Time for More than New Members on NY Board of Regents: Murphy

The shake-up of the New York State Board of Regents continues in Albany.

Most recently, three newcomers were appointed to the board, replacing longtime members who came under fire for the state's ragged, rapid, controversial implementation of new standards and new tests.

Two of the new members appointed by the state Assembly are from New York City: college instructor Luis Reyes and parent-advocate Nan Eileen Mead. Reyes was appointed to an at-large seat and Mead will fill the vacancy in the 1st Judicial District. The third, Elizabeth Smith Hakanson, a veteran teacher from Syracuse, replaces a lawyer who served for 20 years.

In addition, Bronx educator Betty Rosa is widely expected to be voted chancellor of the board, as Merryl Tisch did not seek another term.

"Time will tell how the new Regents and Chancellor work out," said state Sen. Terrence Murphy (R-40). "The last few years have made it clear that we need reform minded board members that will usher in the needed policies to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed."

As they take their seats, Murphy is supporting bills designed to improve the lines of communication between the Regents, educators and the public. The legislation will reform the selection process for the Board of Regents and increase transparency to help parents and educators have more access to proceedings that set state education policy, he said.

"The Board of Regents is an important party of state government but has conducted its business from behind closed doors," Murphy said in a prepared statement. "As the Chairman of the Regulatory Review Commission, I have seen this bureaucratic body subvert the legislature and impose expensive mandates onto our local schools and taxpayers. The reforms that we passed will shed more light and accountability onto their decision making process which I only hope results in sound education policies that give every child the opportunity to succeed."

He described one of the bills, sponsored by Senator LaValle (S224), which requires more information about any Board of Regents resolutions that alter or amend the rules or regulations. Details would need to be provided about: those entities that are expected to be affected by increase in costs proposed; source of income to pay for increases, whether it be from the general fund or other funds; type of tax increase necessary to fund proposal; if a tax increase is to come from local property taxes, list expected increase by school district; and if a combination of funds are to be used, information regarding costs shall be provided by the Regents.

In addition:

• S1796B, sponsored by Senator Patty Ritchie (R-C, Heuvelton), requires that each meeting of the Board of Regents be streamed live and made available to the public. Currently, the Board only webcasts a small portion of its monthly meetings. This bill would give parents and educators the ability to stay informed of the Board's decisions; and

• S6503, sponsored by Senator Carl L. Marcellino (R, Syosset), requires the Board of Regents to give notice of their agenda several days before a scheduled meeting to allow the stakeholders on several educational issues the appropriate time to respond and discuss the issues. This would encourage more involvement from the public and would foster an improved dialogue between both the Board of Regents and other stakeholders in education.

They have been sent to the Assembly.