Queens Borough President Melinda Katz last Thursday announced that she is accepting applications from qualified community- and education-minded individuals to serve as a 2015-2017 Borough President appointee to the Queens’ Community Education Councils.
CECs, according to Katz, allow for parent involvement at the Community School District level and play an essential role in shaping education policies for public schools. They are education policy advisory bodies that have a number of important responsibilities, Katz noted, including reviewing and evaluating a district’s educational programs, approving zoning lines and holding public hearings.
Each CEC consists of 12 members who serve as volunteers and provide hands-on leadership and support for their district’s public schools. Queens has seven CECs, and Katz will appoint two members to each of those seven councils. Katz’s appointees will serve for a two-year term, from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017. A Borough President’s appointee must either live in or own or operate a business in the Community School District served by the CEC to which he or she is appointed. The appointee must also have extensive business, trade or education experience and knowledge.
“It is critical to have parents be an integral part of the decision-making process to shape and set education policies,” Katz said. “As a mom of two young boys, I can attest firsthand to the impact that parental and community involvement has on our education system.”
Anyone interested in applying must submit an application with Katz’s office by April 30. Applications are available at queensbp.org/policy/education and are accepted either via e-mail: info@queensbp.org, in-person or regular mail.
By Forum Staff
