Barbara Berkowitz’s recent resignation and letter is consistent in that it is all about Barbara.
Berkowitz turned public service into a full-time job and lost her compass and with that GNPS have suffered. Berkowitz was part of the BOE in the early 1990s that hired Bill Shine and consistently rotated the president of the board. Starting in 2006 Berkowitz ended that tradition. Since then GNPS have increased administrative expenses and have refused to expand the BOE despite the fact that almost all school system this size has seven members
The policy of hiring new teachers to replace existing teachers at the lowest steps also flourished under Berkowitz. GNPS have become less competitive in the compensation package offered in other districts (watch Jim Desanski’s comments to the BOE).
Even when resigning the theatrical nature and the letter seems disingenuous. Her recent narrow re-election to the BOE and the BOE voting someone else as president tells a different story than the hundreds Berkowitz references as imploring her to stay.
The board should consider term limits and rotating the presidency going forward.
Gary Cohen
Floral Park
