Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Priorities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District 28 superintendent outlines academic nonnegotiables, class-size review and new teacher center
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Blake told CEC 28 that the district's four priorities remain math and ELA improvement, reducing chronic absenteeism, parent engagement and consistent instructional nonnegotiables; he announced a new UFT teacher center at PS 160 and a Jan–Feb review of class-size applications.
Superintendent Dr. Blake presented an abbreviated district report at the Jan. 8 CEC 28 meeting, emphasizing instructional consistency and family engagement as central aims for 2026.
"Our mission... is to improve the lives of our students so that they are able to be responsible, contributing, and productive members of our society," Dr. Blake told the council as he summarized district goals. He reiterated four priorities that guide school work: raising math and ELA achievement, reducing chronic absenteeism, increasing parent involvement, and implementing agreed instructional "nonnegotiables" across schools.
Dr. Blake described instructional expectations—aligned standards, explicit teaching, small-group instruction and data-driven adjustments—and said principals know and are implementing those nonnegotiables. He also noted that PS 160 opened a UFT teacher center to support teacher professional development and spotlighted MS 72's student performance at Radio City Music Hall.
On class size, Dr. Blake said all schools submitted class-size applications and central office will review proposals between January and February before issuing a final list. He invited parent engagement during that process and encouraged CEC participation.
Why it matters: The superintendent’s report sets the district’s practical priorities for the year and frames how capital, instructional and family‑engagement decisions will be evaluated. The class-size review and teacher‑center expansion are concrete items parents and council members flagged for follow-up.
Next steps: CEC members said they will monitor the class-size committee meeting and distribute a flyer with confirmed meeting dates; Dr. Blake said the CEC will be informed about the deputy superintendent selection process and other personnel transitions.
