*****************************************************************Archive Federation
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The Delegation of the Staten Island Federation of Parent -Teacher
Associations periodically commits and/or approves of, but is not limited to,
action, presentation of testimony, correspondence, and/or position on issues
that relate to the education of
This
archive represents the beginning of the compilation of above mentioned actions
of the Delegation of the Staten Island Federation of PTAs for the purpose of
historical reference to the commitment that has persevered to serve
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History
of The
The Staten Island Federation of PTAs has grown from a secret organization that met in a school basement, to the respected and vocal federation that it is today. This history began when two kindergarten teachers worked together to help Mrs. Harry Gwinnell establish an organized group of concerned mothers. Representing every public school on Staten Island, it has the distinction of leading the only New York City borough that has all PTAs instead of PAs; they all join together to accomplish, with combined effort, that which no individual PTA can do alone.
When Mrs. Gwinnell started her Federation of Mother's Clubs in 1927 she could not have foreseen the metamorphosis through which the organization would go. When fathers were asked to join these school groups in the 1950's the name was changed to Parent Teacher Organizations and the Staten Island Federation of PTAs. Her original goal was “to promote better understanding between home and school”. That too has evolved over the year; “to unite the individual Parent-Teacher Associations for the general betterment of school conditions, and the mutual benefits derived from the interchange of ideas and problems, facilitating a climate of mutual understanding and respect between the parents, the Community School Board, and the Board of Education”.
Federation has changed with the times to meet the
varying and diverse needs of
In the 50's it was necessary to address the
important topic of race relations. Another concern was more police
protection for school crossings. The question was raised as to whether it would
be possible to have women serving as auxiliary police at dangerous crossings.
During this time, Federation
was also pushing for a city college for
The 60's presented the
In the 70's several laws were passed that greatly enhanced children's education. In 1972 Title IX was passed, prohibiting discrimination against girls/women in federally funded education, including athletics. Then in 1975 The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was passed. “This landmark legislation was needed to assure that students with disabilities receive free appropriate public education and the related services and support they need to achieve. IDEA was created to help states and school districts meet their legal obligations to educate children with disabilities, and to pay part of the extra expenses of doing so.”
The 80's saw the realization of new schools on
the
Having been a nomadic organization for most of its existence - moving from one school to another; wherever space could be provided, The Staten Island Federation of PTAs found a home at the District Office when the Petrides Complex was opened in 1995.
The Presidents' Councils of Staten Island
represent District 31, District 75, Alternative Setting, and BASIS for all our
parent organizations. Every borough has Presidents' Councils. The Chair of this
committee attends all CPAC (Chancellor's Parent Advisory Committee meetings) to
find out everything we need to know about our District. The Chancellor
attends these meetings or sends a representative. Questions and answers
about budget cuts, reorganization in the Board of Education, etc. are discussed.
We in
The Legislation Committee for the Staten Island Federation of PTA's strives to reach out to all the membership of the organization in districts 31, 75 and BASIS. Surveys are sent out to obtain feedback from all the schools on issues pertaining to Legislation and our children's education.
The committee assists the president in preparing briefs to be presented to our legislators, and attends legislative meetings. A coordinated effort is made to invite local legislators, including our State Senators, Congressman, Assemblymen, Borough President, Councilmen and representatives of the Educational Community to discuss topics at an annual Legislative Forum. Invitations are sent to all of the PTA's and legislators. Discussions are held on topics such as universal Pre-K, reduced class size, construction, and any upcoming bills.
Federation has seen the Board of Education evolve from a Centralized Board to a Decentralized Board and now back to a Central Board.
In September of 2002 Staten Island Borough
President, James Molinaro, appointed Joan McKeever-Thomas, President of Staten
Island Federation of PTAs, to be the
(Posted
2002) Most recently the current President, Joan
McKeever-Thomas, was honored with The Women in History Achievement Award by The
Council of the City of New York. Other
officers of this organization have gone on to earn recognition as Women of
Achievement for their commitment, advocacy and support as leaders of other
volunteer groups such as the Cystic Fibrosis Association, Consulting Committee
for SI Community College and more. Other members have become teachers, study law, work on the
Community School Board, and serve on the Board of Directors of Staten Island
Mental Health as well as other community agencies. These intelligent women
have all worked hard and often sacrificed much to provide a rich environment for
all of our children and the community of
Mrs. Gwinnell established an award to be given to
one
The entire Staten Island educational community comes together in celebration for the annual Staten Island Federation of PTAs June Scholarship Luncheon; a high-profile event. Scholarships are funded by donations from local PTA's and the UFT, as well as individual scholarships given by local politicians, businesses and former members of Federation.
Federation has administered the scholarship award process since 1999. Each school submits ten applications (with essays). If there are more then ten applications the local PTA forms a committee at the school to pick the ten (the committee does not know the students' names) to be submitted to Federation. Awards are also given to several Special Education students and for artwork chosen to be published on the cover of the Scholarship Luncheon Journal.
Until 1964 Federation recognized its leaders using their husband's first name, as in Mrs. Harry Gwinnell. It wasn't until 1977 that the organization identified each woman by her own name as in Mrs. Marie Cotter. It took the SI Advance until 1977 to do the same. In 1966 the Advance shows Mrs. Charles Miller (aka Agnes) in a typical domestic scene sitting at her sewing machine. Then in 1974 the Advance, in a reference to Mrs. Richard Brower's (aka Dorothy) husband states: “he has no objections to ….PTA interests….” That was only thirty years ago. We now have several fathers on our Executive Board and one day soon a father will be an officer of Federation.
April of 2003 commemorates the newest avenue of communication at a ribbon cutting ceremony; “From Moms in White Gloves to Parents in Cyberspace: The Dawn of New Era” (see pictures below) The website will provide a central point of information to strengthen the home, school and community connection and prove to be a benefit for the entire school community on Staten Island.(new website address www.SIFPTA.org )
The goal remains the same as that of the 1927 Federation of Mother's Clubs in striving to gather parent leaders, educational administrators, legislators and others key to the support and the providing of information, resources, guidance and direction to families
Federation remains strong in the commitment to keeping
families abreast of important issues, events and other pertinent information
related to the education and well being of their children in the
The future may be full of unknowns but Federation is, as it always has been and always will be, up to the challenge.
Information for this piece has come from: Federation Files
Advance Articles
Current Members of Federation's Executive Board
Internet (Legislation)
Compiled by Patricia Pignataro
Edited By Dawn Russo
April 2003
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RESOLUTIONS
of the
of PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS
Whereas, Children and their parents are the ultimate consumers of public school educational services, and are immediately affected by the quality of these services, and the parents of public school children must therefore necessarily assume an integral and indispensable role in decision making at every level of the public school system; and
Whereas,
the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations is recognized as,
and acknowledged to be, the sole, duly elected and fully representational voice
of the parents of the public school children of
Resolved, That the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations support the development of Borough Boards, furnishing parents, educators and administrators a local presence and an ability to influence education decisions; and it is further
Resolved, That the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations require that half plus one of the members of any Borough Board be parents of children currently enrolled in a public school of that borough; and it is further
Resolved, That the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations require that candidates for seats on the Borough Boards be elected thereto at triennial elections held on Election Day in November, voting being on voting machines in accordance with the provisions of title two of article seven of the election law; each voter being entitled to cast one vote for each candidate to a maximum of votes, with voters being unable to cast more than one vote for any one candidate; the candidates receiving the greatest number of votes when ballots are counted in accordance with She provisions of article nine of the election law being elected; and it is further
Resolved, That the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations support the imposition of term limits on Borough Board seats, with members having the right to run, at the completion of their first three year term, for no more than one additional three year term; and it is further
Resolved, That the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations require that any city wide more than one borough superintendency be within the jurisdiction of a Borough Board, thus causing District 75, BASIS, Alternative High School and the Chancellor's District schools to be part of the borough wide governance process; and it is further
Resolved, That the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations require that the Borough Boards be granted full and complete budget and curriculum related information for all districts/superintendencies within their purview; and it is further
Resolved, That the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations support the right of the Borough Boards to review, evaluate and approve or veto the proposed annual budget of all districts within their purview; and it is further
Resolved, That the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations support the right of the Borough Boards to review, evaluate and approve or veto the annual proposed Comprehensive Education Plan for all districts within their purview; and it is further
Resolved, That the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations require that the Borough Boards be responsible for the selection and evaluation of district superintendents, whose appointment and evaluation shall continue under current processes, thus ensuring that the parents of public school children continue to be represented in the appointment and evaluation processes; and it is further
Resolved, That the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations support the right of the Borough Boards to participate in the process of planning the educational policy of all districts within their purview; and it is further
Resolved, That the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations support the right of the Borough Boards to require that Superintendents deliver a monthly report regarding the state of their districts at the Borough Board's monthly public forum, and it is further
Resolved, That the Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations insist and demand that any new governance plan, statutes, laws and/or regulations leave in place and intact as they now are Parent Associations, Parent Teacher Associations, Presidents' Councils, the Chancellor's Parent Advisory Committee, School Leadership Teams and the C30 and C37 committees for the selection of supervisors and Superintendents.
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PHOTO Collection
Welcome
to a glimpse of what Federation means to the Past, Present and Future of our
children's education.
Superintendent
Michelle Fratti to PTA Presidents
in
the
