan Youth has. So, please stop this insanity and the fullon tears because we won't rest until Manhattan Youth is back at Wagner and all of the other middle schools. Thank you for your time. Stay.
>> Thank you. So I don't see any other students that signed up unless this sometimes people write the wrong thing. Are there any other students here who did want to speak who did not sign up? So I'll let you >> it's okay if you >> go ahead. Go ahead.
you know, we have I have all people. >> Um I'm a sixth grader at Yorkville East Middle School and this year I have experienced Manhattan Youth. Um my family for the past three years, my
brother has gone to Yorkville. So I already have these bonds with my Manhattan youth teachers, like my fencing coach. Um, if you if you take away Manhattan youth, you will be breaking these bonds that the students
have with their teachers. No more seeing them, no more time with them. You'll be breaking these friendships. Thank you so much. So now we have a few people who from from from who are at home who signed up.
The first person is Al who signed up and I think is a student because they know notice Allison Cohost and other members if you can help me I don't see them I don't see Allison there. Okay, the next person,
uh, Satie Walker spoke already. Nicole Christ. Nicole Chris. Is there a Christ? Okay, if you could let her in. >> Hi. You know what? Actually, my daughter decided not to speak, so I'll speak
later on when the parents are speaking, so I signed up again. >> Okay. Uh, Reed Smith. Is there a Reed Smith in the I would take I would assume just try it. Yeah, that that's that's the middle name. That's that's that's definitely
it. Okay, >> this is Reed's mom. I think he got signed off and he's not here with me. So, he'll um would have echoed what the other student said. >> Okay. If he comes back later, just just raise your hand or put put a note in the chat and we'll
>> Sure. Thanks so much. >> Okay, let's see. Uh, a c a cash hemp hill. >> Yep. Eighth grader from Wagner. Yep. >> Hi. I hope you can hear us. Akash is
here and he'll be ready to speak. And there we go. Go ahead. Um, I'm Akash Hempill and I'd like to just speak about the Manhattan Youth Resolution and express my desire to for Manhattan Youth continue in District 2. I go to I go to Wagner and I've just been able to try so many new things because of Manhattan
Youth, uh, like jazz band and film making and now playing bass has become one of my favorite activities because of them. And I want the same for all the younger kids at Wagner. And my brother, he goes to Yorkville and he loves the fencing program, but he can't do that if Manhattan Youth isn't there anymore. So,
I just want to ask that the council support this resolution and the s the continuation of Manhattan Youth in District 2. Thank you. >> Thanks. Thank you so much. >> Okay, the next person might have signed up as the parent, but for for their child, I think this name sounds very
familiar. Charles Todd. >> Uh yeah, that's me. Um I am a sixth grader at Lab Middle School. My name is Charles Todd and I have a lot of things to say about Manhattan Youth. Manhattan Youth is
really great. I do it most days. I was in the school musical. I was in I'm in newspaper currently and I'm in Dungeons and Dragons. I'm in so much after school programs. it. Um, after school with Manhattan Youth is
really great and I just really want you guys to keep it because like even if there's always tons of people who um are joining Manhattan Youth programs every trimester and then they just keep on getting better. I also want to shout out
Cara Spencer who is the manager of Manhattan Youth at Lab Middle School and amazing teachers in Manhattan Youth like Avery and Josh. Manhattan Youth is just amazing. You guys should really keep it.
>> Thank you. >> He He looks familiar. Um G Gareth Porter. And I think >> I'm I'm a parent so I'll wait. >> I'm sorry. >> I'm a parent so I can wait. >> Okay. Okay. And then Rayan
Buer. Ber B Hu. Yeah. Yeah. >> Hi, that's me. >> So, I understand that in Wagner you're going to re I think so you might be replacing Manhattan youth with some sort
of tennis based program because Wagner has four tennis courts in the yard. I'm going to say I'm currently on Wagner's varsity tennis team. And coming from a tennis player, I really don't think that you should remove all of the amazing things that Manhattan Youth has done for
Wagner just for one particular sport because Manhattan Youth so many different things and like Satie who spoke earlier, she's my friend. She's in the musical. Everybody in the musical is amazing. It's one of my favorite parts of the year. I personally was in the
stage crew for the musical. And again, I've also done a lot of after school programs. The staff again are amazing. Some of the nicest teachers I've ever known, like ever. This is awkward. Wait, what was I going
to say? This is not good. Okay, so yeah, just don't get rid of it. It's amazing. Thank you. >> Okay, so that's it for for students who signed up. Are there any students? because I know it's a little bit confusing sometimes this the sign up. Are there any other students put if you
could raise your hand in the chat? Please only raise your hand if you're a student who would like to speak. Not a parent who wants to get in quickly. Okay, we'll give you a sec. Give everybody a second just to to see if any any other current students. Uh you could
be a high school student. Doesn't have to be a D2 student. You could be a high school student. But if any students want to speak, somebody else Oh, go ahead. Come, come. and um I'm here today. I didn't really plan to be speaking but um I just wanted
to talk about me. So over my three years at middle school after release I participated in Dungeons and Dragons Club, the fencing club and faith club and I think that these things have done so much for me personally. Um, coach Yoda at our
fencing uh at the fencing program. He taught me so many things that I take with me to middle school. I'm trying to start the fencing club at my high school because of all these incredible friends. I wouldn't have miss I attribute a lot of what I'm able to
do. Iute being able to speak here right to the creating that I was a part of. Um, a big part of what I do in high school now is a I'm on the national circle. I competed at Harvard. I think this is because of the opportunities that I'm having. I think it's because of
the opportunities that I've had from these programs. Um, our debate on Dungeons and Dragons just club. I guess I've learned so much. I was able to speak creatively in front of my friends. I've learned that over the years that I've had it in middle school because of
Manhattan. So stand in front of all I'm not suggesting that you stay in Manhattan. I'm not saying that something should do. I'm demanding it in the future. Thank you. >> We do have We do have a few Are we back?
Oh, it's loading up. >> Okay. We do have a few students who did want to speak. Every hands are raised. We'll start off with Kenneth Char Kenneth Charberry. >> Um, hello. My name is Slate Carberry. I am a sixth grader at Yorkville East.
>> Hold on. Hold on one second, Ken. Hold on one second, Ken. Because otherwise, it's going to come out from my computer and nobody's going to hear. Are we ready to start? What is going on? Um, may I I'll start now.
>> Um, I am Slate Carberry. I'm a student at York Police Middle School. I personally participate in the debate team, the school musical. I was on the the tech team for that. I also
participated in NYC GO and I really enjoy these um programs and I think if we take away Manhattan youth, replace it with the YMCA or whatever other replacement, we might not be able to have those and that would be a real
shame. Please keep Manhattan Youth. Okay. I can't hear anything. Hi. Can you hear me? Can't hear anything. Okay, I can't hear anything, but if you can hear me.
Can everyone hear me? Just write it in the chat because I can't hear anything and I can't seem to get my video going. Okay, great. Thank you. Um, sorry I I missed um my opportunity to speak earlier. I was late. Um, had a a work call. Um, my name is Allison Kohhos. My
son uh goes to um Lab Middle School. Um he's in the Nest program. He has a disability. Um Manhattan Youth has been everything to us. The relationship, the programming. Um he does these wonderful
programs like stock market games and and just just wonderful things that really excite him. Um I'm really afraid that the after school programming is going to be like elementary school programming um which
is really just not very um in you know interesting and doesn't have really great programming and and the um after school at Manhattan youth are just wonderful. They're really good with him. The contacts are amazing. Um, and I just want to say that I really think it would
be a ve a huge disadvantage to lose them as a program. I have another son who's going to Yorkville Middle School and I know that he would also thrive in um Manhattan Youth after school program and I I think it would be a huge loss. Um, and I don't know where my son would be without this program um at Lab Middle
School. So that's all. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Hi, Craig. I just got assigned to unmute. Is that for my daughter to speak? Okay. All right. Hold on. Let me
go ahead, Elena. Okay. Ready? My name is Alena Gonzalez and I attend New York Feliz Middle School. Before middle school, I was not interested in sports. I didn't even watch sports on TV. When I started middle school, I decided to join cross country in the girls JV
basketball. I was looking forward for trying out to try out for varsity next year or by 8th grade. But if you take Manhattan youth away, my teammates and I will lose the opportunity. I want to keep these opportunities because the friendships I have made with students and the coaches. Manhattan
Youth has amazing coaches like Kayla, Anthony, Eric, and Miss RH. You are uprooting my middle school and the middle school experiences of so many kids. The worst part is nobody asked us how we feel. It's like we don't even matter. That's why we demand Manhattan
youth to stay at YMS. Hi, my name is Olivia Ting and I am speaking for middle school at Wagner. And I just want to say I really appreciate Manhattan Youth because before I was or went to Manhattan Youth,
I felt like I had no purpose in life. I felt like I had no passion and what to do. But after joining Manhattan Youth, I discovered my passion in film making, the arts, and theater. Without this beautiful program, I won't be able to
experience this passion. Uh, please keep Manhattan Youth so other kids like me who have been having a hard time discovering their true passions can learn and develop new ideas in their brain and help grow on as a person. This
program does not just affect us right now. It will affect us further in the future and how we'll progress in life. Thank you. This Hello. Um, hello. My name is Jillian Gimenez.
trying the fasting history sixth grade and I don't want to like I wanted to there is the after school because I like it to go to after school and Miss Jo and Mr. Josh
is like a father. It's like a a father to me. He's protecting me every time. He's He's like a father. It's I like to go to school to play with my friends. That's what I like it. And
with And sometimes it's happening something to me. I go to Josh and talk to him and relaxing me because sometimes it's like a pushing me bother me for
that I cry and I make it angry but Josh is make it come down me for that I wanted to Josh not go to the school. Thank you. >> Okay,
let me see if I can Okay. While we're trying to figure >> Okay. >> Okay. Hello. Yeah. testing this mic. That mic from those mics. >> No, I can't. Somebody coming.
my computer. I'm mute. That's what testing Testing one, two. Interesting. testing one too >> actually at home for now. Can you hear me? >> Okay.
Okay. I'm going to do my for now. They're still working on this, but since they can that's somehow the reverberation stopped. So, I'm going to get through my president's report. It's like two minutes, but we'll get we'll get through it. Okay. So, you can hear me at home.
>> Now, I cannot. >> Now, you cannot hear me at home. Oh, okay. Sorry. Best late plans for a second. >> No, they're saying we hear you. >> They say they can hear me because it's on my computer. >> Okay. So, I'm going to speak. Can people hear me in the room if I speak loud?
>> Okay. >> Okay. My my son tells me I have no problem screaming at him, so it's fine. Um, anyway, so I apologize for all the issues. Oops, >> that'll pick up both on your laptop and >> Okay.
>> Hello. Okay. >> Okay. So, I hope everybody had a good first few weeks of May and a good Memorial Day weekend. Uh, and hopefully people kept remain dry. So, there are there are actually a lot of updates since the last meeting. A lot of things have happened. So, first a quick update
on the Broadway Educational Campus. The proposal to place a high school in the building that currently houses LMC Middle School was pulled from the PEP agenda uh at the end of April. My hope and frankly my expectation is that the DOE uses this pause to really listen to
families across D2 and even citywide about what they want to see in that space. And that could be anything. It could be the same. Okay, that's not going to work. Okay, that could be any Oh, no. I'm reverberating now.
Give us a second. >> Okay, hold on. Testing one, two, three. Can you hear me at home now? >> They're shaking their heads. Yes, they can hear you. >> Oh, good. We're back. Okay. So you hear me at home.
>> Testing they can hear us. >> They can hear me at home. Testing one, two. I right now I'm saying one, two, three. Can you hear me? Yes. Okay. Yes. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Shannon. Thank you, Russ.
Thank you, Ena. Okay. So, I'll go through my president's report. It's a really good one. So, okay. So, I'll start over again. And thank you everybody for their patience. I I I I do I do uh thank you. Um and by the way, if anybody if if if we have to blame
anyone, just blame Aaron. Um um so the proposal to place a high school in the building that currently houses LMC Middle School was pulled from the PEP agenda uh in April in in April. My hope and frankly my expectation is that the DOE uses this pause to really
listen to families across D2 and even citywide about what they want to see there. And that could be anything. It could be the same proposed high school. It could be an LMC expansion. It could be something altogether different. The point is to have some time to hear the public's thoughts. That's also our bigger conversation about the
chancellor's reggg one A190 which governs changes to school and building utilization. I think we're going to see a lot of discussion over the se next several months about what people want to what people want that regulation to revolve like. So, please stay tuned and if you have thoughts, send them our way.
We genuinely do want to hear them. On AI, we talked about as we talked last month, DOE released new guidance on proposed guidance, I should say, on AI. It's on their website. You can look at it still at schools.nyc.gov. On May 13th, CEC2 hosted a Zoom feedback
session with Chief Academic Officer Mia Terresa Pate and Tara Krosa from the office of the first deputy chancellor. Families had the chance to share their reactions on the draft AI policy and to talk more broadly about AI in schools. I think the overall tone from families was
clear. A lot of caution, a lot of skepticism, wide range of views from wanting tighter guard rails to wanting an outright ban. I want to thank Miss Pate and Miss Krosa for giving our community the space to speak openly. And I want to thank the council members. I think there were several council members
on the call. I think Erin was on, Cody, Gavin, I think Lori was on. I think Sam might have been on. Uh a few others. So, I want to thank everybody who uh who was able to join. And if I'm forgetting, Tam was on also, I think. Uh so, I want to want to thank everybody. I'd like to believe the DOE did hear what families
shared that night and in many other forms and other comment channels and these voices will shape the final policy. If you missed it, you can watch it on our website or under recordings or our YouTube page and I really do recommend listening to it. It was it was an interesting conversation. Quickly on
school governance, it looks like marital control will be extended two years with really not a whole lot of significant changes and that's what at least is expected in the final upcoming bill. On the curriculum, Chancellor Samuels announced an expansion of NYC's curriculum reforms started by the
previous administration, which involves the next phase of two new two initiatives, NYC reads and NYC solves. NYC solves is launching in several elementary schools in four district four school districts, not including D2, but expanding in middle schools. NYC reads
is expanding as well, and it's expanding in our district 2 middle schools. I'm going to let our deputy superintendent discuss during her presentation. And finally on afterchool programs and we had the resolution earlier and we talked about it there and we're going to talk about it again. I don't want to go too deep into it right now. We'll talk more,
but I do want to say just a couple of things. Parents and students have really been mobilized. I'm honestly aruck about how quickly people organized the rallies, one of which I was able to attend at at Baroo. Um the outreach to elected officials, the way communities pulled together and pushed for answers.
It's been powerful to watch. We have our resolution tonight and I know our other councils are moving in the same direction. At the heart of this is a basic issue, transparency and including families and decisions that directly affect our kids which we've talked about especially with for example the Broadway
educational campus. After school program is not a small thing. It's vital especially in middle school where students are beginning are learning independence and figuring out who they are as they grow into teens. families understands that decisions won't always go their way, but I think the frustration here comes from not even
being given the chance to weigh in and frankly from the very clear impression that parents and students might have been intentionally left out of the process. So yes, I'm sure we're going to hear from a lot of angry people tonight. We've heard from many courageous students and I think that anger is coming from a place of caring deeply
about their kids and schools. A few quick notes and then I'll turn it over to the deputy superintendent. PreK and 3K offers are out. I believe you need to accept their offers by June 12th. A reminder to families to activate their NYC Kids Rise account. That's uh as a reminder, starting in kindergarten,
every student gets their own scholarship account. It's part of the Save for College program. You can ask your parent coordinator for assistance if you need it. I do want to acknowledge that the week of May 12th was nurses appreciation week. They are all truly amazing and we know how important they are and I just wanted to uh make that comment. And with
that, I'm going to turn it over. Superintendent Magcguire was unable to attend tonight. He's uh was not feeling well. Uh so we have uh deputy superintendent Kelly Shannon in his place. Uh she has been the deputy superintendent for what four years now? Three years. And before that she was the
principal of PS41 for 72 years or something like that. She was she was the principal for many many many years. Uh not not nearly that much. Um, but any event, we're well uh we're well uh handled by her tonight. So, I'm going to turn it over to uh Deputy Superintendent
Shannon. And she's going to kill me later for that comment, by the way. >> 17 years, not 72, but good evening everyone. Um, thank you to the CEC Council for having me here this evening and to our community members who are showing up tonight. Um, before I actually begin the report, I do want to
share how wonderful it was that our students voices were lifted up first and foremost. Um, it's something that we strive for every day in the work we do as school with our school leaders and as educators is to help our students find their voice and we heard that very clearly tonight about what was
meaningful and impactful to them and we will continue to lift up their voices in everything we hear tonight. So on behalf of um Superintendent Magguire and myself, please know that we're working with each of our school leaders and communities impacted. I've met with each of the school leaders at our principal conference last week and we will
continue to work um with each of the school communities as well as uh we are awaiting ourselves uh followup from DYCD in response to the questions that we've had as well as from our school communities. Thank you to all who have reached out to their school leaders and
to the district um the superintendent's team. we have read through all of those emails and we are passing along the concerns and um questions that are coming up from the community. So, I'm looking forward to Superintendent McGuire returning in a few days to join
us. Um I want to start off um by talking about um how important it is to me having been in this district for 32 years to be able to support our school leaders, the educators, our student staff, our D2 team and families across District 2. So tonight I'm going to highlight just a few examples of the
joyful learning, strong community partnerships, and >> sorry important instructional work happening across our schools. Um I don't know if Craig's able to share the slide yet, but when he does, >> give me a minute. Give me a minute, but go ahead. But I'll catch up to you. >> It's fine. Very few slides. But what I
wanted to really point out is um so much of what we heard our students talk about earlier was um the kinds of experiences in addition to the academic experiences we provide that um are very fulfilling and um help them um really experience
how they want to live their lives. And so on the slide deck you'll see um that PS33's team uh went to state championships and won the chess tournament which is uh kudos to them. There was a wonderful family uh math night at PS59 with some of our district
team members able to go and it's so wonderful when you see families and educators coming together and to work on a content area together and mathematics could not be more fun than what they had that evening. So um we thank the caregivers as well as our teachers and
administrators um for those events. Um on the slide you'll also see Craig talked about save for college. our district team was at um an event celebrating the progress that we're making as a district and all districts across the city. Want to continue to um
lift up this program and how critical and important it is for our families. And so it's something that our parent coordinators do such a beautiful job of trying to really make sure our families feel informed. So you'll see a picture of that. And then I want to celebrate that one of our schools, PS124,
celebrated its 50th anniversary. How wonderful is that? I I remember many years ago when the school I led had our 50th anniversary and it's very uh momentous and you realize the touch that you have upon the community and the generations that come through a school.
You can go to the next slide slide. Um I had the personal pleasure last week of visiting PS2 for their student performance of Frozen. Um the fourth and grade fourth and fifth grade students s did such an amazing job and um there's
nothing like seeing students who might not have even thought that they wanted to be up on the stage really find their place to shine. Um it was inspirational, heartwarming, and what a way to end a week. So shout out to the PS2 community.
Um you can go to the next slide, Craig. Thank you. So, as talked about earlier, um, with New York City Reads, we're excited to deepen the implementation of highquality literacy curriculum across our middle schools as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening literacy instruction for all students.
This work is grounded in coherence, strong professional learning, and ensuring students experience rich knowledge building instruction across grade levels. Throughout this year, our schools, our teachers, our instructional coaches, and district teams have engaged in collaborative planning, classroom
visits, professional learning, and reflection cycles to support this transition thoughtfully and intentionally. And I want to mention that we have seven middle schools that decided to pilot this program. And it has been um really incredible to watch the learning, the feedback that we've
taken in terms of what things that we might want to um make adjustments to, the ways in which this is working for students. Um, it's been really a powerful opportunity and it was an opportunity that they then provided to all of their fellow middle school leaders and educators to come on
multiple visits that were offered to see the curriculum in action and to ask questions about what's what was both powerful and exciting and hopeful and what was a challenge andor a concern that came up. We want to make sure we're hearing all of our um stakeholders
voices. Um in addition um from this pilot we have upcoming celebrations of ShareFare where our educators are giving of themselves and sharing with other educators the impact of this work on students. So we're both going to hear student voice and their experience as
well as from the teacher perspective what took hold and roots. So we're excited about that sharefair as well as something that's very important to us as a district. You can go to the next slide Craig is the idea Thank you. of um ensuring families in the broader community understand the why behind the
instructional shifts. In early June, we will be hosting a literacy webinar for families and community members that highlights the work taking place across our pilot schools. Families will have an opportunity to hear more directly about student learning experiences, the goals of this work, and the way schools are
supporting literacy growth and student voice through this transition. We are incredibly grateful to the principles, assistant principles, teachers, literacy coaches, and our district staff um for helping move this work forward with such care and dedication for our students. And something that I wanted to share
that I had seen someone mention in the chat is that when we anytime we talk about implementation as we did with New York City Solves, you always think about the community that we're working with and what they hold as values and um and
program programming opportunities that they want to be able to keep. A shared curriculum and can enhance that work. A shared curriculum allows us to build knowledge across our schools. that allows us to build consistency and coherence.
So we go in from the from that place of understanding what are the needs of the individual schools and then how do we then support implementation and to see it across all of our elementary schools with diverse needs um in terms of socioeconomic static learning needs of
our students um to see our teachers their voices both what they were um looking forward to as well as questions that they had um regarding any change to curriculum. we have seen the shift and the change and the impact in positive ways um in our classrooms. And so I look
forward to when that webinar happens, our families having a chance to hear directly from the educators teaching the pro this program, this curriculum, as well as hearing student experience. Um, for DYCD, we, as I shared earlier,
Superintendent McGuire and I are working with our school leaders as well as lifting up the concerns that are coming to us regarding both the process that took place as well as the outcome. Um, we want to acknowledge that many of our schools and communities have built
long-standing relationships with their current CBO partners and we understand that um, some of our communities are expressing concern and disappointment regarding um, the recent matching decisions that were made. We will continue to lift up those concerns and work both with DYCD and our school
communities. We know that hearing um, your concerns um, that we remain committed to supporting schools through this process. We encourage our families to continue reaching out to their school leaders, to CEC members, to our district team, to DYCD directly using the contact
information provided on the slide. As we move forward, um we'll continue to work closely um to ensure all programs and CBO partnerships are prepared and running successfully for the fall. Next slide, Craig. Um, as we get ready for summer rising, I
have worked with all of our principal in charge and site supervisors. Offers have gone out. We are um continually making offers um both from the central level as from and as well as from the school level um as we go through weight lists that may exist. The calendar is there. If there are any questions, please don't
hesitate to reach out to our district team. I would like to give a special shout out not only to the principles in charge, but to all the affiliated sites. Last week at our principal conference, we spent a fair portion of time planning and preparing for summer rising and thinking not only through the logistics,
but the actual experience that our students will have. And so I'm grateful to them as well as to our district team um particularly um our parent leaders Tina and Lolita and Dan Mason who's our APA who have been really working hard to make sure things like questions regarding transportation, questions
regarding the number of seats available um are things that we can answer in a timely fashion. Um you can go to the next slide. Thank you. There are some key dates ahead. Um we'll be celebrating Eid. We know schools are closed tomorrow. We have Chancellor's Conference Day. Our students are not in
attendance, but we are. We have lots of professional learning opportunities that are taking place that day both within the school as well as central offerings that will support our educators from preK all the way through 12th grade. another day for students not in attendance when our educators are
working on um recordkeeping regent exams. Um another uh Junth Junth teth when our schools will be closed as well as the last day of school. Um something that I want to share as we end because I know there's um so many folks who want to speak in the public comment section
is um on behalf of Superintendent McGuire, myself and our team, we want to thank you as always for your partnership, for the advocacy for your children, for our students, for your continued support of our schools and communities. District 2 continues to be strengthened by the collaboration
between our families, our educators, school leaders, and community partners. and rema we remain deeply committed to working together in support of every child. Last week at the principal and assistant principal conferences, I am always amazed at the amount of thinking,
reflection, taking time to pause and then forgetting right into future planning that our leaders are doing and really trying to ensure that our schools offer every child the kind of education we want for them, the kind of education our families want for their children. Thank you for letting me present tonight
and I look forward to seeing you over the coming days and weeks. >> Thank you. Uh, Deputy Superintendent, I I have one question then I'll open it up to to my council members if they do. On summarizing, do you know if how many students in the
district were not did not get an offer that wanted one? >> I don't have that number, but I can certainly get that to you. >> Okay. Okay. Do you do you have a sense if it's a lot or a small amount or >> um from what >> I don't have you if you you need to get back to me that's fine.
>> Yeah, I'll get back to you. From what I've seen so far in terms of um almost all of the sites there were one or two exceptions where they uh there were less seats. There were many many families applying. So far we've been able to start going through the weight list.
>> Okay, good. Are there any other questions for the deputy superintendent? Okay. Uh, thank you, uh, Deputy Superintendent Shannon. I appreciate you, uh, coming in tonight, filling in for, uh, Superintendent Maguire. Uh, as always,
thank you for, uh, joining us. Thanks. Appreciate it. Okay, let me stop sharing. Okay. Okay. Uh, so, next on the agenda is the discussion amongst the council on the resolutions. Uh, there's only one resolution as you know. uh resolution
299 uh calling for transparency, community input and independent review of the DYACD middle school afterchool procurement process and reinstatement of Manhattan youth as the afterchool provider at affected district 2 middle schools. Are there any comments or
questions from the council? Council member Cor. Okay. So, first I want to thank the students who've come out tonight. If you're still online or here, it's really wonderful to hear your voices because that's why we're here, right? I think
that particularly when we're talking about middle school, but absolutely as well for elementary and high school. Middle school is such a crucial time developmentally. And as a couple of the kids mentioned, one of the hardest eras of growing up is middle school.
These afterchool programs are a lifeline for some kids and I don't use that term lightly. It's the number one that one of the number one ways to prevent substance use disorders and adolescence is by engagement. And finding something that
they're engaged with outside of academics is vital. We have programs these programs with Manhattan youth at these schools have clearly benefited the students. They're clearly adored by the students and families
there. I don't understand the decision to make this kind of change and and it's indicative of what we've seen time and again from the Department of Education with a lack of transparency in the decision-making process. And I think
that I'm really invigorated to see the advocacy by parents and students here tonight. And I absolutely encourage all of my fellow council members to vote yes on this resolution and keep pushing our elected officials and um whoever
whomever these decision makers are on this issue. >> Thank you. >> Vod, >> I'll speak quickly because I want all of you to speak. We want to hear your voices. But I do just want to say middle school's three years. These uh Manhattan
Youth has spent, you know, in lab middle school where my son goes, I think it's 10 years they've had a relationship. So they've built this program from the ground up. Um you know, I'm not saying that these other um providers won't be able to get in touch and build quality
programming eventually, but will it be in time for my son who graduates in two years? Probably not. This takes a long intricate relationship where they're building things for these students. They're building things that are appropriate for the students that are pushing them. And that comes from
knowing what they need and what the student body needs. So I I support this resolution. So, I'd like to say also coming from a school that has um uh had MA Manhattan Youth as after school provider for I think a decade or more. Um it was really
um kind of shocking to to to lose them for for the next year. Um, and I've just seen in in the school just the care, the just the thoughtfulness, the real the real love that all the Manhattan Youth staff have for for the kids and how and
the love that the the kids have for the programs and for for the staff. Um, it's also the other thing I'll just mention is just the the abruptness of the of the announcement was also really um alarming to me. I think you know I found out about it over the weekend. at that time
even our even our school's principal um you know didn't didn't know. Um so it I think it's really um you know it sort of exacerbates the hurt to to you know feel that the process has been extremely opaque and just very very quick. It's
like sort of like the rug pulled out from under you. So that's that's all I'd like to hear from the the families. Uh, we're gonna council member Council Council member Reid on the video. >> Yeah, I just wanted to echo, sorry, I'm not feeling well. Um, echo what everyone
else has said. Wow, this computer's really crappy. That's not what I wanted to echo. Um, my son was in Manhattan youth from, I guess, kindergarten until through 8th grade. And they were like family. And I
think that, you know, that's what I heard tonight from the students and from the parents and from the teachers. It's like just an extension of your family and an extension of your school community. And I trusted them with the most precious thing to me in my life, you know, with with my son. And he was
always better for it. And he was always included um in everything that they did. And it they were communicative. they they would buy shoes for kids when they saw that like, oh, those shoes are kind of worn out and all of a sudden the kid would have a new pair of shoes, you know? So, it's just really alarming that
this is our family we're talking about and they've just been asxed and there's there's no rationale that I can see. There's no transparency on the rationale. Who made this decision? Why was it made? How was it made? Um, we we need we deserve to know, you know, all
the nuts and bolts of this decision because it just feels like one decision after another coming out at us and we can't get ahead of it. We can't get behind it. We're just kind of like left in a, you know, in a panic mode. But the access that Manhattan Youth gives to children to in the arts like Erin was
saying like especially in middle school. Oh my gosh. Like in middle school, what they do and to hear this kid tonight speak about passion and finding their passion and being given real cameras, you know, and being able to go out and and take photos or to play sports or to
do things that they wouldn't have, you know, the means or the time or the resources to have that exposure. like they can't they can't go buy it somewhere else. And then having a safe place to hang out, you know, like we've all seen the news. We've, you know, I've been personally touched by, you know,
subway surfing going on lately with people that I know and it's it's horrific, you know, like I want to keep those kids safe and give them somewhere to hang out and to be with their friends. Um, so yeah, just please let us know why this happened and where it's coming from.
>> Thank you, uh, Russ. So, um, as a as a parent, I want to be honest that my personal experience with the Manhattan youth at our elementary school was not perfect and our current provider is doing a good job and so far
our school community seems satisfied with the transition initiated by our SLT committee. We did it one year ago. I was in the SLT committee as well. At the same time, as a representative of District 2 families, I look beyond my own personal experience here. So, I see
the volume of emails, concerns, questions we're receiving from families across the district regarding the transparency or the lack of transparency actually in the provider selection process. So regardless of anyone's individual opinion about a specific
provider, I believe we have a responsibility to acknowledge the concerns raised by families, by students tonight as well, and to advocate for a process that is transparent, clearly communicated, and inclusive for community voices and I fully support
addressing it in this way. >> Thank you. Thank you. Any other comments? Okay. Uh moving on, we're going to go sorry, we're now going to go to the uh second uh public speaker session. Uh
sorry, the sorry the public speaker session. Uh we're going to start off in the the folks in the room. Uh I have to actually read uh Okay. So I'm going to I'm going to call the next the first three people. We'll do three at a time. So this way
you can go to the uh to the lectern. Um just be careful. Please do not knock over any wires. just one wire behind. Just please try to >> please Erin, do not knock over any wires. Uh I'm just kidding. Just picking on her. Okay. Uh so the first three
people are going to be Jessica Harvey, Penelopey Ruiz, and Joe Vitali. >> And Jessica, please let everybody know who you are because you are a very important person. Thanks. Okay, so the DYCD created in an RFP
shrouded in secrecy that takes away agency smacks of the DOE. And what did they do? A long-standing relationship with Manhattan youth is on the chopping block, but you don't do to
D2. You do with D2 or you just don't do. And it's not just D2 this effect. It's D3 and counting. I'm Jessica Harvey and I live here in D2 and I've gone to school here in D2 and I've taught here
in D2 for 25 years and I am compelled to speak in strong support of parents and students and the whole community and yes teachers because teachers here in D2 you teachers know too.
Um, and I'm compelled to speak because many of these people, parents, students, community, and teachers have reached out directly to me in my capacity at as the district 2 representative of the uft uh
for the uft. And I also brought up with me our parent liaison, Cynthia Alvarez, >> former CC2 member. I was the treasurer in what what 2002.
>> So the main question that's been coming to me is why why the change? Why the secrecy? I want to say please support resolution 299 because families deserve transparency, not secrecy in the
process. And they deserve an opportunity for review and a real appeal process. and families, students deserve the afterchools they want. You heard the students speak about Manhattan Youth. They want it back.
And parents from Wagner, 255, 177, almost all the schools reached out to me. Um, and they are asking for this. And I'm going to say that, um, >> you could wrap it up. I want a
transparent system giving agency to the families, teachers, students, parents, and communities. And I want to say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Thanks. Thank you. And welcome back, Miss
Alvarez. >> Hi. Um, my name is Penelopey Ruiz. I am a parent of an outgoing eighth grader and an incoming sixth grader at Wagner Middle School. And I just have to say that Manhattan youth program, it's an essential established part of our
community. Like, and I I need to emphasize established. Miss Maryland runs a program that kids look forward to. Like when we went to the open house when my now eighth grader was trying to decide on middle schools, the current
students at Wagner came to him and said, "Come here. We have the best afterchool programs. You will find your people in this school of thousands. if you come to Manhattan youth, if you take part in the
diversity of programs that we offer at Wagner. And he was right. Like that student was right. My son, he loves film making. And Miss Marilyn, she found a person to teach that class that's not just a warm body in the room. It's
somebody who's passionate about film making. And today he actually debuted his film and got his masters because Marilyn and her team actually care about what they're teaching. And that is the Manhattan youth that we get to experience at Wagner. And I want my
sixth grader who's going to attend Wagner next year to also experience that, to have teachers who care about what they're teaching and not just warm bodies in the room. So, please keep Manhattan youth at Wagner Middle School and across District 2.
>> Thank you. >> Uh Joe Vitali, then Ro Pñena, Elena Daniels. Hello. For those of you who can't see my sign, it says CIS equals can't imitate sex. And I've spoken at these meetings before. I'm dedicating my speech today
to John Taylor Gate who was a New York City school teacher for decades and he exposed that the Department of Education's agenda is one of indoctrination and not education. I do support resolution 299. I don't think it's going to go anywhere even if it
does pass today because the DOE will either drag its heels, ignore it, or dilute it. The DOE is anti-exellence. Is my mic on? because I'm not sure the DOE is anti-exellence and anti-reality
and it wants to produ mass produce mediocre robots. It's appropriate that Superintendent Maguire isn't here today because I was going to ask him my question for the sixth time and he would have ignored it for the sixth time. And
my question is, what do you have to say to the biological girls who do not feel safe sharing locker rooms and sports with biological males? The big reason for the decline in enrollment in New York City public schools is that parents
are seeking to protect their children against the indoctrination that's going on here. That's why there's an uptick in homeschooling. Your kids' minds and bodies are not safe in New York City public schools. The DOE is in bed with
the pharmaceutical industry. I'm glad we're talking about transparency today. The reason why New York City school employee salaries are public information is because they are ultimately accountable to the people of New York City. Last meeting when I pointed out
how much Superintendent Maguire makes, which goes along the lines of transparency, I was misdescribed as being inappropriate. What's really inappropriate though is not caring about girls who do not feel safe having to share their locker rooms and sports with
biological males. And what's also inappropriate >> is that speakers you get extended time. >> No, no, no. Don't don't take it out of you. Is it speaking? >> Thank you Joe. >> Thank you Joe. We have parents that want to speak. Thank you. Okay. Appreciate your comments. Ro Pñena after row is
Elena Daniels and then Elizabeth Herszog. Okay. Um hi I'm Ro. Um I'm co-founder and program director of transformative schools at TFS. We center uh transjoy and social justice
for kids ages 9 to 15. We're in the business of trusting children. Today we heard from many students giving testimony. They advocated for their afterchool programs and I stand with them. This week marks the end of our third year of afterchool program and after a lifetime of and after a lifetime
of education and three years of TFS kids. I know this to be true. Children know who they are and they know what they need. They know when they feel unsafe, unseen, or unsupported. And they know when adults are making decisions about their bodies and lives without
them. Student voices matter deeply. The students on this council deserve more than symbolic inclusion. They deserve more than a seat at the show while adults make real decisions around them. They deserve to be listened to seriously, consistently, and
respectfully. Our students are not hypothetical stakeholders. They are living with the consequences of these policies and made up adult rules every single day. They know which classrooms feel safe. They know which programs save lives. They know when they are being
supported. And they know when they are being erased. And if students are old enough to carry the impact of these decisions every day, then they deserve a real say in them, too. They deserve a vote. Our job as grown-ups is simple.
Listen. Trust young people, trust their caregivers, trust their doctors who help families make thoughtful decisions and offer life-saving decisions around gender affirming care because students deserve dignity, autonomy, and the freedom to become and be continue
becoming who they are with their voices at the helm. Thank you. >> Evening everybody. Um, my name is Lena Daniels and I'm the co-founder with Row of Transformative Schools and also the lead organizer for Auntie for Liberation. This is my 27th
CC2 meeting in a row. Um, if you've been here for that many, quickly raise your hand. >> Greg, I'm looking just at you. I think maybe Gavin too. >> Um, >> it's been wonderful to see such an amazing turnout tonight. you know, to see folks coming here to advocate about after school, to see folks coming to
show up, so many student voices, so many people talking. Um, and it's also been disappointing to take a quick look at the agenda and see that this council has yet for another month not introduced the resolution um about student voting. And again, the students got to come and talk
and speak and they spoke wonderfully, passionately. They had amazing things to say. And it's incredibly unfortunate that Rachel and Ethan have been sitting here on this council all year long and they only get to talk. Um our my wonderful student Steph wrote a
resolution for y'all. They did your homework for you and wrote one, you know, that would change your bylaws to allow students to vote. You know, we've talked to face. y'all are an independent body and have the ability to make your bylaws what you want to be because your job is to, as you did tonight, um,
oversee what's happening in the DOE and happening in our schools. Um, so I'm going to hand this out and again call for you to next month introduce a resolution, you know, calling for student voting because I believe it's Ethan and Rachel's last month, though maybe you're here till August. Do you know?
>> Next, next July. >> Just till June. Yeah. In they'll have sat here all year long. They've had great comments, asked amazing questions, and have had some of the best analyses we've seen on this council. They deserve a vote. Thank you all. Next person is
Elizabeth Herszog, followed by Jason Walker, Mimi Shelton, and Shannon. >> Hello, my name is Elizabeth Herszog. I have two kids at PS267 and one child at East Side Middle School. Um, the
principles and communities at both schools requested that I be here to speak on their behalf regarding class size. Both schools submitted reasonable and achievable class size reduction plans months ago and have received no
updates at all. The end of the school year is upon us and the principles do not have confirmation of what next school year will look like. We all agreed, everyone here and beyond, that 32 kids per class is unacceptable. It's
unacceptable and inequitable that the class- size laws was rolled out to other parts of New York City with such success and our D2 schools are being ignored. Our kids are hard workers that want to learn. We deserve better for them and
our incredible teachers. We ask that this council submits a resolution demanding an update on class size and supporting the approval for the pending class size reduction plans that our D2 schools have submitted. >> Thank you.
>> Just want to say thank you. So, Jason Walker, uh, I just want to say thanks for the opportunity to speak, uh, on behalf of resolution 299. Um, my family and I are deeply upset to learn that Manhattan Youth's contract with our daughter school, Wagner Middle School, has been terminated without any input
from our school community and ask that this decision be reconsidered through your support of resolution 299. So this rushed and opaque process that led to this decision shows at best a clear lack of understanding or at worst a willful lack of concern to the vital role that
these established programs play in a family's plan to provide for their children's safety and growth in the New York City public school system. The feeling that the DYCD gave no consideration to the long-standing ties that these programs have with these schools and chose to act unilaterally to
remove them is hurtful and alarming. If why I feel this way is not understood, then please understand this. My child, who you heard from earlier, a seventh grader Wagner, has grown tremendously as a result of the thoughtful enrichment programming and the dedicated staff at Manhattan Youth.
Manhattan Youth has given her the opportunity to make new friends, pursue her passions in the arts, and find mentorship. The established Manhattan Youth program at Wagner was a major reason why we chose Wagner for our daughter. And with my wife and I working long hours to be able to afford living
in New York City, their established programs, their offerings, their long relationship with the school, and the incredibly talented people who run them reinforce our belief that our daughter was in good hands in a safe environment while we worked. And we now know this because every day
we see and talk to them, whether on email or at pickup, and we know them like an extension of our family. As a result, our entire family, but especially my child, has built deep relationships within the staff, sorry, with the staff at Manhattan Youth. Their
talent, expertise, and passion are on display at every school event and every project my daughter brings home from after school. My daughter was devastated, as she told you, to hear that the contract with your terminated for unclear reasons. All right. So, this
decision seriously impacts her quality of life, and our families deserve answers. Please reinstate Manhattan Youth's contract with Wagner Middle School immediately. It starts with your support of resolution 299. >> Thank you. >> Mimi Sheldon.
>> Yeah. >> Hello. Um my name is Mimi Shelton and I'm a former middle school teacher, a law student, and I'm also a founding board member of Transformative Schools in partnership with the Aunties as well as transformative schools here. And I'm going to keep it brief. I just wanted to
respond and really speak to what um council member Carr was saying. Middle school is some of the hardest time for students developing their identities, developing their personalities. I was a middle school English teacher. So I worked with youth for four and a half years where I understood that the learning that they get in the classroom
is only concretized when they're able to participate in democ democratic forums after school programs and in conversation not only with youth but other youth but also adults themselves. So I'm here not only to push for resolution 299 but also to like my
colleagues have said make sure that we have student voices included in that decision. um whether that's voting as well as making the decision itself as and finally transparency is key. It's the antithesis of democracy to not have
transparency in a public institution and I encourage it. Thank you. >> Good. >> Hi folks. My joints are particularly heinous today, so I'm going to sit. Folks, I'm Shannon. You know me. I do
stuff sometimes. Y'all don't need a full introduction. I'm here to talk about two things today. The first is that this community education council is here to serve students. 10 years of working in nonprofit and psych and also being
clergy has informed me that it's not service unless it's desired by the people we are serving. So, how do you know what the people we're serving want? Well, you talk to them and you let them have a say in it. We were all teenagers
once. I certainly remember some of my teenage youth. I remember getting up to some good trouble and some bad trouble. The bad trouble is not important for this meeting. The good trouble is exactly Thank you. is exactly the kind of things we can do here. Getting
involved in politics, getting involved in local governance. This is the kind of stuff I had access to as a teenager and it helped me build a career. Good trouble is one of the things this community education council can provide.
And not just here, you are a beacon that other CEC's in New York and other education councils across the country look to. And with that power comes the ability to either create incredible
opportunities for students or ensure they do not have them. It's not service unless the people we are serving want it and have a say in it. If they don't,
it's just spicy making decisions for other people. Y'all give the students a vote. What's the worst that could happen? Are two student votes really going to threaten your power here? Uh if so, you might want to consider how much you're pulling from
this as an adult. >> Thank you. Yeah. Include your remarks. >> Sure. Um let them vote. That's what I got. >> Okay. Now, we're going to go to the folks at home or on Zoom rather. Uh the first
person is Serena Antonowitz. I I apologize if I'm mispronouncing your name. I don't see them in the group. An ent. Nope. Okay. Uh Adam Shay, are you here?
>> Okay, we'll we'll we'll bring it when Yeah, we'll bring it over. Uh let's see. Adam Sheay, no. Okay. Aiyah Malovich. Okay, Mary Shay. I believe I saw Mary in there. So, let's
I did. >> Mary, you can go ahead. >> Thank Thank you, Craig. I appreciate it. My name is Mary Shay. I am the current co-president of the Yorkville East PTA. And in my daytime life, I spend a lot of my time coaching folks around change
management. So obviously this situation got me thinking about that. The first part of change management is assessing a situation that needs some changing. So I looked at the data that we have here at Yorkville East and we have 253 students,
223 of whom participate with Manhattan youth. That is 88% 88% of our students are participating. Obviously, that's something that should be changed. No, the next part of change management
is the idea that you communicate, you collaborate. Deputy Superintendent Shannon talked about the process that they've been using using collaboration about engaging all the stakeholders and instead DYCD
chose to do something shady. They went to principles and they were like, "Hey, go ahead and do this. Don't talk to your PTAs. Don't talk to your SLTs." They put a veil of silence around our
principles. At this point, every step of the way of change management has been wrong. DYCD has gone about this in a way that
demands transparency. By taking these actions, they have made us suspect their intentions. So now, DYCD stands for something else to me. DYCD now means do you care to
dance? Because you got about 5,000 people who are activated and ready to go and it's time for you to start explaining. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Next is Nicole Christ. I think you
>> Yes, I'm unmuted. Thank you. So, my name is Nicole. I'm actually a nurse leader here at one of our local hospitals and my husband works in the court systems here in New York City and we depend upon um after school care for our for our girls. Um we have a second grader and a
fifth grader at PS267. Our fifth grader is going to Wagner this coming fall. And um I think the kids spoke better than any of the adults can as far as um this decision for Manhattan youth to no
longer be um at Wagner. And my guess is that they probably spoke as eloquently as they did probably because of some of the programs that Manhattan youth offered them in their after school. So, I I think that we as parents and also the students um really deserve to have
some answers from the um DY CD in making this decision as far as um hiding it from us when the decisions were being made as far as which middle school to go to. Um and also what was their selection criteria for choosing the programs that
they chose? and how come I'm hearing from other parents that Manhattan youth is staying at some schools and not at others. So, there has to be a solution for the parents and students um to make
everybody in a better place and um make sure that our voices are heard. And I know that uh this is starting to get attention in Albany because of the voices that the DT parents and students have been raising and the concerns
they've been raising about this decision being made for them and not involving them. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh the next speaker we're going to come back to Serena. Serena, you should be able to speak and then I
see Adam Shay is back. Okay. Serena, can you can you speak? Let me try. Serena, >> she's gone. >> No, she's back. I see her in there, but she was I had to ask her to unmute again. She was gone and it came back.
And >> Serena, can you speak? >> Good evening all. Yep. >> Yep. >> I'm here. >> Good evening, everyone. I'm just here as a fellow parent advocate. D2. My son is a sixth grader at Lab Middle School. Um,
first just to say how profoundly inspired I am by the students that were brave enough to come and speak. Um, congratulations to you all. I do want to again um reinforce the need for transparency on how these decisions are
being made and transparencies and respect for our administration, our principles um and our and our parents, our parent leaders in how this process is going through. Um and of course as uh Lab Middle School has had a a existing
relationship with Manhattan youth for almost a decade um we've you know as part of a a parent coalition in in within our school um we support the restoration of Manhattan youth uh to Lab Middle. We urge uh our stakeholders and
our um our officials to uh to reconsider and to push through an appeal for all of the middle schools that uh that were are requesting uh Manhattan youth to be restored. Thank you. >> Thank you. The next speaker, Adam Sheay,
I believe you are unmuted now. >> Hi. Yes. Uh Adam Sheay. Um and just speaking to um talk about passing the resolution of the transparency and also taking into account um heard from DYCD
uh last week that the time spent and the connections drawn was not part of their consideration for making these contracts and changing this organization which top of transparency I don't know why having
an organization speak speak to and speak with the work that they have done through 10 years through COVID being online transitioning working with families and then giving it to another agency that is saying what they might do
or what they could do um is a confusing thing. I have spoken with many representatives of DYCD when they've given their boilerplate answers when I've seen the responses from DYCD um to principles and two parents giving
boilerplate answers and hiding behind that. Um, they've given out responses that have sounded good on paper, but if you take it one step deeper, peel the onion a little bit, it holds no merit. Knowing what has transpired in the
different community boards of community board six or over in district three of saying it was a score system, it was points. Um but that doesn't include why two schools got their third choice, why in one building Manhattan youth or any
school would have got gained and and re lost another program. Um so on top of just transparency and listening to um the families and the principles in the school communities, I also think that they need to be transparent when they
are giving out their reasoning and having it be of sound mind and not uh boilerplate or actually listen and answer to the communities that they are serving because they don't have any they're not going to get voted out. >> Please wrap it up.
>> Yep. Uh that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you, >> Denise Cruz. >> Hello. Good evening. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak tonight. Uh, can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Great. Uh I'm just here to share my
disappointment and quite frankly my disgust with the total lack of transparency with the um DYCD afterchool procurement process. Um that has pretty much led to the stripping away of a successful afterchool program
um uh at Yorkville East Middle School. Uh there were no announcements or information provided to parents about the process that was taking place and principles were pretty much forced to rank their successful current programs along with proposals for programs that
simply didn't meet their school's needs. So what the process did was really tie our principles um hands behind behind their backs and that's totally uh unacceptable. Um furthermore, the process was done without input from students or parents
and they expect parents to simply sit back and um allow this dismantling to take place. Um DYCD says it's committed to the continuity of quality child care, but this decision provides the opposite.
you're actually they're actually um creating chaos in our children's lives by dismantling the relationships they have with their coaches. Manhattan Youth hit all of its metrics um hit hit all of its metrics and to
qualify for the bidding process. Why wasn't it good enough to remain in its current schools? This makes absolutely no sense at all. Manhattan youth deserves a legitimate and clear explanation as well as us as parents. This decision is an insult to our school
administrators, children, and parents. Our tax dollars go to fund these programs, and this program is working. Why would we sit back and allow our children to trial an organization that has no experience in middle school programs? Where's the continuity and
quality of care there? What happens? Please wrap up your comments. Um, so this decision is really showing kids that there's no point in accountability and in the process and metrics that are in place and that it doesn't matter because the bureaucracy at the DOE and
that program contracts will be awarded to folks that are well connected to current officials at DOE and DYCD or someone just simply owes someone a favor. That may not be the intention, but these are the official. >> Please wrap up your comments.
>> Thank you. Okay, the next person is Jana, who should be unmuted. >> Yes. Hello. I'm Daniel. Uh Jana's husband speaking on behalf of both of us. Um we're parents of a seventh grader at Wagner. And like everyone else, deeply troubled by this decision that
was made uh in the back room somewhere in the darkness without any transparency whatsoever. Um, we know for a fact our principal rated Manhattan youth as their clear and preferred choice. Obviously, our clear and preferred choice. And when we sought answers, when our principal sought answers, was told the decision
was final, no details made, and this is simply not how decisions affecting children should be made. The Manhattan Youth Program was where our child has made lasting friendships with a diverse group of classmates, discovered a passion for theater, worked on projects that gave back to the community. It's been one of the most meaningful parts of
their middle school experience and it's now being taken away by a process that we and our principal have been explicitly excluded from. It frankly smacks of some kind of backroom corruption. I have to say I'm respectfully and urgently asking the department to reconsider. The voices of
our families were shut out of this process. They should be heard now. Thank you. Regina Dvita, I'm trying to unmute you. See you in here. Okay, I'll come back. >> Oh, hi. Good evening. >> Hi.
>> I didn't realize I was on the agenda. Um yes, I'd just like to I know that the most of the um council's uh agenda tonight is filled with many parents um and children students speaking on on behalf of Manhattan youth. Um and uh I
am from East Side Middle, one of the co-presidents of the school and we support them. Um my uh fellow PTA colleague Elizabeth Herszog spoke um recently in the couple of um about 20 minutes ago uh on another important
issue which I think unfortunately is you know probably not being heard as well in tonight's meeting uh because of the huge um overwhelming support for Manhattan youth. But I'd like to speak on that as well um to echo some of the things that Elizabeth commented on. She is a student
of uh a parent of a couple of um several public school students. Um I myself uh h had one go through the entire public school school experience at in New York City and I have a seventh grader now at Eastside Middle. Um we have been
anxiously looking forward to smaller class sizes um in district 2. We've been hearing about it um how all the other many of the other middle schools have implemented it, how amazing it is for teachers, for the for the students. Uh and we were really very hopeful that
this was imminent and we're now hearing that it's already late in the day in the school year. We're nearly in uh June. Uh and we know nothing about what's happening next year. Uh and for our school in particular, it's one of
the schools where to implement this would be easier lift. Um I I know in other schools it would require massive um reconstruction or construction of classrooms etc. I think that's not the case with our school and some others. And so we are just asking for equity to
be in the same position as all the other middle schools that have already implemented this are reaping the benefits both from a teacher perspective. They also have sat on SLT for the last couple years. I've heard a lot about it through them as well because some of our SLT members sit on other SLTs at other schools that have
already implemented this. Then they say it's really incredible and we would just like to be part of it and not have it continue to stall. And >> please wrap up your comments. >> Sure. And just to move forward as quickly as possible with this for the rest of um so we can have more equity
particularly in the middle school years. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> The next speaker is Meredith. You should be unmuted. Be able to unmute yourself. >> Yes, I'm already there. I will get started. Hi, my name is Meredith Moravec. I am a teacher at Yorkville East Middle School. And so I spent my
whole day teaching English language arts and special education. And then after school, I go and I run our theater department. I was lucky enough to have a solid base in my principal and my administrative team as well as in Manhattan youth to start this program
three years ago with a grant. We have built this program from the ground up over the past three years putting I mean at literal times blood, sweat and tears into this program. And last week we got this announcement as we were putting on
tech which as you know middle school's emotional already middle school theater kids lots of emotion there. And so during our time that was supposed to be this joyous celebration I was fielding questions about are we even going to have a program this year? I have students who show up every single day
who you would never expect. I have dozens of letters saying, "I never thought this is who I could be, and they can be that now." The arts are critical at every moment in human history. And if we start taking away them now and we
revamp a program that is working, that is doing good for the world, then how on earth are we supposed to call ourselves educators who are going to make everything, our goal is to make the world a better place? And I do that in theater. And I would be remiss if I did
not fight for my kids every single day. And so that's what I'm here to do. And so please do not get rid of Manhattan youth. do not redo a program that brings love and consistency and structure to students lives and gives them the place to learn how to express themselves in a
healthy and wonderful way. So that's my time. Thank you. Evening all. I'm a parent of a Wagner eighth grader who was in Manhattan youth for two years. That started with chess and math club and branched out into table tennis, sports casting, paint. He
decided to draw a full set of MLB logos that sit next to our TV. He arranges them to show who's playing the Mets during any given game for better or for worse. Um, from table tennis club, he went on into junior varsity and then
varsity. Next year, Wagner students will have tennis, a fine sport to be sure, but at the cost of so many different ways for kids to find their joys and their selves taken away without an opportunity for those affected to have a
say. It's not right that students would be deliberately denied all transparency in this process. When we bring in students as partners in making such decisions about their education, their involvement, boosts societal engagement, raises
self-esteem, builds connections with their peers, let the kids play, all the kids play, and have a say. Thank you. Thank you. >> So whenever only a subset of people have
the power to make decisions, naturally that process will serve those with power at the expense of others. In theory, this is the fundamental reason why we have democracy. By the might of the musket, we cast down monarchical rule because the colonial system only served
the crown. We ended up with a system that gave power to white landowning men. And that system served white landing owning white landowning men at the expense of all others. The largest expenses were paid by slaves who were born and died in chains due to the color
of their skin. And Native Americans who land continue to be stolen by so-called divine right. Now the situation with afterchool programs is a few orders of magnitude less severe than the greatest crimes crimes of our country's history.
The same principle still applies. Bean government bean counters had control over decision-making. So the outcomes served them first and foremost. It is because of this principle that we must see a end of mayoral control and
the birth of a system that directly infranchises students. For the place members in the room, do you really still want mayoral control? Do you want mom Donnie to have control for at least three more years? I like the guy and his politics. I don't want
to have control over our schools. I want to use the last few moments of my time to take note of modern disenfranchisements that mirror our past. At home, Chief Justice Roberts has butchered the Voting Rights Act, and the skeletal wings of a revived Jim Crow
cast a long shadow on the American South. In the one state reality that the lands of Israel and Palestine exist under, our ally state maintains an apartheid. This includes an internationally and internally recognized genocide in Gaza, bisection
of the West Bank by Israeli settlers, and a second attempt at the occupation of southern Lebanon. We must not look away from this. This past month, a Jewish comrade of mine witnessed the sale of stolen Palestinian land in inside of a synagogue in this very city.
From our students to those under American bombs, every human being deserves autonomy and political infranchisement. Thank you, >> Stephanie. >> Hello. Can you all hear me? >> Yes. >> Hi everyone. I'm Steph Duditz. I'm an
organizer for Aunties for Liberation. I'm going to read a little bit of a resolution for y'all. Whereas in a true democracy, everyone impacted by a decision has the right to participate in making it. Whereas over 50,000 students attend district 2 schools every day, but the representatives on the council are not included in the decision-making
process that governs their schools. Whereas students have historically been and continue to be driving forces behind movements for justice. Whereas current and past student representatives on CC2 have brought knowledgeable dialogue and sharp questions that enrich discussions and resolutions during their time on the
council. Whereas during CC2's Chancellor Town Hall, when student representative Rachel Kenny asked about expanding student voice, Chancellor Samuels replied that student voices are important and need to be centered. Whereas student representatives who sit on CCS can participate in public meetings but lack voting rights as their votes are symbolic gestures with no
legal impact. Whereas recently the Supreme Court ruling is dismantling the Voting Rights Act as well as proposed federal laws like the SAVE Act that are stripping voting rights from black, brown, trans, queer, and disabled citizens. Whereas EC2 would have passed resolutions 295 and 297 if the student
representatives votes had counted towards a final deciding tally. Whereas a current state senate bill and assembly bill call for the education law to be amended to authorize students as voting members like their adult counterparts. Therefore, it should be resolved that CC2 should urge the governor and state legislature to amend the education law
to empower students and allow their votes to count towards the final tally. Therefore, it be further resolved that CC2 will amend its bylaws to empower student representatives as equals, ensuring that students rights are fully respected. Therefore, it finally should be resolved that CC2 should urge the governor and state legislature to commit
to an inclusive community engagement process for school governance in genuine partnership with students, teachers, parents, and community members. As the many students who spoke today have shown, students have valuable thoughts and should be at the center of the conversation about their own schools. Thank you.
Thank you. Uh the next speaker is Marissa. I think I unmuted you. I don't know if you're do it again. >> Hi, can you hear me? >> Yes, we got you. >> Okay, thank you. Um sorry. So, hi, my
name is Marissa Ortiz. Um this is my first year in the DOE coming from many years at a charter school background. Um, I was floored by the amazing amount of trust and community and love that is present not only at our school YMS, but
in the Manhattan youth after school program as well. I not only am a special education science teacher, but I also teach a cooking class with Manhattan youth. It is such a unique and beautiful program that road our program director
has put hours upon hours of time and energy to build. The kids have built relationships with the staff where they feel safe and heard. There are so many different outlets for kids such as theater, D&D, fencing, film, debate, not
to mention all of our sports teams, which literally this afternoon I was up after I was teaching Cooking. They were working on to set up in preparation for the sports team ceremony. It takes a village. Anthony, Eric, Kayla, Abe,
Kane, Tiara, Gabriel are just some of the staff and so many teachers like Meredith, Corey, Jess, and myself that lead sessions after a whole day of work. We want Manhattan youth for Yums. And we
really want it to stay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And then the final speaker will be Carmen Romero Lee. I'm trying to unmute you, Carmen. Oh, okay.
Oh, sorry. Hold on. Let me give you otherwise they can't hear you. Here we go. >> Good evening, members of the CEC and fellow community members. My name is Carmen Romero Lee and I am a sixth grade social studies teacher at Yorkville East
Middle School. I am here tonight to speak in the strongest possible support of this resolution. As you heard from the testimony of our students and community members earlier, after school program is not just an add-on. It is a
vital extension of the school day. And over the last 11 years, our community has built a deeply rooted, indispensable relationship with Manhattan youth. It's woven directly into the fabric of our
schools. You see it when our students are wearing their you see it when our students are wearing the Manhattan Youth um M's jerseys. You see it on every single play bill for our recent school musical which you heard Meredith Moravec speak so eloquently
about. Um you see it in our Socratic seminars in the classroom. My strongest debaters have been through the Manhattan Youth Debate Program. You heard two of them tonight. And so I urge that you stand um with one clear message tonight.
And that is that you vote in support of resolution 299 for the well-being of our middle school youth and communities. Please vote in favor of this resolution and keep Manhattan youth in our middle schools. Thank you. Thank you so much. That concludes the uh
public speaker session. Thank you to Did you sign up? What's your name again? Oh, okay. Sorry. Did you sign up? What was your name? Okay. Yeah, I couldn't I couldn't find you in here. That's why. Okay. Okay. Go
ahead, Miss Fox. Oh, here. Take take the mic then. Thank you for letting me speak tonight. My name is Stephanie Fox. Um I'm a soon to be aunt of a kid in this district. I also have a degree in child and adolescent development and have been a
pair professional in public special education programs in two different states. Um, in my studies and in my experience, I've learned how intelligent and aware young people are. They understand their lives. They know where they struggle and they know what they
need. It's really great that there's representatives on this board here and I truly hope that you listen to them. But there's something that I learned as a kid. It's that adults don't always listen to young people when they tell them what they need. You have a resolution that has been
presented to you that will give these young people a right to vote and a right to have a direct say in what happens on this board. I urge you to take that up reso uh I urge you to take that reszo up next um meeting and vote yes on it. Thank you.
Um, good evening. My name is Corey Leven. I'm a middle school math teacher at Yorkville East. Math clubs, film making, Dungeons and Dragons, theater debate, fencing, cooking, and on my part some of the
fringe sports, frisbee and cross country. There's a reason we heard about these after school activities today, right? We know what they have in common. They're for the weirdos. They're for the people that come to school and don't
quite have a place yet. They've all been able to find one at our after school program that has cared for them, supported them, link them up with people who are just like them. Middle school is incredibly hard. I'm fortunate enough to
teach a subject, math, where I can proudly say they don't hate to come to my class, but they love to come to their afterchool activities. It is so important to get these kids in the door. They've created something sustainable,
effective, that works, and that gets pre-teens excited, that's unique, that's challenging, and in my opinion, it's downright dangerous to mess with at this juncture without an incredibly good reason
supporting it. One of which no one here seems to know. So I urge you stakeholders, people who have the power, please push to have this overdone. Thank you. And that concludes the public session. Thank thank you everybody for speaking.
I appreciate it. I appreciate everybody staying so late. I know uh tomorrow's a day off. People uh may not want to uh stay late tonight. So, I I do appreciate everybody stick sticking with us tonight. Next on the agenda is the vote on the resolution. So, I will make a
motion on resolution 29 to accept uh resolution 299 calling for transparency, community input, and independent review of the DYDC middle school after school procurement process and reinstatement of Manhattan youth as the afterchool
provider at affected D2 middle school. What? Yeah. And I hear I hear a second. I had it shorter originally. I did have it shorter. Somebody made me make it longer. So, we'll take it to a vote. >> Okay. Voting on resolution 299. I'm not
going to repeat the title. Allison Bowen is not here with an excused absent. Gloria Chu. Gloria Chu is a yes. Daniela Egro is not here with an excused absence. Gavin Healey. >> Gavin Healey is a yes. Aaron Carr is a yes. Cody Linquist. Cody Linquist is a
yes. Sam Low Sam Low is a yes. Tall Maschay Tall Maselchay is a yes. Rooster Mavanov, >> yes. >> Rooster Mavlov is a yes. Tamira Reed, >> yes. >> Tamira is a yes. Sabina Serene is
excused absence. Craig Slutskin, >> yes. >> Craig is a yes. Rachel Kenny, Rachel is a yes. Ethan Quac, Ethan is a yes. The motion, the resolution passes with >> nine >> nine yeses.
>> Okay. Thank you everybody. Thank you for all of your work on this. Thank you to my co-sponsors as well. Uh report of committees. Anybody have any committee reports that they want to >> I just want to say something briefly. It's committee related. Um I'm the chair of the safety and school climate
committee. We've had a couple of meetings. We have yet to have a presentation. We I hope to do so in the fall. and Rachel was part of our committee. Um, and and we certainly chairing that committee, part of the reason I do is because I have a deep
love for adolescence and what they go through and I think that I do think that student voices are important and it's something that will be addressed in the business meeting, but just to everybody who spoke about it earlier, we it is a state law. We do not have the legal
ability to change it in our bylaws, but we are absolutely committed to hearing student voices and we will be discussing that in our business meeting. Sorry, this is not the the public session is over. No, no, sorry. Sorry.
The public this is not the public session. The public session is over. Thank you. Just to be clear, just to clarify or amplify what what she had said, there's sort of an order of operations here. So, we have bylaws. Byllaws, no matter what are in the
bylaws, are superseded by the chancellor's regulations. The chancellor's regulations, no matter what are in there, are superseded by the state law. So ultimately if the state law is says something then that's what goes whe whether it's in the chancellor's regulations or or or in our
bylaws people are absolutely welcome and I know that people have had conversations with council members about how to advocate for that on the state level. You can speak to your state legislators. You have we have state assembly people many state assembly people that touch uh district 2 state senators. You can also contact the
Manhattan B president. He doesn't have a vote but he actually does have obviously lobbying influence. You can contact the governor's office. You can contact the Senate majority leaders, the the assembly majority uh sorry, assembly speaker's office. But ultimately, if something is a state law, we can't we
cannot pass by procedure. We cannot pass a bylaw to over overstep that. So, just want to be make that very clear. Uh but as as uh council member Carr had said, we're uh definitely committed uh to making some adjustments to make sure that we we hear students even more. Most
c a lot of councils do not actually record the votes. We have always this is going back well past May. This is going back at least three or four councils um take register the votes because we do want to register the votes and hear what the student members say. So they they
are welcome to uh register the vote um you know in any any vote that they would like and they are obviously welcome to speak at any on any uh topic. Uh are there any other committee reports? and a motion to uh adjourn. All in
favor? >> Anybody opposed? Okay. Thank you everybody. We're going to go into our uh working business meeting now. Uh everybody is welcome to stay in the audience. You're welcome to stay at home. You're also uh looking. But that being said, um let's call the meeting
I'm going to call the working business meeting to order. Uh please call the role. >> Okay. Allison Bowen is an excused absence. Gloria Chu. Gloria is here. Daniellea Egraph is an excused absence. Uh Gavin Healey is here. Aaron Carr is
here. Cody Linquist. Cody Linquist is here. Sam Low. Sam Low is here. Tall Mascha. Tall Maselch is here. Rooster Moblin >> here. >> Rust is here. Tamira Reed >> here. >> Tamira is here. Sabina Serene has an excused absence. Craig Slutskin
>> here. >> Craig is here. Rachel Kenny. Rachel is here. Ethan Quac. Ethan is here. We have a forum. >> Great. Uh, treasures report. So, we don't have report. I just want to say once again that
council members for this email detailed to send the responses and uh so I'm receiving them just right now. Please don't have a lot of time. >> Yeah. So, I think only
two members have submitted any expenses this year. Um, I know one Yes, I know I know one person has it done. She just needs to sign it, but I I won't I won't say who. Um, but uh please do do not wait till the last minute. I
would encourage you to wait to uh do them get them into Victor by the 19th, Friday the 19th or or around there. This way he can take a look at them. Just because you do it don't doesn't mean you do it correctly. And if you don't do it correctly, no matter what I say and no matter what Victor says, they will not
approve it. If you hand it in on June 30th at 3:00 and it's wrong, I promise you there's nothing, you know, we can't submit it >> and continue once again. >> You know, we can we can try to do it for next next term, but then it takes away from next term's budget. So, uh next next year's budget that goes just for
ethan, you know, the two of you are also can as well. If you have any questions whatsoever, please let us please let us know. Uh couple of other uh things. Anybody on the Aison school reports? Um okay. Um I was at PS2. They're
getting new bathrooms. They're very happy about getting new bathrooms. Um >> we went to PS11 as a group, a spotlight tour. One thing that they Oh, yeah. Um, which is my Yes, but that is my liaison school. I was just trying to figure out things that they wanted, but um they're
pretty well stocked. One thing that they would love to have would be some um anybody has any um a line in on getting any Broadway theater tickets because they do have to pay for those tickets themselves. So, just putting it out there. That's something that they said
that they could use. And um yeah, that's it. It was a great time. We had a great visit. Ask ask when he's back um Maguire because there's a middle school that that has a that link somewhere one of the middle schools I think has a link >> has a link to >> to the Broadway. It may they may be part
of D3 but he he might know or well Reggie because you know Reggie's now a D3 student. >> Yeah. I just thought it was interesting that Broadway shows don't have like a free students especially for those live in the neighborhood. >> Yeah. >> Bring it up.
Oh, going. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think a lot of people in our neighborhood do go to see a lot of LaGuardia shows. I think specifically this because they have such a high number of students in temporary housing and um uh I believe I think it's a title one school 111. Yeah. So, they
really have at least one um show a year. Yeah. Lagardia would be great. Um, two of my schools, Baroo and Lab, have an issue with their afterchool provider, but you know, we talked about that. >> Craig,
>> uh, but I got to say, you know, at the Baroo at the Baroo at the Baroo rally, it was not a Baroo rally, it was a Baroo, uh, Sulkq and School of the Future rally. They all they were all three schools. It was very nice how they came together. Um, a couple of items under new business that I just wanted to
bring remind people that so you should have received an email uh I don't know if the two of you did because it didn't come from me. It came from the do from face um about the superintendent evaluation. If you didn't get it, I can res or I can resend to the entire recirculate to the entire council. What
is is is we we evaluate on our individually. We do an evaluation uh of the superintendent. I compile that and then I go through it with the superintendent. He doesn't see what individually you write. So he's not going to know Cody said X, Y, and Z and
T said XY A, B, and C. We just I compile it and it's it's just one long thing. It's also number ratings. It actually does matter. It goes up to the to to his boss at the deputy chancellor level. Um so they do actually I don't I assume they take it seriously, but I know at
least it is elevated. So please do that. I would appreciate it if you can get it because I got to get it in before the end of the the year, June 30th. If you can get it in by J by June 12th, that would be great. Uh, and you can be brutally honest in a good way and a bad
way, you know, I think it's helpful to him. Um, as a reminder, I think I've sent you each a a couple of emails on this. Uh, if you have any thoughts on the PEP election, the CEC, the Manhattan CEC designate, if you have any, you saw
the video as you know and I think I mentioned to all of you I think I put an email one of the candidates dropped out so it's sort of a you know I I I can give you commentary but you know it is what it is uh so it's sort of the other candidate or start the
process over um but if you have any comments any thoughts on it before I make the vote please let me know I'm happy to talk to anybody I'm happy to talk to a group of people if you want you know and we can we can go from there um I can just say that the pool was not
great. Um, just say that. I'm not going to say much more than that. I don't want to say anything more. Um, oh, I did want to say one thing. I know this is not my school, so t uh ta tam, I apologize for overstepping. I hope I'm not. At 75 Morton, I did read that the
eighth graders participated in a financial literacy workshop with representatives from First Horizon Bank to learn about budgeting and saving with their first summer job, paychecks. So, I thought that was kind of cool for a middle school. So, uh I'm not the that's Morton. She she works with very closely
with Morton, but I saw that and I just wanted to to mention that. Did you want to talk about >> I do. Yeah. So, with this discussion of empowering our student representatives because we are constricted by state law. Council member Reid had a ton of email
correspondents with legal with face going back and forth about what we are and are not allowed to change in our bylaws. So then I spoke with Craig and I've spoken with other members of the council and and what we what I would like to propose. We don't need a resolution for this. We can just agree
on this. The first thing is is encouraging our student reps to write resolutions with us and co-sponsor them. They will still need the required three um voting members
to to co-sponsor it, but I think this is a I think that it is a meaningful way to engage in the process whether they that's something that they do after high school or not. I you know I think that when I was a high school student I would have been really interested in doing something like that and even if they
just want to like observe and kind of be a part of the process that way that would be okay too. So that's my first suggestion. Then the second suggestion that Craig brought to my attention is much like he does the president's report every month we can have our student reps
unless they don't want to but have our student reps and they can alternate month-to-month give a students report and that can be on any topic that they want based on what they have observed that is going on for students in the district whether it's a concern something that's working something
that's not working something that they would like to see change and I think that that you know that is a meaningful way to get them involved and h to have to to give them more of a voice on on the council. And for everybody who is who would like to see the law change,
there are many many ways to advocate with state representatives, I've done a lot of advocacy work on a lobbying level. And if anybody would like to to know how to do it or how to start with it, I'm happy. You can email me at my CEC address. I'm happy to give you like
basics on how to do that because that is really where the change is going to happen. Um I'm sorry this is the p this is not the public session. This is not a public session. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. This is not a public session. No.
>> Okay. Thanks. >> Okay. So this is not a public so sorry. Are you finished? Do you want any more? Okay. Uh I'm going to comment and then I'll let other council members >> I'm going to comment just to amplify because we would we had a number of conversations about this. So you know we
have a tradition that what we did last time with last and I I thought it actually worked very well is that if there's a resolution that they want to work with we say resolution sponsor Russ Craig joined by the student members and I think that worked very well. I don't
think I think that it to me at least it's clear that you do need the three voting voting members to sponsor and bring forth a resolution. Quite frankly, if you didn't have three sp three voting members anyway, there's no point. The resolution is not going to get through probably. So, uh but I think that worked
very well. We did that last time and the student members joined several several resolutions last time and in this time there's nothing to there's never been anything to stop a student rep from doing that. In fact, I showed in for the 299, I emailed the two students the the
the resolution to see if they had any comments for it. You know, that that's fine. That's that's certainly about about student power. Um, and on the um uh report, the students report, I think that's a perfect idea. They do that at PEP. They they actually do that at PEP.
I think the students go every month. They present like five minutes or whatever. It's not it's not part of the two-minute public session. Or maybe it is. But I I mean I think we could just do a fiveminute public we I I'm happy to seed five minutes to to the students. You know that's fine. I think that's you
know very helpful to them. So that's I'm okay with that. >> Ethan and Rachel. >> You want to talk? There are other council members that want to speak but do you want to speak? >> Yes. Right. >> Go ahead. Go ahead. >> Um well I want to say I'm very grateful for for everything and obviously this is
a noble thing for us to have a vote. Um, in my opinion, I don't know if I can speak for Rachel. Like, personally, I this is not something like I feel very strongly about because I I really enjoy being on this council and listening to everyone and speaking my opinion. I think for me personally, I think I'm
generally not afraid to say what I think, but I don't think me having a vote is something that is like a big game changer for me because I'm for me like I'm here to learn from you guys um and just give my thoughts. But yeah,
>> this one. >> Yeah. Okay. Um I I think that the student um report I think that that's a really cool idea. Um, I think also like for the future, I don't know if like by next month, like if either of us will
have a strong strong enough opinions about certain topics to make a report, but I think for the next term and stuff, I think that'd be a really cool way to just instate student voice like from the beginning. Um, and yeah, I do think I do think that
um I do think that a student would be meaningful, but I do also understand that it is from the state level. It's not necessarily just from our level. Um, but you know, there I I would always be in support of anything we can do to try to push the state level, which is why I
know that you were speaking about that before, but I also do think that a student report would be a meaningful addition to representation. >> Thank you. Um, did I don't want to cut you off, Lauria.
>> Would it do you think it would make a difference if when we do the votes instead of stated votes come at the end for them to go at the beginning. There is some you know weight to going first and you know in terms of really saying
what you want versus kind of just like at the end like okay well I'll just throw my vote this way or that way. So it does have more feel to it at least. >> You know I'd be curious to see what the two students think. I I see I always took it from the other perspective of
sometimes they don't want to go like I know there was a student who didn't want to go f they wanted to see how other members of the council voted first so I I it can cut both ways I'd be interested to hear what they say but also their successors you know like like it's I don't really care who goes first but I
you know I'd be interested to hear what they we can change that at any at any meeting but I'd be interested to hear what they think but I also want to hear what their successors think because it's really would impact their successors probably a little bit more. But I don't I don't really care. I just it was more of courtesy that we put them at the end.
>> Yeah, I would agree. It probably affect the successes more. I think that I understand what you're saying. That makes a lot of sense that if you go first, it sounds like it would have more weight to it. I would also say that I think it's a good learning opportunity that you shouldn't necessarily have to
speak or say something just because everyone else is saying it. So I think waiting last and seeing where the wind blows and then making your opinion I think it's more meaningful to have your own opinion and defend it by speaking up. So in this regard like I'm not again
I'm not feeling strongly either way but I completely understand what you're saying. >> Um yeah I agree. I also don't feel too strongly. Um I do I have definitely made decisions on resolutions based off of how the other like informed by how other
people are voting. So I for myself I find that meaningful but like what you guys were saying it's probably more important for whoever comes next. >> Sam >> I just want to say how lucky we are to
have Ethan and Rachel. you like I've you know somehow been related to CCD2 for so many years um not officially as a member until you know this term but man like you make your points known and your
opinions known and they're grounded in so much compassion and fairness and and a sense of dignity even when I disagree, you know, with what you're saying. And I hope you realize that there are so many people on this council that value you
and value what you say and that have been working very hard to get you every right that you're owed and that you deserve on this council. And if we could magically like give you voting rights, like I would I would be down for that. I
would I know a lot of people would be down for that. But there are things that we can do and writing resolutions is one things that students can do. You can write a resolution and you can have us sponsor it for you. You can co-sponsor resolutions. You can have a report at
the beginning of the meeting. You can write your own resolution for voting rights of student members instead of having someone hand you a resolution and saying pass this through. That's agency. And so I want you to have it and to know
that you've been so valuable on this council. But also when we're talking about voting and going to Albany and trying to get student votes, there are so many other things that are equally as important when you look at how students roles are shaped on CEC's. If you look
at eligibility just to be a student on a CC, right, or a citywide council, the pool of candidates that they're they're pulling from is so slim. You have to meet the criterion. you have to hold a, you know, a a governance council or like, you know, position or a school
government or do this club or do that thing or jumping through hoops. Um, and it really puts off a lot of students who have to work after school like I know you guys both do, but who have other responsibilities, you know, who don't want to don't have the, you know, that that line. Um, and we have a lot of
vacancies, you guys, across the city where our student members voices should be. So, we're very fortunate that we have you two. Um, and I'm gonna miss hearing your voices. Um, but please know that I would I would co-sponsor or help you write or do anything if you wanted
to put together resolution um or or anything else to bring to Albany or if you want to go to Albany or if you just want any help. I think a lot of us would. So, I hope you know that. >> Yeah. Just just to amplify and I'll get back to you, Ethan. Two two things.
Number one, I believe CEC2 and maybe CCHS are the only two CEC's in the city that have their full complement of student reps. I think CEC3 might I know they have one but they might have they might have two. So to to Tam's point to
Tam's point in terms of relaxing the requirements because it is somewhat restrictive as to who can apply, you know, I think that's that's that's that's very good. I also want to ampl or agree with with Tam's comment about the two of you being being wonderful. I will
tell you I'm I'm in a lot of I think all of us are probably in a lot of chat groups with other parent leaders and I can tell you the two of you have been mentioned many many times in our chat groups. You have been the dis the subject of our chat groups of how wonderful both of you are. Um, so I just
want to want to want to want to say that that that we've had you and we'll do all this next next meeting, you know, that's why I asked the two of you if you're going to be here next month, we will do a, you know, I'm not going to do a whole retrospective video of the two of you with, you know, like the Barba videos that they do, you know, I'm not going to
do that. But um, but I but I we'll talk more next month about about your successes here. But uh, you you are both wonderful. Ethan, you want to say something? I just wanted to ask, do you guys want to go home or hear what I have to say? Because I'm fine with anything.
>> We have we have we have we have two more minutes. >> I just want to say thank you so much. Um I think it's always going to be meeting in the middle like I'm talking about um our successors because I think obviously the council has to be welcoming and I think they have been very welcoming. You
guys have all been very welcoming. So I thank you so much for that and I've never felt left out or excluded. Um but then again it's important to understand that it's a lot of students first time doing this. It's my first time doing this as well. Probably for Rachel. I know in the beginning I was scared to speak up. So that's something that you
guys can't really control that sometimes the students will have to grow into it and meet the responsibility. But I just want to let you guys know that you don't need to stress out because I think you guys are doing a great job. So yeah. >> Thank you. I I just want to know does this mean that you'll finally call me Craig and not Mr. Slutskin to every
meeting. I tell you, do not call me do not call me Mr. SL. I do not like being called Mr. Slutskin by anybody. But so, >> you know, for obvious reasons, >> Mr. >> Yeah, please. Please, no. It's my grandfather. I'm my father. Okay. Well,
any other comments or any other >> Oh, are we are we generally okay with with with our proposals? >> Okay. I don't think we need to take a vote. >> Okay. Um, thank you for that. Uh, anything else? Okay, we'll see you uh
next month. Thank you everybody. >> Thank you everybody at home. Thanks for staying on. >> Thank you. >> And I wrote down the time Tam arrived for