How to make the PEP more effective
Effi Zakry's testimony at the City Council hearing and Senator John Liu on the Schooled podcast
Last week the new City Council Education Chair, Eric Dinowitz, had a hearing about Mayoral Control on NYC public schools. My friend Effi Zakry gave a testimony on how to improve the Panel for Education Policy. Effi served on the PEP for two years and has extensive professional experience in finance.
Here is his testimony:
Good morning, Chair Dinowitz and esteemed members of the Education Committee.
I am Effi Zakry, and I am here to share insights gained from serving two full terms on the PEP. I was elected by parents to this position, rather than appointed by the Mayor or borough president—a distinction that provided me with a unique vantage point on our school system.
When we discuss “Mayoral Control,” we are fundamentally discussing the composition and functionality of the PEP. As a recent member, I have witnessed the inner dynamics of the Panel firsthand and believe there is a clear path toward meaningful improvement.
While Albany revisits this issue every few years, the conversation often becomes political and the necessary reforms are deferred. However, establishing a robust mechanism for checks and balances is imperative, regardless of who resides in City Hall. Nevertheless, the Mayor should remain accountable as the head of the executive branch. Returning to the old local school board system that was rife with corruption and inefficiency is certainly not the answer.
To make the Panel more effective, I propose the following:
· Streamline Membership: The PEP has become unwieldy. The recent increase in the number of members has made it difficult to achieve a quorum, particularly at BERS meetings. Here, bigger is not better. I recommend a leaner body consisting of 5 parent representatives and 6 mayoral appointees— 11 in total.
· Ensure Direct Representation: Parent representatives—one from each borough to reflect their unique needs—should be elected directly by parents using a process similar to CCHS elections.
· Prioritize Experience: At least four of the six mayoral appointees should be parents who have had a child in the public school system within the last five years and have served on an education council. These should be individuals with “boots on the ground” experience, not political appointments.
· Protect Independence: All members should serve fixed two-year terms and be protected from removal without due process.
The PEP must serve as a functional check and balance for our students. I would be happy to share more suggestions and details with the Committee at a later time.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Yiatin Chu, co-Founder of Place, also testified about accelerated education- you can watch her testimony here.
John Liu on the Schooled podcast
The Schooled podcast this week has John Liu, NY Senator and Chairman of New York City Education Committee, to talk about class size law. They asked some of the tough questions about this unimplementable law.
What I am reading this week
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