New Haven Independent

New Board Member Likes What He Sees

by Thomas MacMillan | November 10, 2009 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

Praising the mayor and superintendent’s leadership, the newest member of the school board said he doesn’t have any specific school issues targeted for his tenure.

Ferdinand Risco, Jr. (pictured) was sworn in Monday night to the school board, filling the last vacancy on the eight-person board.

City Clerk Ron Smith swore him in at the start of Monday’s school board meeting.

Welcoming him to the board, schools Superintendent Reggie Mayo detailed Risco’s credentials as a public school parent. Risco is the father of three children at Edgewood Magnet School and of a son who recently graduated from Hillhouse High. His son was the quarterback on the Hillhouse football team. He has gone on to the University of New Haven, Mayo said.

After the meeting, Risco shared a little bit about his background. He was born and raised in Philadelphia and later joined the military. He spent five years in active duty but was not sent overseas.

For the past five years, Risco has lived and worked in New Haven. He is a labor relations manager at Metro-North Railroad.

Risco is a Republican. He was chosen in part to balance the board politically: According to city charter, the board can’t have more than four members of the same political party.

Risco was tapped for the Board of Education after he met Mayor John DeStefano. “I was at a school reform meeting,” he said. He started talking to DeStefano, one conversation led to several, and soon he was appointed to the board.

Risco had words of praise for the city school district. “It’s a good system with a good plan,” he said. Specifically, the district benefits from “very solid leadership.”

The longstanding leadership of Mayo and Mayor DeStefano make for a “great deal of continuity,” which is “a strength,” Risco said.

Risco acknowledged that New Haven schools face difficulties. “Education in all urban settings is a continual challenge,” he said.

The new board member declined to offer any specific education improvements he would like to work on. “I don’t have any particular agenda,” he said.

Risco said he could be “a voice for other parents,” but added that he doesn’t see himself as representing all parents. “There are plenty of parents that could have sat in this seat. I’m just one voice.”

In a statement released about Risco’s appointment, DeStefano also emphasized Risco’s bona fides as a school parent.

“Ferdinand Risco is joining the board at a pivotal time in the evolution of New Haven Public Schools. Ferdinand represents the many parents in our schools who are actively involved in their children’s’ education and who embrace the importance of parental participation in school success,” said DeStefano. “Parents are key to our success in our school change campaign. As we challenge every parent to be hands-on leaders in their schools and within the district, I look forward to Ferdinand’s service to the board and New Haven Public School families.”

Risco’s appointment comes on the heels of two other appointments to the board, one of them a longtime critic of the public school leadership: Read about them here.

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Comments

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | November 10, 2009 12:23 PM

Again poltricks. This is why we need a elect school board.

Posted by: Ka Ching | November 10, 2009 2:44 PM

Can we stop pretending that an elected Board of Ed is some kind of panacea and acknowledge that ELECTIONS generally involve some kind of POLITICKING too?!?!

Last night's local news had a pretty good example:

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/new_haven_cty/news_wtnh_board_education_meeting_200911092330_rev1

The naivete of those who think we can remove politics from education policy by just electing the Board of Ed is impressive. We'd be pulling Board of Ed contenders from the same pool as aldermanic candidates. The BOA's members are across the board in terms of intellect, intellectual curiosity, commitment, engagement and responsiveness to the community. You'd be dealing with the same scenario with an elected Board of Ed. Is that what you want?

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | November 10, 2009 3:02 PM

3/5,

You remind me of a right-winger talking about healthcare reform! You often demonize without offering a competing vision of your own.

So, what is 3/5 vision for great schools? What should public education in New Haven look like? What needs to change for children?

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | November 10, 2009 4:56 PM

Ka Ching

Can we stop pretending that an elected Board of Ed is some kind of panacea and acknowledge that ELECTIONS generally involve some kind of POLITICKING too?!?! The naivete of those who think we can remove politics from education policy by just electing the Board of Ed is impressive. We'd be pulling Board of Ed contenders from the same pool as aldermanic candidates. The BOA's members are across the board in terms of intellect, intellectual curiosity, commitment, engagement and responsiveness to the community. You'd be dealing with the same scenario with an elected Board of Ed. Is that what you want?

What you have now is political appointments which are made for political reasons. THOSE members will have the agendas handed down to them from on high up while committed elected members who have the interest of the school system and the stakeholders at heart will act in the best interest of the students. Also what you have in place now is a Dictatorship. Case in point how come the two parents on the board was chosen by the Superintendent and not by the parents of the school system. Also a appointed board exercised poor judgement, arrogance to the point of hubris, and a complete disregard for the wishes of their constituency.Also what recourse do the people have when they aren�t satisfied with the conduct and policies of this appointed board?
Complain Protest? At least when elected school board members terms are up the people can vote them out.Last The people deserve the right to decide who will represent them.

P.S.

Check this out on why we should have elected school boards.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-md.kane18feb18001642,0,3838996.column

FIX THE SCHOOLS

You remind me of a right-winger talking about healthcare reform! You often demonize without offering a competing vision of your own.

So, what is 3/5 vision for great schools? What should public education in New Haven look like? What needs to change for children?

I was think about you the other day,Have heard from you. I said maybe you was down in new york drink with the corporatist 100 million dollar mayor moneyberg and klein. By the way the word is that he may be get rid of klein. Anyway it is good to have you back on the site. Now to answer
you question. First I am not a right-winger or left-winger,I am a Independent. I do offer a vision of my own and that is we must fix what we all ready have and not bring in a corporate plutocracy system in which the voice of the people
are being left out and children before profit that is my vision for New Haven and also this country. Again Fix Can you tell me why the parents did not have the right to pick who they want to be there voice on the board.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | November 10, 2009 6:40 PM

FIX THE SCHOOLS

What do you think of this.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thomas-w-carroll/new-havens-teacher-contra_b_328950.html

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | November 11, 2009 1:22 PM

3/5,

Fixing what we have is not an answer. I was hoping that instead of stoking class warfare that you would offer a vision for what a school should be. But perhaps class warfare is more fun.

With a less than 10% voter turn-out for a mayoral election, I would be very concerned that an elected BOE would produce a board of special interest members. There is nothing like voter apathy to embolden a union of teachers or administrators to try to dominate the BOE. Also I disagree with you about the latest BOE appointments. How can you interpret Johnston and Williams appointments as political picks?

Look, we don't need to hod BOE elections to have a better school system. Lets just hold the folks inn charge accountable. This is why I love the mayor's school reform initiative. There is clarity around who is responsible.

Anyway, on the Tom Carroll piece, I think he has legitimate concerns. But NH BOE member and ConnCAN leader Alex Johnston has a different take on the contract. You can read their respectful dialogue on this site:

http://www.edexcellence.net/flypaper/index.php/2009/10/new-haven-teacher-contract-promising/

Posted by: notimon | November 11, 2009 3:59 PM

I agree with 3/5 the board should be elected for accountability. This board is control by the Mayor, who by the way appointed Mr. Ferninand just from a simple conversation. The status quo continues. Lets not talk about the Project Labor Agreement in New Haven. All these schools being built or remodeled and how many New Haven Residents are working on the construction sites, better yet how many of them have longevity on those sites. The EEOC which is suppose to be a separate entity is controlled by the Mayor, and I think the Administration paids them. Its that a conflict of interest. Hi Nicole Jefferson. I digress, anyways, 3/5 you hit the nail on the head

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | November 11, 2009 4:53 PM

FIX THE SCHOOLS

Fixing what we have is not an answer. I was hoping that instead of stoking class warfare that you would offer a vision for what a school should be. But perhaps class warfare is more fun.

I don't have to stoke class warfare. We are at class warfare already from Education to Umemyployment. There is a class warfare on what is left of the middle class. It is between Us and
the corporatist. In fact I just read this book.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703932904574511440599750248.html

http://www.amazon.com/Sellout-Government-Mismanagement-Destroyed-Financial/dp/0061697168

And this is the same type of system that the corporatist are going to use on the school system.
In fact read Diane Ravitch Historian, NYU professor Take on how under what you want to happen with the school system is nothing more but profits for edu-entrepreneurs. Have you notice how there has been a lot of corpratist come on board.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-ravitch/obamas-awful-education-pl_b_266412.html

Look at how many years you have had this appoint school board and what has it done for the students.The board now under king john is load with political patronage.Rember is this not the same board that has been Renewing Dr. Mayo contract? If that any politics Than tell me what is. As far as Johnston and Williams and this new guy Risco they appointments was by king john.In fact read it here.
Risco was tapped for the Board of Education after he met Mayor John DeStefano. �I was at a school reform meeting,� he said. He started talking to DeStefano, one conversation led to several, and soon he was appointed to the board.

Would you call that a back room deal,I would.

You must not have read what I wrote. I will say it again. What you have now is political appointments which are made for political reasons. THOSE members will have the agendas handed down to them from on high up while committed elected members who have the interest of the school system and the stakeholders at heart will act in the best interest of the students. Also what you have in place now is a Dictatorship. Case in point how come the two parents on the board was chosen by the Superintendent and not by the parents of the school system. Also a appointed board exercised poor judgement, arrogance to the point of hubris, and a complete disregard for the wishes of their constituency.Also what recourse do the people have when they aren�t satisfied with the conduct and policies of this appointed board?
Complain Protest? At least when elected school board members terms are up the people can vote them out.Last The people deserve the right to decide who will represent them.

Tell you what Put it on next years ballot and I bet you the people will come out and vote for a elected school board. And by the way you did not answer the question as to why the two parents was
chosen to sit on the reform commitee by the mayor. In fact I spoke to some parents and they was very upset about how this was done. Bottom line the as I said The people deserve the right to decide who will represent them. or do you fear that.

P.S. You said I was a right-winger.Check Out Newt Gingrich. A real Right-Winger!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6476504

Posted by: notimon | November 11, 2009 5:32 PM

Ok I applied for the same position after living, working, and voting in New Haven for the last 25 years. I was never called. No offense to Mr. Riscoe, but He had been in town for 5 years, and a mere conversation at a school reform gathering impress the Mayor so much that he appointed Mr. Riscoe to the board. Where did I go wrong.

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | November 12, 2009 9:58 AM

When it comes to running public schools, Viva el Dictator!!

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | November 12, 2009 5:35 PM

FIX THE SCHOOLS

When it comes to running public schools, Viva el Dictator!!

And when it comes to the parents and students who are oppressed by this corporate take over of the schools De Oppresso Liber!!!!

P.S. Fix Thank-You for finale answer the question
about why the parents did not get to pick the parents that they want to have on the reform board.Viva el Dictator!! This is why.

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | November 13, 2009 11:17 AM

3/5, I finally heard your voice last night when I watched the Toni Harp cable access show taped back in October. Man, you really are paranoid about some corporatist takeover, aren't you?

In all seriousness, please explain your theory. Why is it bad to have corporations fund public education initiatives, why are Klein and Bloomberg bad for children, what are you so frightened of? Our country has left the public schools to unions and civil service political appointees. Do you think things are running well now? It seems to me that we could use some professional management tactics in this sector.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | November 13, 2009 6:15 PM

FIX THE SCHOOLS

3/5, I finally heard your voice last night when I watched the Toni Harp cable access show taped back in October. Man, you really are paranoid about some corporatist takeover, aren't you?

Heard my voice. I never met you or talk with you. So how can you say you heard my voice. Now I do know Toni Harp. Paranoid about some corporatist takeover. I am past paranoid,The corporatist are
aleady runing this country. Where have you been.
AIG, Country Wide G.M. Bank of American Chase.
If fact in 1971 I worked for Drexel Burnham Lambert. You know about them and if you don't check this out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drexel_Burnham_Lambert

Would you say that Skull and Bones does not exist?
Wake up fix everybody knows that this coutry is run by a corporate plutocracy profit before people.

You ask me this question before. so here is the answer one more time.
"We�re not speculators. We�re investors.� So says the CEO of a real estate trust that recently sunk some $170 million into 22 charter schools. this was said in a corp meeting. Again profits before people.

why are Klein and Bloomberg bad for children,
Bloomberg lied to the children and people of new york. He said that he would go with the will of the people and they he Flip Flop and paid to have the term limt law over turn. He is the same corporatist who paid off the mayor of Newark to help him run.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/nyregion/28booker.html?_r=1&hpw

He also paid off Black Clergy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/nyregion/29ministers.html
How can anyone trust some one like this!!!

Our country has left the public schools to unions and civil service political appointees.

What did you do fall asleep.Read this post again.
Look at the political apointments to the school.
Iask how much they put in to the coffins oof King John reelection. rember the parents was pick not elected to the reform commitee. so I hope I answer you question cause you keep asking me the same thing over and over.

P.S.

I like the right wing Thomas B. Fordham Institute
I check them out,Did you know that Rod Paige from the good old bush days.Did he bring no child left behind.

http://www.edexcellence.net/detail/bio.cfm?name=Rod-Paige&page_id=127&id=341

Check out the corporatist funding of the group.

http://www.edexcellence.net/index.cfm/our-funders

Notice The Walton Family Foundation,They think like you they do not want unions in there store.

New Board Member Likes What He Sees

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