Mayoral control hearings

Will the NYC school system continue be run by one person? Or can there finally be another form of governance that better reflects the needs of the student body, with leadership by those with firsthand and evidence-based knowledge about teaching and learning?

We already know too well that school busing has yet to reflect the communities and workers who have to live with student transportation policy. This is why we are petitioning to create another leadership panel. The educational and civil rights of riders should not be subject to the whims of OPT and private bus company owners. Please learn more about our School Bus Bill of Rights ballot referendum campaign for this election year, at https://www.pistnyc.org/gallery/bill-of-rights

Meanwhile, the law which gives the Mayor power to appoint a majority who make decisions on policy and on what expenses to prioritize, will expire this year. Hearings are being held in each borough where you can present testimony to the lawmakers. We believe that the busing crisis is one example of what can go wrong when career politicians (and/or billionaires) have too much power. This was our testimony in March 2022 to the New York State Assembly & Senate Education Committees https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KHIN6FjIyIG1UQlFEVmy-4GRU281UOWAOTt-BrA6vjk/edit?usp=sharing

As of this writing, the Bronx and Queens hearings have passed. Please sign up for one of the remaining hearings listed below. If you are going to speak, please mention the goal of shorter, stable, sustainable school bus routes for all who need them. You can also submit written testimony.

Contact pistnyc@gmail.com if you are able to distribute a flyer to people as they enter or leave the hearing, to make the connections and to inform them that, whatever happens with control of NYCPS, we seek their support for Community-labor control of NYC pupil transportation!!

Calendar

Thursday Jan 11 Brooklyn Mayoral Control hearing from 6:00–9:00pm at Boys & Girls HS. You can watch at https://vimeo.com/902061183 and send written testimony by Jan 31 (see below)

Thursday Jan 18 Manhattan Mayoral Control hearing from 6:00–9:00pm at the High School of Fashion Industries. 225 W 24th St New York, NY 10011 

https://www.nysed.gov/main/form/manhattan-mayoral-control-hearing-request-testify 

Doors open 5:00 p.m. Call PIST 631.743.6296 if you can be there early to give out flyers

Monday Jan. 29 Staten Island Mayoral Control hearing from 6:00–9:00pm at  New Dorp High School at 465 New Dorp Ln.Check https://www.nysed.gov/new-york-city-mayoral-control-hearings for the form to register 

Weds Jan 31 DEADLINE to send written testimony about Mayoral Control, from any borough https://www.nysed.gov/main/form/submit-written-electronic-testimony-nyc-mayoral-control