Parent of English Language Learner Student Joins CDEC 26

Community District Education Council 26 welcomed the parent of an English Language Learner (ELL) student this week. But two months ago, the requirement for the council to add a parent of a pupil whose first language is not English led to acrimony among board members.

Mei Ge, who is the parent of a sixth grader at M.S. 216 in Fresh Meadows, made her debut last night at the board’s monthly meeting. Ge, a Chinese immigrant, said she wanted to become more involved in her child’s education.

“They needed an ELL student’s parent,” she said. “I had a lot of experience when I was in China and I love children. I wanted to share my experience.”

The new board member was accompanied by a translator.

The mandate for the council to fill an empty slot with an English Language Learner parent was the source of controversy at the group’s November meeting. At that time, CDEC 26 President Rob Caloras said he did not believe the board should be forced to meet “quotas.”

At this month’s meeting, parents of northeast Queens students said they were frustrated about a proposal for a citywide Gifted and Talented Program at P.S. 188 in Bayside, which is currently zoned for District 26.

“I bought my property knowing there was a Gifted and Talented Program,” said Michele Cespedes, who is the parent of a P.S. 188 student. “As a property owner, I take offense to this. A citywide program will allow for kids from all over the city to get in.”

Janet Caraisco, P.S. 188’s principal, said the chief concern for the expansion was among parents with more than one child who already have a student in the Gifted and Talented Program.

These parents are concerned whether they might have to drop their children off at separate schools in the morning should their second child get shut out of the program, she said.

“We are not hearing any information on whether we are getting the [citywide] program or not and I don’t know who is making the decision,” Caraisco said.

Caloras said the school’s current program would only be replaced if there were high demand and that there is currently no definite plan to do so.

Under the citywide program, Gifted and Talented students already at the school would remain at P.S. 188 until completing fifth grade.

To gain entry into the program, students must score in the 97^th percentile.

CDEC members were also notified of the Fifth Annual Parent Educator Alliance Scholarship Dinner Dance, which will take place on May 19.

Students must apply for the scholarship, fill out a permission slip and turn in the form, which can be found on the United Federation of Teachers’ website, by Feb. 1.

Scholarships, which will come in the form of a bond valued up to $1,000, will be handed out to students at the dance. For more information, call 718-275-4400.