Educational panel gets new member
Upper West Side parent Michael Kraft was appointed by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer last week to fill a vacant seat on the Panel for Educational Policy. The board comprises 13 members: one appointee from each of the five borough presidents, seven mayoral appointees and the city schools chancellor. Kraft, who replaced Laura Zingmond, is president of the Art and Design High School’s Parent Teacher Association and has served as a representative on the Citywide Council on High Schools. The Spirit caught up with Kraft to discuss his background and the controversial schools rezoning underway on the Upper West Side.
Tell me about your experience working in education. I was, among other things, the PTA president at P.S. 87 for three years and then I was also at the middle school of the Manhattan School for Children. I’ve been involved with projects with the Community Education Council for District 3 ... and a number of projects around the city. Actually, now that I’m on the PEP I’ve got to catch up on all the latest with what’s going on with all the moves on the West Side.
Speaking of the CEC 3 rezoning, how involved will you be with any decisions that are made? We’re going to be involved in the periphery. I’m new to the PEP, so I’m learning as I go along, but the PEP is almost like the end of the food chain for significant investments. It’s stuff like moving buildings or renewing regulations. We are not to be involved in the zoning itself. What we would be involved with, which would be the controversial part, is that if it is finally agreed that P.S. 452 should move down to where P.S. 191 is now then the PEP would be the final stage to give that an approval or not. I would be involved with the building pieces of it. At the first meeting, ironically enough, one of the things that’s going to be under review is the move of 191 into the new Riverside Center. [The rezoning] actually belongs to CEC 3.
So you would only be involved if P.S. 452 is moved, and then only with the move itself? Yes. So when the PEP gets it, the decision will have already been finalized by the [Department of Education] that 452 will be moved. All the arguments about should it be moved ... I will not be involved with. The PEP is like the board of a corporation.
It may be early to ask this, but do you have an opinion on whether P.S. 452 should be moved? No. I respect all the populations and I’ll respect however it comes out. The only thing that I know of that I worry about, because I actually was involved in another issue with P.S. 87 when they had some space issues that got 452 created … [so] they were going into a cramped location to begin with. At some point it’s going to be limited for their students. I do feel strongly about that. So if they did wind up making the move down to 191 I wouldn’t be surprised, but I respect the people involved.
What are some of the most pressing issues facing the New York City school system?I’m a big believer that being in an integrated environment is beneficial for everyone involved. Not just racially but economically. At the school my daughter’s going to on the east side it’s a pretty well integrated school. I see my daughter getting exposed to a lot of different dynamics by being among kids of various backgrounds and I think it’s a great thing. Again, on the PEP, I’m not going to be really involved but I certainly would try to be an advocate for that. My job is going to be to review, analyze and give an opinion or a vote on each of the issues presented each month, giving me a chance to understand what’s happening in the school system. I’ll always take the opportunity to offer support. I love the fact that I’m working with Brewer’s office because I think she and her team are brilliant.