In response to the concerns you expressed in the e-mail below dated January 19,
2011, and also in your previous e-mail dated January 17, 2011, please note the
following information regarding the training sessions for School Leadership
Teams that have been conducted this school year, as well as upcoming sessions
that will be conducted this year by the Office for Family Information and Action
(OFIA):
1. In-person training for School Leadership Team members in 2010-2011 CEP
development using the iPlan online tool was conducted by the Office of School
Improvement from May 18th through July 16th, 2010, and September 27th through
October 29th, 2010. Trainings were conducted four days each week, in 3-hour
morning and afternoon sessions, at the Court Square Conference Center in Long
Island City, Queens, NY. Differentiated topics were scheduled as follows:
M-W & F, 8:30-11:30 A.M.
Topic: Introduction to the iPlan CEP Development Tool
Target Audience: School Leadership Team Members and Other Designated iPlan Users
M-W & F: 12:00-3:00 P.M.
Topic: Advanced Training in the Use of the iPlan CEP Development Tool
Target Audience: iPlan School Site Administrator Training
Additionally, on-demand training modules for CEP development and use of the
iPlan tool are available on the cep-iplan.com web portal.
2. In addition to the information on the DOE's website (http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/OFEA/BecomingaParentLeader/SchoolLeadershipTeam/default.htm
), the Office for Family Information and Action (OFIA) conducts
district-by-district School Leadership Team trainings throughout the school
year. SLT training for schools in your district (CSD 24) have been scheduled
for February 8th, from 9-11 A.M. (for parents) and from 6-8 P.M. (for all team
members), at the following locations:
.
9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
Intermediate School 5
50-40 Jacobus St.
Elmhurst, New York 11373
6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Public School 58
74-24 Grand Avenue
Maspeth, New York 11378
Please share the attached flyer with members of your school's SLT. OFIA is
working with Superintendents to schedule SLT training for all districts.
Please note that the SLT training sessions provided by DOE central offices are
in addition to the school-level training that principals and CFN network staff
are expected to provide to SLT members to ensure their effective functioning in
developing the CEP and supporting alignment of the school budget with CEP goals.
On a related matter, please confirm whether you have received, by postal mail
from Superintendent Juan Mendez, the formal written response to your previous
complaints regarding Title I spending for 2009-10; alignment of the CEP and the
school budget; and alleged fraudulent grading policies.
Finally, please know that the DOE is committed to continuously improving our
methods of training, supporting, and communicating with SLTs, and we appreciate
your advocacy in support of the effective functioning of SLTs. While we fully
expect that our enhanced efforts will reduce or eliminate the need for related
complaints from school community members, in order to ensure that any future
complaints are addressed in an appropriate and timely manner, please adhere to
the procedures outlined in the DOE's written complaint procedures (attached and
also accessible via the following link: http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/OFEA/KeyDocuments/Parent+Complaint+Procedures.htm
). These procedures encourage and make provision for resolution of complaints at
the local level via the principal and/or superintendent. If for any reason local
resolution is not possible, please direct your inquiries to the Office for
Family Information and Action (OFIA) - the DOE's central office responsible for
facilitating the response and resolution to complaints of this nature. Such
complaints should be made via the "OFIA Intake Form," available at both school
and district administrative offices, and faxed to OFIA at: 212-374-0076.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Sharon Rencher
Division of Portfolio Planning
NYC Department of Education
SRenche@schools.nyc.gov
________________________________
: Wed 1/19/2011 5:17 PM
To: Rencher Sharon; Hall Ojeda; dsteiner@mail.nysed.gov; rreyes@mail.nysed.gov;
nolanc@assembly.state.ny.us;
addabbo@senate.state.ny.us; millermg@assembly.state.ny.us
Subject: Re: Lack of Required School Leadership Team Training
Dear Ms. Rencher, (NYCDOE Office of School Improvement)
There appears to be little or no School Leadership Team (SLT) training being
provided by the NYCDOE.
As you know,State Educational Law 2590 H (15B) requires "appropriate training"
for SLT members. In addition, Chancellor's Regulation A-655 (School Leadership
Teams) states that the OFIA ( Office for Family Information and Action) under
Ojeda Hall is to provide "regular training sessions to the SLTs in their
districts" and to "high schools". The Office of School Improvement under Sharon
Rencher, is to provide SLT training in the development of the Comprehensive
Educational Plan (CEP) and Title 1 program requirements.The Regulation also
requires OFIA to train DLTs (District Leadership Teams).
Without appropriate training, SLT's can not be expected to fulfill their
responsibilities of creating the CEP and aligning the school budget with it. As
a result, principals have usurped the process in many if not most schools.
Please respond concerning this important matter regarding complying with State
Educational Law and Chancellor's Regulations.
Sincerely,
James Calantjis
SLT Advocate
718 458-4237
646 541-5082
calantjis@aol.com
