Five candidates are running for two vacant seats on the New Rochelle Board of Education in elections scheduled for May 20.  

Board of Education candidates (L to R): Myriam Decime, Elana Jacobs, Jessica Klein, Rosa Rivera-McCutcheon, and Keith Singletary

Among the critical issues in this election are the persistent racial disparities in opportunities, achievement, and disciplinary action in the city’s public schools.  Members of the Board of Education, who serve 5-year terms, will have the responsibility and power to make changes to reduce or eliminate these disparities.

New RoAR News wanted to know how each of the candidates understood this problem, what they intended to do about it if elected, and what qualifications each of them had to address this issue.

On May 3, New RoAR News sent each of the candidates a brief fact sheet on the disparities in our schools, along with three questions for each of them to answer.  All the candidates responded in writing by the deadline of May 9.  This week, we will publish all of their responses.  

Today, we reprint the fact sheet and the questions each candidate received.  Watch in the coming days for each candidate’s response to our questions, and please plan to vote on May 20!

Background:

Students in the New Rochelle public schools are:

• 21% White
• 54% Hispanic/Latino
• 19% Black
• 60% Economically Disadvantaged
• 12% English Language Learners (92% of whom are Hispanic/Latino)
• 18% Disabled

Grade 8 English language proficiency is:

• 75% for White students
• 50% for Black students
• 37% for Hispanic/Latino students
• 34% for students who are economically disadvantaged

According to a 2019 ProPublica report on New Rochelle’s public schools:

• Black students were 3.8 times as likely to be disciplined as white students
• On average, Black students were 2.2 grades behind white students on achievement tests.

Questions:

1.      To what do you attribute the persistent disparities in achievement and discipline between non-white and economically disadvantaged students and white students?

2.      As a member of the Board of Education, will you prioritize the closing of these gaps?  If so, what will be your approach to this problem?

3.      What special background or experience do you have that will enable you to be effective in addressing these persistent disparities?

Watch for the candidates’ answers to these questions in New RoAR News, beginning tomorrow.