Cabrera to protest DOE's plan to evict churches Wednesday

Cabrera was arrested last week protesting the DOE's policy.

Oddsmakers are split on whether or not City Councilman Fernando Cabrera will get arrested tomorrow. We're putting the line at +3500 (35-to-1 for those of you not entrenched in NFL betting pools). Obviously, his office is saying there is no civil disobedience planned for tomorrow, but my gambling team (Bronx insiders) note that Cabrera's fellow protesters may want to get arrested to raise the stature of the protest.

At 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 18, Cabrera will join his colleagues in government and religious leaders in a press conference in front of the Tweed Court House (52 Chambers St.) to protest the Department of Education's policy that will evict houses of worship from public schools on Feb. 12. Then, the group will march to the City Council to urge passage of Resolution 1155, which calls upon the New York State legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation amending the New York State Education Law to afford houses of worship maximum access to school property.

“We will continue to fight for equal access,” Cabrera said. “We will be meeting at Tweed and then marching over to the New York City Council Stated Meeting at City Hall to continue to make our position known.”

After the Supreme Court declined to hear Bronx Household of Faith vs. New York City Department of Education on Dec. 5, 2011, the city's DOE announced it would ban Houses of Worship wishing to rent vacant spaces from Public Schools during non-school hours.

Following the announcement, Cabrera and Religious Leaders have organized several protests. These include a Prayerful Protest on Thursday Jan. 5, where Cabrera, pastors and congregants were arrested for kneeling in front of the New York City Law Department in prayer during a display of civil disobedience, and a Prayer Rally during Mayor Bloomberg’s State of the City address on Thursday Jan. 12, where over 40 pastors and congregants were arrested while approaching the entrance of Morris High School in another display of civil disobedience (Cabrera was not arrested in that one).

AQE responds to Cuomo's State of the State

Well that didn't take long. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's annual State of the State address is still going on, and the Alliance for Quality Education is already out with two statements firing back at the governor for his words about education and his 2011 budget:

“If Governor Cuomo intends to be an effective lobbyist for every school child across the state his budget will incorporate the New York State Board of Regents call for fairness and equity in our schools by prioritizing funding to high needs schools. In his first year, it was Governor Cuomo’s budget that failed to represent students’ educational needs by slashing 11,000 teaching positions and cutting arts, music, after school and college prep courses,” said Nikki Jones, Communications Director for the Alliance for Quality Education.

“Governor Cuomo said that he is going to be the lobbyist for our children, as a mother of eight children I ‘lobbied’ for my children along with thousands of other parents from across the state against the devastating classroom cuts that Governor Cuomo implemented last year. What our children need Governor Cuomo to do is to listen to what parents and students are saying by restoring funding for lost after school programs, art, music and college prep courses especially for our neediest schools and students,” said Zakiyah Ansari, Advocacy Director for the Alliance for Quality Education.

We'll post more reactions as they come in, and will probably have some sort of story about it in next week's newspaper.

Classes to be taught by state Senator Rivera

A story from this week's Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh

A popular series of civics classes is coming to the Kingsbridge Library this month. 

Rivera teaches civics classes
throughout the 33rd Senate district.

Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m., state Senator Gustavo Rivera will be teaching classes on civics, citizenship and local government. 

“I’ve always believed that people need to know how their government works,” Rivera said. “As a political science professor for 11 years, it’s something I do all the time.” 

Rivera is teaming up with local resident Irving Ladimer for the second of the three classes. He heard Ladimer had taught similar classes in the past and wanted to team up with him for this round of classes. 

“We sat down and had a long conversation and he had the same concerns I did about citizenship and civic involvement,” Rivera said. 

Last month, the rookie senator held four one-hour classes at the Bronx Library Center that netted about 75 people each time. 

“It was overwhelmingly positive,” Rivera said, adding that he had “folks of all ages and all ethnicities” attend the classes from every corner of his district, including some from out of his 33rd state Senate district. 

He says the benefit of classes like this, and one that’s taught by an elected official, gives the public an opportunity to ask questions that they normally wouldn’t be able to ask. 

The first class—each one is on a Wednesday night—will focus on the constitution and civil rights and liberties. The second, taught by Ladimer, will be on citizenship. The final class is on voting and elections. 

Ladimer, the law, rules and ethics chairman of Community Board 8. 

Rivera recommends that people attend all three, but it is not required. The classes will end on Dec. 14 with a graduation ceremony to celebrate the completion of the course.

P.S. 24 principal forced to replace uncertified special ed teacher

Here's another story from this week's Riverdale Review.

By Miawling Lam 

The principal at P.S. 24 has been forced to replace an uncertified teacher assigned to a class with special education students.

Sources at the NYC Department of Education confirmed Anne Mokris lacked the certification required by the state for teachers of high-needs kids.

Principal Donna Connelly will replace Mokris on Monday, Nov. 7, with a certified special education teacher.

The sudden about-face came after the Riverdale Review last week contacted authorities and began to raise questions surrounding Mokris’ credentials.

She was one of two teachers in charge of the second-grade Collaborative Team Teaching inclusion class at the school.

Mokris was initially hired as a substitute last year and filled in for another teacher on maternity leave. She was then promoted to a full-time role in September and has since been teaching without the mandatory credentials.

Jump below for the full story.

Remarks of Borough President Diaz at Bronx Education Summit

Jump below for the full post of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.'s remarks from last week's education summit. You can read the full analysis of the event in the upcoming issue of the Bronx Press & Riverdale Review.

“FROM CRADLE TO CAREER”

Good morning!

On behalf of all 1.4 million Bronxites, I would like to welcome each of you to the first ever Bronx Education Summit, “From Cradle to Career.” Thank you all for participating in the first step towards the development of a strong new agenda for education in the Bronx, from our pre-K students straight through high school, college, and into the modern workforce.

Education is an important issue in our borough, perhaps the most important issue we face. My office has made it very clear that we value our public schools, a commitment that’s apparent when you look at our record in regards to capital funding. In each of my three years in borough hall, education has been my highest priority when it comes to our budget. In total, I have placed almost $22 million into necessary school projects across the Bronx. When it comes to education, we are putting our money where our mouth is. 

And we have good reason to do so. Our children only get one chance at a quality education. Education is the key to upward mobility, a better life, and a road out of poverty. 

Jump below for the full post.