In a high stakes poker game the players take the time to review footage of their opponents in order to learn their strategies and especially their “tells”. Though people don’t like to think of the struggle to affect educational change as a game, life is a game and if you want to win, you have to educate yourself.
Recently, Governor Cuomo added Carrie Remis, the Executive Director of the Parent Power Project, to his education commission. Those who have been in the struggle for some time know that Ms. Remis has been actively involved in the movement towards educational change for many years.
It is also understood, that Ms. Remis supported then Mayor Duffy, now Lieutenant Governor Duffy, in his bid for mayoral control. What some may not know is that Ms. Remis carries the voice of the Faith Community Alliance to Albany with her along with several parent groups in Rochester and Buffalo.
With Ms. Remis in Albany, New Yorkers can look forward to a renewed push for Parent Trigger legislation, reconfigured for New York State by the Parent Power Project group. Parent Trigger gives parents the same rights a school district has for addressing the problems of a failing school.
It is also important to remember the upcoming Assemblyman race that has three candidates, incumbent Gantt, Cruz, and Lightfoot all vying for the position, all in favor of mayoral control of the district.
There is an alignment of power taking place within the state, especially now that the federal government is willing to relax its grip on education dollars. Those who oppose mayoral control and the privatization of public schools, must recognize the players that are being assembled and learn their “tells” so that an effective strategy can be created and utilized to win the game.
Those who are concerned with getting education dollars to the neglected population of our urban districts, must respond in kind by forming the necessary alliances and working together to fight for our children’s educational success. The opposition is formidable and must not be underestimated.
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