Center Moriches Taxpayers Community Discussion Forum

The state Board of Regents made a disappointing and little-noticed announcement last week: A former Education Department deputy will come out of retirement to act as interim schools commissioner. What the regents didn't say, but what is true, is that New York schools will now continue to drift along at a crucial juncture in the history of American public education. Ho-hum.

Why haven't the regents bestirred themselves to find a dynamic new direction-setter for this, the most expensive bureaucracy in New York? The board has known since November that Commissioner Richard Mills plans to end his 14-year tenure in June.

One problem lies with the governor's office, which didn't approve the position until March 1. Still, regents could have put out feelers in November and be done by now. As it stands, the board hopes to narrow the field in 60 days and make a final choice before summer ends.

At the same time, the federal government is holding out $5 billion in grants for schools that want to raise their standards. New York, which is in the mediocre middle of the pack, should prepare an aggressive program to win some of that money. Also, we're at the beginning of two years of federal stimulus funding. What's the best thinking about how to use that money? On Friday, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recommended adding instructional days to school calendars and rewarding the best teachers.

And if that's not enough for the plate of a new education commissioner, how about the unending battle over how to fund schools while holding down property taxes? Strong leadership would only help. Schoolchildren won't get back the time that passes. The regents need to seize the day. hN