Gonna Be a Busy Wednesday

This Wednesday -- March 3rd -- the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is having a public hearing about proposed service cuts and getting rid of discount student MetroCards. When? Starting 6:00 p.m. Where? The Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway. (Click on the link for directions.)

On the same day, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio is hosting a Town Hall Meeting for public school parents, students and educators. The goal? To figure out how to increase parental engagement in NYC's public education system. If you're interested in this meeting, rather than the MTA hearing, come to the Brooklyn Borough Hall Courtroom at 209 Joralemon St.

Brad Lander Invites Parents to Help Protect and Improve Local Schools

Hey, public school parents! Just got this email from Councilmember Brad Lander:

The snow day seemed like a good time to write about public schools. Like many of you, public education is one of the issues I feel most passionately about -- based on my own experience as a parent, on the many stories of triumph and frustration that I've heard from families across the district, and on the belief that public education is the bedrock of a city that aspires to genuine opportunity for all its kids.

So I was excited on Wednesday night to convene a meeting of parent leaders from across the district. We met to brainstorm and strategize about some of the key issues facing our schools -- budget cuts, testing policy, overcrowding, environmental sustainability, healthier school food, special needs education, after-school programs, and support for PTAs.

Together, we started to develop plans to make a real difference in our local schools. Some of the highlights included:

• Healthier school food: Building on the great work already taking place in individual schools toward a district-wide initiative.
• Confronting expanded testing policy: Organizing a coordinated push against Kidergarten-2nd grade testing in our elementary schools
• Fighting budget cuts to the classroom: Strengthening the network of parents, students, administrators, and teachers organizing to prevent devastating cuts.

If you are interested in getting involved in these efforts, please contact Jessica Turner at jturner@council.nyc.gov or (718) 499-1090.