Superintendent Sends Letter to NYS Regarding Education Initiatives

Superintendent Marianne Higuera with the support of the Miller Place Board of Education and administration wrote a letter to Governor Andrew Cumo and Commissioner John King to show their support of "the recommendations and suggestions contained within the enclosed Suffolk County School Superintendents Association’s letter to Commissioner John King, dated November 8, 2013."

The letter in it's entirety is posted below:

Dear Governor Cuomo and Commissioner King:

Commissioner King, thank you for meeting with communities on Long Island and across New York to listen to our concerns regarding the implementation of the Common Core Standards, APPR, assessments, and privacy issues from parents, teachers, administrators and Boards of Education members.

Governor Cuomo, our community is aware that you do not appoint or supervise the Commissioner of Education. We also know that your office has offered the Board of Regents comments regarding the need to measure student growth and to hold teachers accountable. That sounds like APPR. You have stated our education system needs improvement, and to impose rigorous curriculum. That sounds like Common Core Standards. You are our elected leader in all areas of our state’s operations, including K- 12 Education. Intervention and guidance is needed by you in this area of governance and possibly within the construct of legislation.

The purpose of this letter is to inform you, that as the Superintendent of the Miller Place Union Free School District I support the recommendations and suggestions contained within the enclosed Suffolk County School Superintendents Association’s letter to Commissioner John King, dated November 8, 2013.

These recommendation and suggestions include, in part:

1. Slow down the implementation of the common core standards;

Miller Place UFSD Page 2

1. Release test questions after the exams are administered so we can analyze the data regarding student performance;

2. Provide alternatives to the State Education data portal for school districts who maintain full and robust student management systems which already provides parents with comprehensive access to their children’s data, and

3. Recognize that implementing this magnitude of change requires valuable resources, time, and money, which are dwindling in the environment of reduced state funding and the property tax cap.

The Miller Place School District Administrative Staff is more than willing to work collaboratively with the Governor’s Office, the Commissioner of Education’s Office, the State Education Department, our elected officials, educational colleagues, and our community to effect positive change that will increase rigor and continue to prepare our students for college and careers.

Our District motto is Committed to Excellence. We remain a successful School District by promoting strong educational practices coupled with sound financial decisions. Please partner with us during this great time of change to insure the goals of all of our community stakeholders are met.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dr. Marianne F. Higuera Superintendent of Schools

Supported by the Board of Education in public session at their meeting on December 11, 2013

Michael Unger
President, Board of Education

Noelle Dunlop Board Trustee

Brian Neyland
Vice President, Board of Education

Michael Manspeizer Johanna Testa Board Trustee Board Trustee

Supported by Miller Place School District Bargaining Unions

Nancy Sanders Catherine Honeyman
President, Miller Place Teachers Association President, Miller Place Administrators Association 

What do you think?