BP Lee Accepting Applications for Queens Community Education Councils
Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee is accepting applications for vacant positions on the borough’s Community Education Councils (CECs) in time for the upcoming school year.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply disrupted the education and lives of our kids,” said Borough President Lee. “The CECs are designed to be a formal voice of community input and insights into shaping the New York City schools system. On this critical road of rebuild and recovery for our future, such voices are needed now more than ever.”
CECs are responsible for advising and commenting on educational policies and providing input to the chancellor and the Panel for Educational Policy. They are part of the New York City school governance structure with each CEC overseeing the elementary and middle schools within its respective community school district. There are seven community school districts in Queens.
The CEC membership application form is available online at www.queensbp.org/education and should be returned by email to education@queensbp.org. Friday, Aug.7, 2020 is the deadline to apply for one of the currently vacant, unpaid positions. For more information, visit: www.schools.nyc.gov/get-involved/families/education-councils.
Schumer Pushes to Fund USPS
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer revealed that U.S. Post offices, including those across New York could be forced to shut their doors unless they get an immediate infusion of funds, and the PPE and supplies needed to keep workers and the mail-receiving public safe.
Schumer said he vows to fight for a critically-needed $25 billion for the USPS so they can keep the doors open and the mail moving for all Americans.
“The fact is, the coronavirus has severely crippled USPS operations and their funds,” said Schumer. “Despite that, they have kept the doors open, the mail –and really the economy– moving, and now they need the help to sustain their pace. The fight to keep our post offices open by injecting the dollars needed to do the job and purchase the personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies required to keep everyone safe will begin tomorrow, and I am here to say: I vow to lead it.”
Schumer explained the fight to keep post offices across the country open will begin today. He said the services provided by USPS amount to lifelines for millions of Americans that cannot be replaced or easily replicated, especially in certain parts of the country. Schumer detailed how the coronavirus pandemic has crippled post offices and their operations as he stressed their relevance and importance to our larger economic recovery.
NYC Sues Feds to Protect School Funding
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration announced Friday that the New York City Department of Education is joining a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) and Education Secretary Betsy Devos over their unlawful attempt to siphon federal pandemic relief funds from economically disadvantaged students in K-12 public schools and impermissibly restrict needed flexibility in the use of those funds, contrary to Congressional intent.
“President Trump has already botched his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and now he is threatening to take millions of dollars in aid away from vulnerable students in our public schools,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “His cruelty knows no bounds. A safe and successful school reopening requires support from all levels of government, not playing politics with our kids. President Trump: we’ll see you in court.”
The lawsuit targets a new USDOE rule which unlawfully diverts and limits the use of funding made available to schools under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. New York City schools stand to lose at least $53 million because of the rule, which violates the requirements established by Congress in the CARES Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the U.S. Constitution, the press release said.
