Power has been restored to School’s District 22’s community superintendent — and parents couldn’t be happier.
Under the previous system, superintendent Marianne Ferrara was responsible for grading schools in District 22 solely by analyzing data, and providing on-site assistance and supervision to schools in other districts.
But with the reauthorization of a new mayoral control law, Ferrara will now focus only on District 22 schools.
“Can we expect Marianne to be here?” District 22 Community Education Council (CEC) President Christopher Spinelli asked at the group’s meeting last week.
“Pretty much all the time,” explained Martine Guerrier, the city Department of Education’s chief family engagement officer.
“We want our superintendent to be in the district 100 percent of the time,” said Assemblymember Alan Maisel.
Ferrara said she’s happy to be at the helm of District 22 and is ready to get to work.
“I hope the 2009-2010 school year will be as successful as last year,” she said.
Spinelli is “not thrilled” about the reauthorized mayoral control law— “I was really looking for a larger role for councils and parents,” he said — but he’s glad to see superintendents’ power restored.
“We really do need a strong superintendent,” he said. “Parents are very happy about that because they know they can give Marianne a call and she’s very responsive.”
“One of the biggest problems that we had was that there was no one to speak to,” said Maisel. “We thought that enhancing the role of superintendents would solve this problem.”
District 22 spans Mill Basin, Bergen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach and parts of Midwood, Flatbush and Sheepshead Bay.