Koreans parents in New Jersey are increasingly interested in positions with school
Koreans parents in New Jersey are increasingly interested in positions with school boards, unlike Koreans parents in New York City. There are currently 14 Korean Board members in the Garden State, while in New York State there are five, with one remaining in New York City. The one remaining Korean Board member in the New York City is soon set to end his term and will not seek the position again. How did the once-strong interest in New York grow weaker and weaker, to the point where there will soon no longer be any Korean members on the Board?
According to education experts, the decrease has been gradual, but aided by the weakening of the board’s authority in New York City, a lack of understanding about volunteer positions, hesitation on the part of the public, and problems with fluency in English. In the early 2000s, when New York City ‘s board was involved in school district budgeting and appointments of principals, there were five Korean parents active members on the boards in Queens Districts 25, 26, and Staten Island district 31. But scandals concerning budget issues and appointments, and in 2002, Mayor Bloomberg’s shifting control away from the Board to the City’s Department of Education, making school board member selection go from direct vote to indirect appointment and giving more say to PTA representatives, contributed to the dwindling Korean parent participation.
The Board’s authority has been reduced to an advisory position. An illustration of the power gap between the Board and the DOE is the situation in district 25, where it has taken the DOE more than a year to respond to issues raised by the district. Mr. Hwang-yong Lee, the Korean Board member from district 25 said, “The Board’s executive authority regarding budgets has been stripped; we no longer have any real authority, it’s very hard for us to bring about change. I often feel rather suffocated here.”
By contrast, in New Jersey, each Board has very real authority, and members can make implement decisions. Unlike New York, where board members receive $200 a month, New Jersey Board members function on a volunteer basis. Nevertheless, they are able to draw up and execute school budgets, be involved in appointments and dismissals for district superintendents and school principals, and set up school policies.
Ms. Kyong-wha Kim, a Board member in Norwood, NJ, said, “We have 14 Korean Board members. One of them has been in his position for more than 30 years. I am very proud of our work.”
Education experts have noted that N.Y. Koreans have a lower understanding of volunteering for public positions. Yoon-hee Choi, the chairwoman of the N.Y. Korean Parents Association said, “I have encouraged many Koreans to apply for Board positions opening in May, but so many reply that they have no spare time or energy for the work. It seems that they don’t know the beauty and benefits of volunteering.”
By Journalist Jong-Haeng Kangy, The Korea Daily News, 15 February 2011. Translated from Korean by Sun-Yong Reinish.