Hempstead Union Free School District Takeover

October 9, 2018

New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Board of Regents, Room 110 EB
Albany, New York 12234

Dear Members of the New York State Board of Regents:

Please take immediate action to “takeover” the school board of the Hempstead Union Free School District.

I will not waste time writing a rationale for what has been painfully obvious for decades.

I can only think of two things that have prevented the state education department from taking action on Hempstead’s dysfunctional school board: Politics and Fear. I agree with Bolman and Deal (2017): “It is deeply disturbing to see political agenda corrupting technical decisions, particularly when lives are at stake.”

Please do not delay any further. Act now on behalf of the children of Hempstead. While receivership may not be the answer, it is at least a start to corrective action. Each day of inaction is incomprehensible and highlights your failure as a governing body akin to that of Hempstead’s school board. Not to act is definitely a betrayal of the most vulnerable of our community: children.

Sincerely,

Bernard Gassaway

Concerned Citizen

NYC OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE - PROPOSED 2007

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BERNARD GASSAWAY

JAMAICA, NEW YORK 11434

JANUARY 28, 2007

CONTACT: BERNARD GASSAWAY

718.598.1538

BGAS37@AOL.COM

WWW.BERNARDGASSAWAY.COM

PROPOSES CREATION OF NYC OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE

Bernard Gassaway is challenging the New York City government and its citizens to create an office that would be solely dedicated to child-related issues. The New York City Office of the Child Advocate would be led by an independently elected citywide official. The office will fight for improved child-related services, early childcare, children’s rights and education.

The city council and mayor are urged to put this proposal before the Charter Revision Commission to make it a reality. New Yorkers are encouraged to lobby their city and state representatives to support this initiative to have it put on the ballot as a referendum. They may contact the commission directly by calling 311 or via www.nyc.gov. 

According to Gassaway, “If we measure ourselves by the conditions and treatment of our children, we are in crisis. Though such an office would not be a panacea, it would provide New York City children with full-time, independent, proactive advocacy.”

By all accounts, the city’s office of Administration for Children Services (ACS) is overwhelmed by the number of child abuse cases before it. It also lacks the resources and independence to carry out its mission fully. According to Gassaway, “An independent advocate would fight to secure adequate funding for child-related services. Most would agree that ACS is underfunded, understaffed and overwhelmed.” New York City currently has nearly 2,000,000 residents under 18 years old.

Mr. Gassaway said, “Rather than supporting legislation to criminalize children at an earlier age, we need to aggressively address the conditions that cultivate criminal tendencies. New York City should choose to be seen around the world as a child-centered city, a city that leads the way in protecting the rights and well-being of all children.”

Bernard Gassaway is the former principal of Beach Channel High School and senior superintendent of alternative schools and programs for New York City, a Columbia University Charles H. Revson Fellow 2003-2004, author of Reflections of an Urban High School Principal, and homeschool father.”

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