Mayors’ Role in Public Schools, Summer Jobs Program Head Jobs, Education and Workforce Meeting

By Josie Hathway

On behalf of Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill, Chair of the Standing Committee on Jobs, Education and the Workforce, Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer and Stamford Mayor Dannel P. Malloy led a packed house of mayors through the Committee meeting that included an emergency resolution on Summer Jobs 2000 and addresses by Department of Education Secretary Richard W. Riley and Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Raymond L. Bramucci.

Emergency Resolution on Summer Youth Employment for 2000

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino raised the most pressing issue for mayors and DOL – the drastic reductions in summer youth employment opportunities for summer 2000. The new requirements of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) – year-round comprehensive services for youth – have doubled the cost of services and the unintended consequence is a significant reduction in summer jobs.  Mayor Menino described the urgency as planning for summer jobs programs is currently underway and many cities are facing a two-thirds or greater cut. Menino talked about the positive impact of summer jobs in the lives of at-risk youth and the tragedy of making youth suffer at the expense of a lack of funding and a transition to WIA. Bramucci said that DOL has provided some minor relief by easing some of the requirements but urged mayors to focus on revitalizing Congress’ interest in funding youth programs.

Mayor Menino introduced an emergency resolution on youth employment for summer 2000 which was initiated by Mayor O’Neill and also signed by Mayor Menino, Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Chattanooga Mayor Jon Kinsey, New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial, Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard, Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and Dayton Mayor Michael Turner. The resolution, which was unanimously adopted by mayors, strongly supports an emergency supplemental appropriation to address the shortfall of funds needed to continue serving 500,000 youth (the same number served in summer of 1999) beginning with the implementation of WIA in the summer of 2000 and advocates for increased funding in the Federal FY 2001 budget to meet the projected doubling of program costs resulting from the comprehensive and year-round requirements as called for in WIA.

Secretary Riley Addresses Mayors

Secretary Riley commended mayors for being on the front lines at public schools and committed the Administration to assist mayors in education reform. He called for greater investments and accountability from public schools. He highlighted the Administration’s education initiatives in the FY 2001 budget, later described by President Clinton in his State of the Union Address. These initiatives include the largest-ever expansion of after-school and summer school programs, the largest increase in Head Start in history, an increase in accountability and academic enrichment initiatives, a teacher quality initiative to help states and districts recruit, train and reward good teachers, an increase in class size funding to reach the half way point in hiring 100,000 new high-quality teachers, and a new proposal to assist in school renovation.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Lee R. Clancey raised concerns about the shortage of teachers and administrators who are being exported from out-of-state. Atlantic City Mayor James Whelan shared his frustration about his state-dominated educational bureaucracy that is very resistant to any kind of change, including mayoral involvement. Manchester Mayor Bob Baines, who was a principal for 33 years said, “We have the brightest kids in the history of America. The strength of America is still our public schools, let’s get politics out of the way and focus on education.” Mayor Palmer, who is taking a close look at special education in Trenton, described the tragedy of using special education to warehouse students, particularly African-American students who may have behavior problems.

Assistant Secretary Bramucci Addresses Mayors

Several mayors called for greater coordination between public education and workforce development. Assistant Secretary Bramucci described the current relationship between the two. He said, “The reason I came to Washington is to have a role with Secretary Herman in the founding of an alternative system that we want to institutionalize that will be in place to capture those kids that are not being positively affected by the school system.”

Mayor Malloy urged Bramucci to involve mayors in policy development. Bramucci responded, “We need your thoughtful decisions as to where you think money can be spent properly and with good effect and we’ll add capacity to that effort.” One of those efforts is the Youth Opportunity Grants which will be awarded to 28 – 30 cities in February. DOL received 166 applications.