Paterson. On Saturday June 27th the Commissioner Pedro Rodriguez and the new superintendent of education Dr. Donnie Evans met with the community in the Paterson Museum.
The event was organized by the commissioner of Education Pedro Rodriguez to make the administrative officials of the Paterson public schools more accessible and visible to the community at large.

The event, which exceeds the capacity of the museum and left many people standing, was a great demonstration that the community wants to engage and be part of decision-making that take place in public schools of Paterson, expressed commissioner Rodriguez. “Today we proved that when the community is called to discuss issues in education and the call is made from genuine and selfless source, the community responds” said Commissioner Rodriguez.

The event reflected the great diversity we have in Paterson, with the representation of different ethnic groups residing in the city. Among the personalities who attended the event was Mr. Daniel Andre President Haitian Civic Organization, Mohamed El Filali, outreach director of the Islamic Center of Passaic County in Paterson, Mr Gapar Abreu president of Copellanos club, Ramon Guzman president of DOPOR among other community leaders. The superintendent had the opportunity to express his priorities. He indicated that their priorities were:
Effective Academic Program:  all academic and academic support programs will be research-based and outcome-driven to improve student achievement.
Cost Effectiveness:  we will be responsible stewards of the public trust by maximizing utilization of each dollar entrusted to the district and demonstrating fiscal responsibility.
Safe, Caring, and Orderly Schools:  all schools will be safe, caring, and orderly and will demonstrate “healthy school cultures” to ensure that teachers can teach and students can learn.
Family and Community Involvement:  collaboration with and the involvement of parents, community organizations, institutions of higher education, faith-based institutions, and other public and private agencies will be invited and encouraged to support the district’s vision, priorities and goals.

Councilman at large of the City of Paterson Rigo Rodriguez gave the new superintendent the welcoming words and Mary Joel Duran of Channel 41 gave her testimony of how important education has been in her career. Both Councilman Rodriguez and Mary Joel Duran are former students of Eastside High School.

In the event, the commissioner of the Board of Education Pedro Rodriguez took the opportunity to launch its Education Newsletter Get Informed, Get Involved, indicating that within the responsibilities of those involved in education is to educate and inform ourselves of the issues being discussed for best way to reach conclusions and to provide better solutions to our problems. That is the goal of launching a newsletter, to inform the community about the issues being debated today or in the recent past. The Newsletter was distributed in English and Spanish at the event and he offered to translate in other languages if he could find a volunteer for the translation.
Pictures of the event can be seen here: http://patonline.smugmug.com/gallery/8719980_nbnqU