Res 1019-2025

Whereas, Open Meeting Law in New York State affirms "the public right to attend meeting of public bodies, listen to debates and watch the decision making process" according to the New York Department of State; and Whereas, Based on the New York City Department of Education's Regulation of the Chancellor A-655, District Leadership Team(s) (DLTs) are predominately obligated to develop the "District Comprehensive Educational Plan, which includes annual goals and objectives for the district aligned with the Chancellor's goals," and the School Leadership Team(s) (SLTs) are "responsible for developing the school's Comprehensive Educational Plan and ensuring that it is aligned with the school-based budget," among other tasks; and Whereas, From Community School District 22's webpage, DLTs must consist of "the community superintendent, the high school superintendent(s), a Council of Supervisors and Administrators (CSA) representative, a United Federation of Teachers (UFT) representative, a DC 37 representative, the president of the District Presidents' Council, the president of the borough high school Presidents' Council, and the chairperson of the Title I District Parent Advisory Council," and additionally, "community-based organizations (CBOs) and the president of the district Community Education Council" may serve on the DLT; and Whereas, New York City Public Schools' website outlines that for SLTs, the required school community members must be the "principal, Parent Association/Parent-Teacher Association President, and the United Federations of Teachers Chapter Leader," and parents and other staff members may be elected to the SLT, but the number of parents and staff members must be equal-moreover, students and CBOs that are involved with the school may serve on the SLT, and in high school SLTs, two students are required members; and Whereas, Both DLTs and SLTs meet regularly during the school year to develop their plans; and Whereas, The Open Meeting Law may include, but not be limited to, the following transparency measures: allowing for the recording of the procedure, providing advanced notice to the public of meetings, and permitting the community to be present at the meetings; and Whereas, The Open Meeting Law does not apply to DLTs despite a New York Appellate Court affirming that SLTs are "public body meetings" and therefore fall under the Open Meeting Laws; and Whereas, As these plans help dictate educational priorities, policies, and goals, affecting more than 900,000 students in the New York City Public Schools system, the public has a right to know what occurs during DLT deliberations; and Whereas, DLTs being under the purview of Open Meeting Law is a further continuation of good government by encouraging civic participation and openness; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S3065/A512, which requires that district leadership teams operate under Open Meeting Law requirements. JEB LS #19687 6/2/2025