Education Council's NEw Member

After searching for a replacement for the seat vacated by Nan Mead on the board of the Community Education Council for District 3, the CEC announced last week that Manuel Casanova has been elected as its newest member. Casanova serves on the PTA at P.S. 75, which his two daughters attend, and he recently joined the Upper West Side’s Community Board 7. He has his wife, Christine, have lived in the area for more than 15 years. The Spirit caught up with Casanova to learn more about his interested in education and his experience with community engagement.

What made you interested in applying to join CEC 3?I was interested in the seat because I’d been going to the meetings throughout the past year and when you go those meetings you realize all the different elements that are part of zoning and having the schools the way they should be. I have two daughters, and as an immigrant with two graduate degrees ... education is very important. I want to be part of the group of people who are helping to get this right. I’m a very strong believer in public schools. I think they’re a great venue not only for the students to grow as somebody with a well-rounded background, but also for the community. I want to make sure that the public school system is viable for everybody.

One of the things I’ve noticed in the past is there are very few minority people in those meetings. As a matter fact, at [a meeting] that happened at P.S. 75 I ended up taking a picture to send to my wife [because] there were no minorities represented at all. I’m originally from Chile ... and I was born in Belgium, so when I heard about the opportunity I said, “why don’t I put my name forward?” If I can add value to the team I would love the opportunity.

I’m sure you’ve been following the rezoning debate that’s been going on for the last year or so. Do you have an opinion yet on how CEC 3 should vote? Right now I don’t have a position on which I would go. I want to work with the board for the next couple weeks and months. I’m just joining, so they may have some information that I don’t have. Right now I’m open-minded to see what’s going to be the best outcome for everybody. ... I want to make sure that hopefully with a new rezoning we get schools that help produce a community, that help reflect the community, because that makes it a stronger school. I’m not walking into the board with a mindset of I’m going to vote this way or that way. I have to take my P.S. 75 hat off and put my CEC 3 hat on and look at everything, look at all the factors.

You mentioned how important diversity is to you. What is your take on the segregated nature of the Upper West Side’s schools and what are your priorities in order to increase minority representation? Two key elements: these decisions and these changes don’t happen overnight. First, you need to have a long-term view. Secondly, I have to go and sit down with the parents of these schools that have not been present. Some of them are going to say, “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” and we’ll have to say, “Here’s what going and how it affects your school. Can you please share your thoughts?” That’s going to take a little bit of time. I hope in the short period of time that we may have I’ll be able to bring that voice. It’s not going to be just me alone ... but I’m definitely going to be trying to reach out to all those schools and families to say “we need your voice.” Because I don’t hear [their voices], guess what, decisions are going to be made for you instead of by you.

Tell me a little bit about your background and interest in community service. I was born in Belgium ... then we moved back to Argentina and to Chile, where my whole family is originally from. Then I moved to the U.S. on my own in '97 and went to college at Florida International University in Miami and my degree was international relations. Then I did a master’s degree at FIU and in 2013 I graduated with a master’s degree in political campaigns at Fordham. I do political campaigns, that’s my profession.

I joined CB 7 in June and I’m very happy about that and learning more about the community through that way as well. Public service in that sense has always been sort of in my house. My grandfather was a big person in Chile and service was very important in our family. At my school I was part of the student council and I was in charge of what was called social services and the outreach that we would do as students. It’s been in my DNA for a long time. I’m very honored that I have this opportunity.

*This interview has been edited and condensed.

Madeleine Thompson can be reached at newsreporter@strausnews.com