Education Coalitions Forming

From the Allentown Morning call. Forging coalitions between teachers and the community that's been left out of the education process...what an interesting idea.

"There's a lot to be said for an organization working independent of the school board."

"Quality education is an issue that affects everybody."

Sounds like change that would benefit everyone.

New coalition flexes muscle in Bethlehem
BASD: Minorities, teachers union join on education issues.

By Steve Esack | Of The Morning Call November 23, 2008

Separately, advocates for teachers and Bethlehem's growing minority community have felt left out of the city's education debate.

Together, under the banner of the newly formed Bethlehem Coalition for Quality Education, they're making themselves heard.

If successful, the coalition, which made school board members take notice at a recent meeting, could turn into the biggest union-backed political movement Bethlehem has seen since the steelworkers union became a power in City Council elections.

''The teaching job today is a very political job,'' said Craig Zieger, teachers union president for 12 years. ''I've probably become the most political president and I am moving the union in that direction. We will be running candidates [for school board].''

The coalition formed in September, comprising the Bethlehem Education Association, Pennsylvania State Education Association, Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations of the Lehigh Valley and the Bethlehem branch of the NAACP. It went public Monday by opposing an administrative proposal to make passing the 11th-grade PSSA tests -- or some other exam -- a graduation requirement. The board tabled the proposal.

Superintendent Joseph Lewis did not respond during the meeting to coalition members' comments. He did not return calls later in the week.

School Board Vice President Judith Dexter said Thursday the coalition swayed her during the meeting with their arguments, among them that a PSSA graduation requirement could increase the drop-out rate and cost the cash-strapped district more than $600,000 for tutoring.

''It was the first time I heard of them,'' Dexter said, ''and I was influenced by the people who took the podium.''

As the Bethlehem Area School Area District grappled with low state test scores, a federal voter discrimination lawsuit, periodic infighting and financial deficits, teachers and minorities have felt relegated to the sidelines. The coalition has given them a stronger voice.

Esther Lee, longtime leader of the Bethlehem branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said she often thought her concerns, especially those about low test scores among minority students, were not being addressed by the board and administration. The union gives her more support, she said.

''The NAACP has on many occasions voiced concern over the PSSA,'' Lee said Tuesday. ''The strength of having Craig Zieger, president of the Bethlehem Education Association, stand up and say 'I can't support this' gave us credence.''

Charlene Koch, the longest-serving school board member, said she does not recall the union ever taking such a political stance and welcomed the input.

''There's a lot to be said for an organization working independent of the school board,'' Koch said.

Political awakening

The 187,000-member Pennsylvania State Education Association has always been part of the political process, said spokesman Wythe Keever. Two years ago, PSEA launched a new initiative of community organizing in Reading and now in Bethlehem.

''We are trying to reach out to minority constituents in those communities,'' Keever said.

The Bethlehem district has had a diversity task force for several years, but Zieger said he was never asked to join. After he found out about PSEA's work in Reading, he sought the union's help in Bethlehem. He said his union needs to be more engaged to bridge communication gaps among races to improve education.

''Teachers can't sit back anymore,'' Zieger said. ''We know what's good for kids.''

Lorenzo Canizares, a former New York City teacher turned community organizer for the PSEA, is leading the effort in both cities. By coming together in an informal setting, he said, more people may get the courage to run for school board.

''We are not here to point fingers at anybody because we have to work together,'' Canizares said. ''Quality education is an issue that affects everybody.''

Sis-Obed Torres, president of the Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations, agreed. He said low test scores among minorities is a national issue that cannot be solved unless people work together.

''I'm not sure how this group is going to play out,'' Torres said. ''But we are citizens of this country, we are residents of this city and we have to be engaged.''

Racial issues

Race, politics and education have been sticky issues in Bethlehem. The student population is about 53 percent white, 33 percent Hispanic, 10 percent black, 3 percent Asian, and a mix of other races. The school board is all white.

In the last 15 years, no minority candidate has won a school board election or been appointed to a vacancy. In August, the school board settled a 2006 federal voters rights lawsuit that alleged the district's at-large voting system discriminated against Hispanics.

The settlement created six at-large seats and three geographic seats, one of which will encompass the predominantly Hispanic areas of south Bethlehem and Fountain Hill.

That seat is up for election in May, as are seats currently held by Dexter, a Democrat; Craig T. Haytmanek, a Republican; Irene Follweiler, a Republican; and Charlene Koch, a Democrat.

Haytmanek, who lives in Fountain Hill, said he is undecided if he will seek re-election. He said should he choose to run, he will abide by the coalition's request to run as an at-large candidate to give a Hispanic a better chance of winning the geographic seat.

Zieger said the coalition members will try to meet at least monthly to talk about educational issues and will bring their concerns to the school board.

''We have vast diversity in this community and there is a large group of individuals -- whether they be Latino, African-American or economically disadvantaged -- who feel disenfranchised by the system,'' he said. ''It's a very intimidating system. They need a voice and the coalition will be that voice.''