Introduction to the Controversy
More than a dozen elected officials in Manhattan signed a letter asking New York City Education Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos to intervene in a local education council amid allegations that members have been manipulating quorum to prevent votes on resolutions, including those pertaining to transgender issues.
Background of the Issue
The letter, dated April 10, represents the latest chapter in a year-long controversy that began in March of last year when members of Community Education Council District 2 approved Resolution 248, which called for the formation of a new committee to review and potentially oppose trans inclusion in school sports. The resolution was non-binding — the education councils only play an advisory role — and at the time, the city’s Education Department affirmed that “every student can participate in sports and competitive athletics in accordance with their gender identity, and we prohibit any exclusion of students based on their gender identity or expression,” according to Politico. City and state policies further protect LGBTQ individuals from discrimination.
Reaction to the Resolution
The passage of Resolution 248, however, shocked the public and drew widespread outrage. The leader of the education council, Craig Slutzkin, faced blowback for his vote in favor of it, and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine subsequently opted against reappointing him to a separate Community Board 5 post. Last year, Slutzkin told Gay City News that the widely-criticized resolution called “for dialogue on the difficult topic of transgender children in sports.” Slutzkin said, “I believe that it is incumbent on all of us to engage in difficult conversations with honesty and integrity,” and “I want to make it clear that I harbor no bias of any kind, whether it is based on race, creed, gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.”
Continuing Controversy
A year later, however, the issue is continuing to rage within Community Education Council District 2. Members of the council who oppose Resolution 248 have sought to rescind the resolution, but they say they keep getting stonewalled when it is brought up for a vote. Those concerns prompted a group of lawmakers representing multiple levels of government — from Congress to the City Council — to join together on the letter, which decried “ongoing dysfunction” in the education council. The letter said some members attend meetings just long enough to be marked as present “and then leave before votes can be held — thereby stripping the Council of quorum and bringing its business to a halt.” The “most troubling” pattern, the letter alleges, is “the recurring manipulation of quorum to obstruct votes on key resolutions.”
Allegations of Quorum Manipulation
YouTube video footage of recent meetings shows examples of individuals leaving the room ahead of votes, forcing the group to postpone votes on pending resolutions. In one example, Councilmember Danyela Egorov departed in the middle of the February meeting, prompting Slutzkin to announce that quorum was lost. A similar development unfolded in the March meeting. Councilmember Maud Maron left the meeting as soon as Slutzkin started reading Resolution 248. Maron’s departure prompted commotion from members of the audience. Like in the previous meeting, Slutzkin announced that there were suddenly not enough members on hand to cast votes.
Concerns Over Attendance and Bylaws
The elected officials’ letter also expressed “serious concern about the failure to follow the council’s own bylaws regarding attendance,” which stipulate that any member who accrues three unexcused absences in a term is considered to have vacated their seat. “Instead of enforcing this policy, the chair of the Council has facilitated votes to retroactively alter previously approved meeting minutes — reclassifying absences as excused without proper documentation or public justification,” the letter stated. During the March meeting, Slutzkin called for several motions, including to approve excusals for Maron, Allyson Bowen, and Sabine Serinese in previous meetings and to amend the minutes of previous meetings.
Call for Action
The elected officials’ letter called on Aviles-Ramos to open an investigation into the governance practices of Community Education Council District 2; clarify what constitutes “presence” for quorum purposes; enforce bylaws regarding unexcused absences; assess the leadership structure and establish rules for transparency and accountability; ensure that individuals who undermine the council’s function cannot seek re-election; and provide Community Education Council District 2 with a trained parliamentarian to make sure the rules are followed. “We stand with the many parents and community members who have raised these issues and ask your office to take swift and meaningful action,” the letter concluded.
Community Reaction and Future Steps
Sara Schacter-Erenburg, a current board member who said she did not run for re-election this year, said the campaign to reverse course on Resolution 248 will be brought forward every month “until it gets rescinded.” Shannon Peitzer, who is involved in an advocacy effort known as Aunties and Friends for Liberation, told Gay City News that the best way to address the issue is to reshape the makeup of the board through elections. Dr. Megan Pamela Ruth Madison, who is on the board of Trans formative schools, a free after school program designed for trans, queer, non-binary, and gender expansive students, expressed pride in the organizing work that has been done and believes it is making an impact.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Community Education Council District 2 and Resolution 248 has highlighted the need for transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in local education councils. The manipulation of quorum and disregard for bylaws have undermined the council’s function and prevented meaningful discussion on important issues. It is essential for the Department of Education to take swift and meaningful action to address these concerns and ensure that the rights of all students, including transgender students, are protected.
FAQs
Q: What is Resolution 248, and what does it propose?
A: Resolution 248 proposes the formation of a new committee to review and potentially oppose trans inclusion in school sports.
Q: Why are elected officials calling for the Department of Education to intervene in Community Education Council District 2?
A: Elected officials are calling for intervention due to allegations of quorum manipulation and disregard for bylaws, which have prevented meaningful discussion on important issues, including Resolution 248.
Q: What actions are being taken to address the controversy surrounding Community Education Council District 2?
A: The Department of Education has enhanced security measures to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all attendees of the community education council meetings and has made multiple good-faith efforts to engage council members in mediation.
Q: How can the community get involved in addressing the issue?
A: The community can get involved by participating in elections, attending community education council meetings, and supporting advocacy efforts that promote inclusivity and transparency in local education councils.
Q: What is the potential impact of the controversy on the LGBTQ community?
A: The controversy has the potential to undermine the rights and protections of transgender students and create a hostile environment for LGBTQ individuals in schools.
