CURRAN: MORE THAN 150 ATTEND COMMON CORE FORUM

In panel photo (from the left): Assemblyman Dave McDonough, Long Island Opt-out’s Jeanette Brunelle Deutermann, Covert Principal Mr. Darren Raymar, Executive Director of the Network for Public Education Carol Burris, Assemblyman Brian Curran, Assemblyman Ed Ra, Valley Stream 13 Superintendent Ms. Constance D. Evelyn, and Rockville Centre Superintendent Dr. William Johnson.

Assemblyman Brian Curran (Lynbrook-21st A.D.) recently hosted a forum on Common Core, titled “Where do we go from here?” at South Side Middle School in Rockville Centre that focused on the future of education in New York State. The event featured a panel question-and-answer session, with panel speakers: Curran, Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick), Long Island Opt-out’s Jeanette Brunelle Deutermann, Covert Principal Mr. Darren Raymar, Executive Director of the Network for Public Education Carol Burris, Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square), Valley Stream 13 Superintendent Ms. Constance D. Evelyn, and Rockville Centre Superintendent Dr. William Johnson. Curran said more than 150 people attended the event, consisting mostly of parents, teachers and education stakeholders.

“This forum was designed to be an informational session for discussing where the state is going with Common Core and what the latest reports from the Legislature and governor’s office mean for our parents, teachers, and our educational institutions,” said Curran. “Our children, parents, teachers and school administrators have a right to know how the opt-out movement and these new revelations will impact our state’s education policy, curriculum, and the process by which our children learn. I want to thank our panel of special guests for their attendance, and I am certain everyone who was in attendance found this forum helpful.”

Curran noted that several parents were apprehensive about Gov. Cuomo’s threats to withhold funding from school districts where students opted-out of Common Core tests. It also was agreed upon by all in attendance that it is cruel for children to have to sit for hours on end with a book in an auditorium while the state testing is going on.

Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square), Ranking Member of the Assembly Committee on Education, said, “It is critical to maintain an open dialogue between local education stakeholders and their representatives to ensure that the educational needs of our state’s unique student population are met. Until real changes are made, the opt-out movement will continue to grow. Moving forward, our conference will remain committed to advocating for legislative solutions that would empower our local districts and reduce our dependence on high-stakes testing.”

Assemblyman David McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) said, “When you have poor education policy with little input from stakeholders forced on our students and educators, you have a real problem. The opt-out movement is uncharted territory, and New York is witnessing a revolution. As long as these education policies, which have no merit, keep coming, I think distrust and discontent will continue to grow. Serious attention must be considered as we go forward.”

Since New York implemented Common Core, Curran, Ra, McDonough and their Assembly Republican colleagues have spearheaded reform efforts to Common Core and its failed rollout.

Jeanette Brunelle Deutermann from Long Island Opt-out said, “Now is the time. We have an obligation to speak up and stand up for all our children.”

Rockville Centre Superintendent Dr. William Johnson said, “I want to thank Assemblyman Curran for hosting this forum. There are a lot of questions that parents, teachers, and we as school administrators, have with regard to the governor’s policies and statements. The forum was informative and helpful and also highlighted outliers, like the opt-out movement, that raise serious concerns for our school budgets that our representatives can advocate for in Albany.”

Covert Principal Darren Raymar added, “This is about Albany doing the right thing for our students and educators. It’s a good thing we have representatives in Albany like Assemblymen Curran, Ra and McDonough who can be our voice on important issues like Common Core.”

Five Towns resident Mrs. Cindy Grosz said, “We are so lucky to have three devoted assemblymen who work on behalf of the parents, staff and education community to inform and engage and work together improving the issues of Common Core, testing and teacher evaluation for a successful learning environment.”

###