For years, our Long Island affiliate, the Long Island Progressive Coalition, has been working through the Alliance for Quality Education to influence reforms in the Wyandanch School District – reforms to the curriculum, the way the district handles their finances, and creating transparency between the Board of Education and community members.
The Committee of concerned residents and parents worked together to develop a platform consisting of specific policy reforms.
They teamed up with students from Hofstra’s Law School to create policy language around “no nepotism” and “conflict of interest” – two key issues on the platform that had been developed.
These new policies would focus on how the District hires staff – ensuring those most qualified are hired.
Members of the Committee then presented the policies that had been developed to the Board of Education.
The presentation was followed up with a storm of handwritten letters and phone calls from parents, grandparents, students, and community members to members of the Board asking for support of the policies.
Now, the policies are in their final stages of implementation: Committee members will be meeting with the Board’s Policy Committee to review the policies and implement them in District operations.
To celebrate their victory, LIPC hosted a family barbecue and invited the whole community. Over 60 people attended and enjoyed the day.