I am glad to see people are paying attention as I think City control of the schools is a tricky thing. I can understand their trepidation.
I know that any mayor's job is (among other things) unemployment, violent crime, and deteriorating housing conditions but these problems can not be really addressed without looking at a big picture.

I am grateful to the mayor for being bold and looking for solutions and I applaud the activist who are thoughtfully looking out for our children. These are difficult issues that need caring and intelligent debate.

Only 25 people bothered to show up? I think that's exactly the point! That's about how many people voted in the last school board election. Rochester school board seats are largely contested in primary races during off election years, so turnout is abysmally low. For a job that directly impacts the quality of life for all city residents, and to a great extent the entire regional population of 1 million, it is an incredibly small handful of voters that currently decide school board seats.

More voters would automatically have a greater voice with mayoral control because there would be more people paying attention and holding the Mayor accountable. Right now, the school board's voter accountability is a joke.

I understand the frustration of our Mayor in responding to the poor education outcomes because we share that frustration. Where we differ is the solutions. It is not appropriate to bypass dialogue with the community members most impacted ie parents, children, educators, community partners and go straight to power brokers to shove something down their throats. In urban life this is considered the highest level of disrespect to an already disenfranchised group. I expect more from the mayor of our city who up to this point modeled far more integrity. This concerns me.

I am also distressed by any movement to strip people of their suffrage rights to choose leaders via a democratic process. We can't flip flop on our democratic principles at will because we become upset or disagreable. Our charge is to harness collective wisdom and collective work to resolve the problems and remove the barriers to producing stellar educational outcomes.

Standing in the space of two polar extremes is not the answer. Because our children are truly at stake we have no time for an us vs. them mentality. Lets work collectively holding all parties accountable to fix our systemic problems embedded in urban education.

We need legislation crafted that puts students and parents first and not elected official first. We need legislation that puts more power in the hands of parents, students and community members so that their is a balance when navigating thru difficult topics that are necessary.

We need a shift in the current school culture found in urban educational settings. We have to get back to seeing every child as a genius without exception and treat them as such.

This kind of work requires a new vision and a new set of actions flowing toward that vision without barriers and blocks thrown in its way.

In that new vision must be a intentional committment to address race and class inequities without fear of reprisal from unions and defensive educators. They have their education this is the students time.

Before we start talking take over lets try a culture of pure love, respect,expectation, encouragement, opportunity and appreciation for the humanity of every child and treat them all as our own.

We have the wisdom in this community to resolve these issues. What we need is the will and absence of ego and self promotion. I say lets go to work beloved community and make it happen.

Mr. Spount,

It is important to understand that the “25 people [who] bothered to show up” represent a force to be reckoned with. In fact, we represent 12 of the most active, grassroots, community-based organizations in Rochester. Let there be no doubt that our members and supporters consist of thousands. Collectively, we compose the recently established Community Education Task force. Many of those who “bothered to show up” are part of the leadership, i.e. Steering Committee members.

Our plans include working closely with many other individuals and organizations --- such as the Rochester Teachers Association, Board of Education Non-Teaching Employees and New York State United Teachers to thoroughly defeat Mayor Robert Duffy’s and his allies’ attempts to further disenfranchise the people of Rochester by stripping us of our hard-won, blood-stained Constitutional rights to vote for and elect our local Rochester Board of Education representatives.

Once we accomplish the above stated goal, in my humble opinion, (in order to increase the likelihood of significantly increased participation) --- we need to turn our attention to reforming Rochester’s corrupt, rigged, political and electoral process, which is completely controlled by the same Democrat Party bosses who are attempting to stuff mayoral control down our collective throats.

Howard says:

"Once we accomplish the above stated goal, in my humble opinion, (in order to increase the likelihood of significantly increased participation) --- we need to turn our attention to reforming Rochester’s corrupt, rigged, political and electoral process, which is completely controlled by the same Democrat Party bosses who are attempting to stuff mayoral control down our collective throats."

I say:

Is it time for Joe Morelle, David Gantt & Susan John to go this year???
http://www.harry2009.com/node/522

"By closing out the process in the committees the way it did, Morelle insured a low turn-out in the City, which hurt the County-wide races."

"Once candidates are under the wing of MCDC, original ideas are replaced by generic blandness. Candidates should be about ideas and plans. If they aren't, they shouldn't be running."

In April, just before I decided to run for Rochester City Council, I was told by a Democratic leader that this would be a futile task for me, as all of the decisions had already been made. I was then, and am now, attempting to get a job with the Obama administration in the Health and Human Services Department in Washington to help get stem cell & regenerative medicine resources out to where they are needed. This leader told me to stay focused on the DC possibility and forget playing local politics, because I had no chance with it, i.e. the fix was in.

Obviously, I did not follow this man's advice! I am happy that when I began this course in April that I was one of 20 candidates for five City Council seats. In the end, I was one of 6 candidates for five city council seats thanks to my nomination and endorsement by the Working Families Party. And I thank very much the 1,694 of you who voted for me!

I still want to bring CHANGE to Rochester. I want a downtown that is civilized, where one can live; not the wasteland it is today. The way this will happen is when we have a true democracy in Rochester. Less than 10% of the voters actually chose our leaders this election, in the sense that very few people were involved in the Democratic Party endorsement and nomination process. This process was a travesty as we know from Tom Brennan's experience running for Commissioner of Schools, where in three of the City’s LD committees, he came in third place. But like all the other candidates who did not get 50% of the committee vote, Tom had to enter a run-off at Party convention with the convoluted rule that committee votes for the run-off candidates were entirely up to the LD leader, all of which gave all their votes to David Gantt’s darling Cynthia Elliott, in spite of the fact that she received no more than a few votes from the original committee caucuses while Tom received the third highest in each. Word on the street has it that this was the result of a deal struck with Gantt to endorse her (almost assuring the nomination as well); and in return he would not run another City Council candidate to oppose the others.

Joe Morelle, who presided over this process fixing, either needs to resign immediately or allow the fresh candidates who want to run for office to actually speak for themselves. Once candidates are under the wing of MCDC, original ideas are replaced by generic blandness. Candidates should be about ideas and plans. If they aren't, they shouldn't be running.

An example of this was evident when I and the other City Council candidates presented ourselves in caucus to the committee that David Gantt controls. We all made speeches presenting our case in hopes of a real vote. Mr. Gantt did not even bother to stay in the room to listen to what I had to say, about Renaissance Square, about high tech possibilities with stem cell research for jobs in our area, and for high speed rail. Mr. Gantt was not even in the room when all of us spoke to his committee! Mr. Gannt was outside, seen through the glass window, smoking a cigarette during the entire process! And, when the votes were tallied for David's committee, it was unanimous. EVERYBODY David chose had EXACTLY the same amount of votes!! And who was the leader of the MCDC when this happened? Joe Morelle, that's who.

By closing out the process in the committees the way it did, it insured a low turn-out in the City, which hurt the County-wide races.

We are holding meetings now to have a better look at where we are all going politically. We have Green Party members, Working Family members, and all of you who have no political affiliation. If the Democratic Party in Monroe County wants to succeed, I think it is time we all looked at where it's leadership has taken it and decide if we want to continue in the same direction.

Harry Davis
Rochester, New York
November 7, 2009

Mr. Eagle,

I saddens me to see that nowhere in your comment did you see it fit to mention the importance of improving the quality of education for students in Rochester. You're fighting a political fight with political aims. My support will and the support of this community SHOULD go to the leaders who feel the urgency of doing something innovative and effective to improve student achievement in our city. The school board, which includes many well-meaning folks, is a ridiculously ineffective body. For the sake of our kids, I'm ready to give the Mayor a chance to implement the dramatic changes that are needed to improve the prospects for our children. Your disenfranchisement claims are bogus. If in four years, the Mayor has not gotten the job done, then I'll be right there with you to vote him out. In the meantime, let's stop accepting 50% graduation rates as a win and demand better.

mr. spount,
why is the only option considered that of mayoral control? there has been no discussion or public discourse around this issue. the mayor, along with mr. gantt and mr. morelle have shown that what the public thinks and what else might be of consideration means nothing. these politicians have already impacted our education system enough. those well intentioned folks on the school board are for the most part uniformed, inexperienced, and clueless individuals placed there by the democratic party leaders to suit their own political agendas. try running against them in the nomination process and witness the truth. i believe you would see a much different outcome in our schools with the right people elected. remember this incredibly ineffective body consists of people hand picked by duffy, gantt and morelle etc. why should we trust their judgement now?

Mr. Spount,

Don’t’ be saddened. Instead of being one who just TALKS about “the importance of improving the quality of education for students in Rochester” (ala-Robert Duffy, and possibly you) --- I actually WORK to improve the quality of education for students in Rochester. As a RCSD parent, educator and grassroots community activist --- I have a solid 30-year record and history of doing so.

Apparently, you are not aware of the undisputable fact that public education is a thoroughly political field. So, indeed the fight is “political.” If Duffy (the elected Mayor, even if only by a minuscule portion of eligible voters, and the defacto leader of the local Democrat Party) is not “fighting a political fight with political aims” --- then exactly what in the heck is it that you imagine he’s doing?

You’re right about the fact that “the [so-called] leaders [claim that they] feel [a sudden] urgency of doing something innovative and effective to improve [the very old problem of] student achievement in our city.” The bigger problem is that (even if we were big enough fools to turn over the one billion and seven-hundred million school-district-dollars, which they are after) --- they don’t have a clue about what to do, and if they do have a clue --- they obviously feel no obligation to share their “innovative and effective” ideas with parents and other tax-paying citizens, which represents one of the biggest and most serious contradictions regarding their facade.

You won’t get an argument from me about the fact that “the school board [as a] body is ridiculously ineffective.” Yet, no matter how ineffective it may be --- you, Duffy and whomever else will not strip the citizens of this community of our hard-won, blood-stained, Constitutionally protected rights to vote for our local representatives (at least not without the fight of your lives). Politically and rhetorically speaking, Duffy has said that he is willing to “die on the hill of education.” Never doubt that many of us are willing to “kill” him and his allies on that same political and rhetorical hill.

It’s very interesting (to say the least) that you are “ready to give the Mayor a chance to implement the dramatic changes that are needed to improve the prospects for our children,” especially since (unless you are having private conversations with the Mayor) --- you don’t know anything about the specifics of “the dramatic changes” that are being proposed. It saddens me to think that you may be a “blind sheep.”

I sure would like to hear your argument concerning my “disenfranchisement claims [being] bogus.” Either people have a legal and Constitutional right to vote for their representatives or they don’t. Under Duffy’s proposal --- we (city residents) wouldn’t --- at least where the Rochester Board of Education is concerned. Now go ahead and explain what’s bogus about that.

What do you mean by “let's stop accepting 50% graduation rates as a win”? Speak for yourself. Don’t attempt to include me in the huge club that accepts mediocrity and dismal failure as “a win.” I never have.

Lastly, please don’t try to preach to me about doing things, especially things which haven’t even been defined or explained, “for the sake of our kids.” I have something that you probably don’t have, and that Duffy definitely doesn’t have --- namely a personal stake in improving the public education system --- manifested in the persons of two RCSD students!

I was less than impressed when a mere 25 or so "activists" protested mayoral control of RCSD. Who are these people? Aside from being poseurs with a Political Agenda they fail to manifest any true concern for the well-being of Rochester's children; though they have great concern for their own prerogatives, such as voting for another slate of losers, as they have done for several decades. These seasoned pols have given our community nothing, except failure. I'd like the mayor to have the same opportunity to fail or, imagining the worst possible outcome, succeed! This issue should be well beyond politics of any sort; this should be about what is in the best interest of our children, who have been denied safe learning environments and proper educations for far too long in our community.

Response To Richards:

Since you want to know ---“Who are these people” --- just keep paying attention, and I guarantee you that there will be no doubt in your mind. It will become crystal clear --- who we are.

By the way --- who are you, and what stake do you have relative to improving conditions within the Rochester City School District (specifically as it relates to “the well-being of Rochester’s children”)?

You are absolutely correct regarding your assertion that “this issue should be well beyond politics,” but how could that be possible --- when Duffy (the rhetorical king, and the epitome of political hypocrisy, is at the center of local Democrat Party politics)? So just stop it!

Mr. Eagle,

Your passion for education is evident, though it seems your comments here have taken a turn for the unproductive - particularly the personal affronts and assumptions. As it turns out, my stake in this issue is arguably greater than your own, though I do not find it appropriate to question the sincerity of others or bandy such details around in a public comment forum.

It is also difficult to ignore your own ambitions to be elected to the Rochester School Board as a motivating factor in this debate. Not that there is anything wrong with such aspirations, but they should not be ignored.

There is nothing I would like to see more than the academic success of students in our city schools. This should be the bottom line - not who we elect or who is in charge or who gets credit for success or failure. I don't care if a committee of parents runs the district, or the mayor has sole control, or a team of outsiders comes in and closes all the schools and re-opens them as new entities, or if aliens from Mars land in Rochester and start teaching classes. If the result is a dramatic improvement in academic achievement and life prospects for Rochester kids, then I'm all for whatever the initiative may be. There are pockets of outstanding urban education excellence all over this city that should be models for the system. So far, the current school board governance structure has not allowed for improvement based on any of this evidence. If handing control to the mayor makes this easier and results in a more responsible use of funding, then why not? We're not giving up any alleged voting rights here. If it doesn't work, then we vote the mayor out - simple as that! In fact, it's a far more voter-friendly option that trying to effect change on the school board. Defenders of the status quo look ridiculous on this issue.

In response to Eagle:

Who am I? WHO AM I?!! Well, let me tell you chum: I'm one of the “little people” who pay RCSD salaries and, frankly, I wonder when the board will oblige me by actually “earning” a paycheck.

All that taxpayers have received is political in-fighting and excuses equivalent to: the dog ate my homework. A failing educational system does not impress me as much as it, apparently, impresses you.

The status quo doesn't cut it any more, so stop defending it.

Mr. Eagle apparently has a lot to lose on this potential change in "management". Now he's resorted to personal attacks. What's up with all of your parenthetical asides? It's funny how he thinks he's the *only* RCSD parent who reads or posts on Rochester City Magazine; how arrogant. I like how he calls Duffy rhetorical. I think Mr. Eagle takes the cake on that one, just read his posts several times over.

The one thing lost in the mayoral control debate is the one brought up by James Sprount above. Mayoral control is not about improving education. I haven't heard anything from anyone in this debate about improving education, just graduation rates.
If all you want is improved graduation rates, well that's easy - mandate a minimum graduation rate regardless of achievement. This gets everyone off the hook. If you want the students to actually have a decent education and earn their diplomas (never mind the larger societal questions which govern some of the reasons for the large failure rates) that job is harder.

That job requires a sustained dialogue and effort which involves more than just some ambitious people in suits yelling at each other in TV and in print. That job requires communities, parents, teachers, and other "stakeholders" to maintain a much higher level of vigilance and a lower tolerance for failure than they have now.
In another comment written earlier today for another article I advocate for the return of the Childrens' Zone. I repeat that call here. It's the only initiative I have heard yet that even has a prayer of fundamentally changing the lives of Rochester's children.