Steve is a product of the New York City school system. Graduating from Cardozo High School, Steve attended public schools in New York City from kindergarten until his high school graduation. Through the influence and confidence attained through the hard work of passionate teachers, Steve went on to attain an undergraduate and three graduate degrees. To Steve, education is the backbone of our society, and that backbone is only as strong as our public education system.

By improving local schools, we’re helping our children in many ways. Better schools produce better students and New York City schools need help. Through the city council, Steve will fight for better schools throughout Northeast Queens and make sure that students who work hard have the best chance to get ahead. 

The most important issue facing our schools is budget cuts. Steve will vote against budget cuts aimed at our schools. We can’t say we’re committed to education then turn around and cut funding for schools. Steve will remain committed to securing funding for our schools and our students.

Good schools also have positive effects outside the classroom. Quality schools keep property values up and crime down. It is no accident that district 26 is one of the best school districts in the city and this area is a great place to live. It makes sense to invest in our schools andour children; we’re investing in our own communities and future.

Steve wants to make sure students can achieve their potential by ensuring that they learn in the best environment possible. Class sizes need to be reduced so that students can get the personal attention they need and deserve from teachers.

But now students face greater obstacles.

Cardozo High School is so overcrowded that two separate schedules are used to alleviate the crush of students. This shouldn’t be necessary. We need to build more schools.

We need to improve the infrastructure of our public schools. Steve believes that this is avery important part of helping our students. Students shouldn’t have to learnin trailers converted for classroom use. Overcrowding puts strains on teachers and even the buildings. In addition, we need to invest in high-tech classrooms so that we can teach our students using the best tools available. At the local level, the shortage of schools is extremely obvious; College Point for example has no public school for students above the 6th grade.

    Cardozo High Shcool                            Bayside High School

Our neighborhoods need to have local schools. 

Steve wants to ensure that teachers are paid as the professionals they are. This will enable us to attract and keep talented professionals to teach our students. Our teachers deserve to be rewarded for when they do well, and teachers deserve to earn a living wage. 

Our schools must give our students a well-rounded education.Teachers shouldn’t be forced to teach for test scores. We need to ensure that we fund music and art education as well as sports and classes that encourage our students to be active. 

Steve will work to reform Mayoral control in order toincrease community involvement. Parents and teachers have a right to be a partof decisions affecting education. There can’t be a dictatorship in the Department of Education and Steve will work to bring all the participants to the table.