ANNOUNCING THE CREATION OF THE GREAT NECK COALITION OF CONCERNED PARENTS

REPLICATE THE SCHOOL DAY! 

The children of Great Neck School District are suffering in specific ways from the lack of educational leadership and commitment to quality learning. With our continued inattention and blind trust in a Board of Education, made up of a majority of members who have not had a child in public school for many decades and lack a full understanding of the capacity of technology in this moment, our children and our school system face an unprecedented crisis. 
 
A coalition of parents has formed to ensure that the students of Great Neck Public School District receive five full days of live instruction regardless of whether or not the school system can physically reopen as of September 2, 2020. This demand is made with a clear understanding that circumstances remain out of our control as it relates to the safe reopening of schools, therefore, Great Neck Public School District must immediately clarify its plans and intensions.
 
In an email from Board of Education President Barbara Berkowitz on 6/12/20, it reads “And let me end by saying "I'm sorry". ...I'm sorry for our staff members who were thrown into disarray having to adapt to everything with minimal notice. And I'm saying I'm sorry to our parents, some of whom felt the combination of sadness, disappointment, frustration and anger. For those who felt that we didn't handle all this very well, I say "I'm sorry".”
 
In an email from School Superintendent Teresa Prendergast on 7/29/20, she notes “We recognize that for some, the remote instruction provided this spring was not up to Great Neck standards. We pledge to do better in the fall.”
 
As parent advocates, we demand that the district commit to delivering a comprehensive program that includes standards to ensure that our children receive more than a half-hearted apology from the Board of Education and an empty pledge from the Superintendent for failing to provide them with an exceptional educational program in the spring.
 
THE GREAT NECK COALITION OF CONCERNED PARENTS IS CALLING ON ALL PARENTS TO SIGN A DISTRICT-WIDE PETITION DEMANDING FULL LIVE INSTRUCTION – IN PERSON AND/OR ONLINE - AND TRANSPARENCY FOR HOW STANDARDS WILL BE SET FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
 
The period of remote learning in the spring made clear that Great Neck Public School District failed to deliver a level of consistent quality live instruction to our children. As the community navigated the devastation of COVID-19, the district did not come close to meeting even the basic level of educational standards. Instead, it responded with vastly truncated school days, inconsistent policies for how teachers delivered educational services, and a lackluster approach to innovation. This resulted in the Board of Education of Great Neck Public School District abdicating its responsibilities by not instituting district-wide protocols and standards. Their inaction led to limited live instruction, vastly uneven “school days”, and a reduced academic calendar.
 
While no one can predict if our schools will be in a position to safely reopen in September, the parents of Great Neck demand that the Board of Education, Superintendent and Administration, and the Great Neck Teachers Association fulfill their professional, legal and moral responsibilities to properly educate our children.
 
Our community has the benefit of outstanding educators and a well-resourced district, and at this time of great uncertainty, we insist that the district confirm that live instruction (in person or online) will be provided to each child every school day.
 
The Board of Education, Superintendent, and Administration must immediately:

set educational standards to replicate the school day and deliver full live instruction each and every school day;

develop and announce a schedule that will be adhered to by every educator each and every school day; and

share district plans for how they will deliver a quality education to our children and develop a system for parents to voice their concerns in real time.

If the Board of Education is unable to fulfill their responsibilities, those members should immediately step aside so that parents in the district can work to ensure a proper education for their children. 
 
Great Neck Public School District has had 5 months to test, plan and develop all possible scenarios and tools for the upcoming school year. It is unconscionable to ask parents to make a choice about in-school or remote learning when the district continues to be light-footed with the details of its plans. 

REPLICATE THE SCHOOL DAY. TAKE ACTION NOW!