Richard P. Mills

Richard P. Mills is the NY Commissioner of Education, an unelected agent, appointed by the New York Board of Regents itself unelected, and appointed by the New York Assembly.

Mills' time as commissioner has been controversial.

Initiatives and State results

Including his calls for high standards. [ [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/richard_p_mills/index.html?offset=105& Richard P. Mills News - The New York Times ] ] Since 1995 Mills has taken many unprecedented steps including the end of local school boards of education autonomy to grant diplomas through the new mandary Regents Diploma

His calls for increased education spending, doubling the amount spend on schools in NY since 1995 with NY now ranked second nationally in educational spending, [ [http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--education-ranking0607jun07,0,5270641.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork] ] with the latest spending not accounted for it is expected NY will now be first in per pupil spending.

Despite this spending NY's graduation rate is 58%, according to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation the third worst in the nation behind only South Carolina at 54%, and Georgia at 56%. Neighboring Pennsylvania garners 81%. [ [http://www.edin08.com/flash/InYourState.html ED in 08 | Strong American Schools: Making Education a Priority - Get the Facts ] ]

Roosevelt School takeover

Most troubling is that for the first time the commissioner removed an elected school board for overspending 1.9 million dollars. [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40C11FB345D0C7A8CDDAB0994DD494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fM%2fMills%2c%20Richard%20P%2e Education Chief Faults L.I. School Board for Lavish Spending Sprees - New York Times ] ] and having low test scores.

In the aftermath of that takeover in 2002 Mills appointed the new superintendent and board of education yet the academic numbers have steadily worsened along with enrollment. Yet in 2007 a state audit now found the school had overspent 12 million dollars [ [http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/06/13/41gardner.h26.html Education Week: When States Seize Schools: A Cautionary Tale ] ] .

After the state brought in report cards six months late, the state refuses to publish the data for Roosevelt Schools. It is the only time the state has refused to publish a report card, even though the district is under direct state control. [https://www.nystart.gov/publicweb-rc/2006/AOR-2006-280208030000.pdf]

"Jacqueline Farquharson, a senior at Roosevelt High School, said at the forum that her teachers did not have enough textbooks for all their students and that the school computer lab did not have enough toner to print student papers. 'I have three siblings in this district,' she said. 'I want to know that my school district is not going to fall through the cracks.' "

"Mills acknowledged that a May 2006 audit by the State Education Department had flagged 63 weaknesses in the district's financial controls. 'I knew then there had to be a problem with the deficit,' he said, 'but at that time I couldn't tell how large the deficit was.' "

Contacts with Public Education

Mills has also drawn calls of hypocrisy: despite his leadership of the NY State Education Department, Mills has never taught in a public school, never been a principal or superintendent in a public school, nor even attended a public school. His only teaching experience comes from the exclusive, private Dalton School.

Under Mills' tenure, a series of scandals happened with multiple school districts on long island, NY,including contractor lawyers being listed as full time employees by multiple school districts and claiming lucrative public pensions and benefits. He was also criticized for the rampant "double dipping" practice by school district officials, especially on long island. Top of the list is Mr. James Hunderfund, interim superintendent of Malverne, who is entitled to an annual payment of $516,245 in 2008. Each year, Mr. Mills' department granted one third of all of the waivers of New York states to "double dippers", people who collects full public pensions and earn more than $30,000 a year. Many times, top level of school district officials are rehired as top level school district officials, even before they are officially retired. [https:http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lipens0524,0,5384489.story]

Announced cancer

Mills recently announced he has prostate cancer. [ [http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stmill0524,0,436909.story?coll=ny-statenews-headlines] ]

Calls for resignation

Recent calls by New York State Senate members have been so far unaddressed by Mills. [ [http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-limill235226203may23,0,5881062.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines] ]

Education

*PhD, Education, Columbia University, 1977
*MBA, Columbia University, 1975
*MA, American History, Columbia University, 1967
*BA, History, Middlebury College, 1966.

Professional experience

*President, University of the State of New York, 1995-present
*Founder, Elizabeth Seeger School, New York City, 1971-1973
*History Teacher, Dalton School, New York City, 1967-1971
*Special Assistant, New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean
*Various Positions, New Jersey Department of Education.

Political experience

*Commissioner of Education, State of New York, 1995-present
*Appointed, Education Commissioner, State of New York, August 1995
*Commissioner of Education, State of Vermont.

References