The quiz came at lunch and did not dodge the tough questions.
Why do nearly 70 percent of New York”™s graduating high school seniors need remedial work in math and science when they reach college? Why does it cost so much to achieve such dismal rankings nationwide? Who in the private sector has the protection of job security and raises ”“ even if they aren”™t doing a good job?
And why do businesses seem to care so little?
These and other questions were raised by Jonathan Drapkin, president of Pattern for Progress, when he spoke at noon to 125 members of the Rockland Business Association at the Comfort Inn in Nanuet on Feb. 17.
At the outset, he apologized to anyone he might offend, saying some of his best mentors were teachers he had in the public school system. But Drapkin would like the business community to find ways to focus its attention of K-12 education.
“New York ranks No. 1 in spending per student and 34th nationwide in outcomes. Although the business community is concerned about the taxes it pays, there is seldom any involvement by the business community in the activities of school districts. Why not?” asked Drapkin.
With major reductions in school aid projects, the loss of ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act), and the fact that elected officials are loathe to raise property taxes any higher, “It”™s essential for the business community to enter the discussion,” said Drapkin.
“The results of years of creating a ”˜step”™ system for increasing salaries, plus negotiated raises for teachers, has created an unsustainable level of retirement costs that are to be paid forever,” said Drapkin. “Therefore, if the outcomes are less than desirable, the cost is unsustainable. Revenue is declining and most student populations are stagnant; now is the time to ascertain where we”™re heading.”
As long as teachers”™ unions continue to claim they are under attack or school administrators feeling they are being singled out, they are missing the point, said Drapkin. “Instead, they are opening themselves to criticism that they are not putting children”™s interests first.”
Drapkin urged the business community to get involved to come up with creative ways to save money and boost student performance.
“How do we get the discussion going?” asked Drapkin. “How about the concept of a countywide school district? It seems to make people uncomfortable.” Drapkin compared Westchester to Fairfax County, Virginia. “Both have high median incomes, comparable populations and the same geographic size. Yet Westchester has 47 school districts; Fairfax has but one.”
Drapkin suggested a task force be created to find ways to incorporate today”™s technology to cut costs and improve student performance. “How about placing a console on each desk ”“ rather than having the ”˜smart”™ kids participate, everyone participates? The teacher would know what students ”˜got it”™ and which ones didn”™t,” said Drapkin.
He also questioned the number of days children are off from school and why New York is the only state in the nation that has Regents. “Has it helped us improve performance, based on our position as 34th in the nation?”
Gov. Cuomo is proposing a $250 million performance fund for districts that increase productivity in the classroom and another $250 million administrative efficiency fund for those who can find demonstrative savings. “His objective will stimulate the federal ”˜Race to the Top Program,”™” said Drapkin, but he questioned their ability to survive in the state”™s fiscal 2011-2012 budget.
With heads nodding in agreement, Drapkin questioned the need for a tenure system. “It has created a situation where schools keep employees who have been there the longest. Instead, they have a policy of ”˜last hired, first fired.”™ How many businesses would keep an employee simply because of longevity? Business would  also factor in outcomes, creativity, performance and ingenuity, but that is not the criteria in tenure. If we truly put the kids first, we need to take a hard look at failing to provide them with the best simply because of the tenure system.”
Drapkin is a proponent of school uniforms, taking pressure off students to compete in a glamour contest. “If the school improves, as a result, how about having a ”˜dress up”™ Friday? Doing things the same way over and over and hoping for a different result is not the way to go.”
Enlightened union leaders, politicians and administrators know what is at stake and are willing to sacrifice for what is right, said Drapkin. “We need to realize reform is critical, so we can create a world where our children can thrive. If you don”™t like my ideas, do me one better. Students need to learn to take responsibility and the business community must lead the way.”
Most favored Drapkin”™s proposals, but wondered how they could be accomplished, given the current system. “I think most of us, if not all of us, even those with teachers in their families, agree the time has come to do things very differently,” said one business owner, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
With out question or reason NYS should get rid of the old, higher payed with big pensions and health benefits. They are the people who cause this problem. The new
younger workers can take over their jobs with ease. Don’t be fooled younger is better, brighter, and they can learn to live in this time period. The old just want more and more. I say dump them and make them pay their own health ins. costs.