Governmental Research Association

Annual Policy Conference

NOTE: Deadline for submission to the annual awards competition is May 28.  See competition guidelines here.

Agenda

• Sunday, July 25
• Monday, July 26
• Tuesday, July 27
• Wednesday, July 28

Sunday, July 25

Reception 6:00-7:30 pm

Dinner on Your Own

Monday, July 26

8:00am — Breakfast & GRA Organizations Roundup (GRA members)

Morning: Focus on Urban Education

With over a million students, 1,600 schools, neighborhoods spanning 5th Avenue and the South Bronx, and 40% English-language learners, New York City has long been a “testbed” for new approaches to public education, particularly in an urban context. In multiple sessions, the GRA conference will use New York City to stimulate conversations about mayoral control, charter schools, teacher education and other critical issues.

9:00am — Panel 1: Mayoral Control

• Dennis Walcott, Deputy Mayor for Education, NYC
• Joseph Viteritti, Ph.D., Hunter College of CUNY (ed., When Mayors Take Charge: School Governance in the City, Brookings Institution Press, 2009)
• Anneliese M. Dickman, J.D., Research Director, Public Policy Forum, Milwaukee

10:10am — Panel 2: Improving Effectiveness in the Classroom

• Jean-Claude Brizard, Superintendent, Rochester, NY Public Schools
• Yutaka Tamura, COO, Teacher U at Hunter College (also founder of Excel Charter in Boston)

11:30am — Panel 3: Charter Schools as a Reform Model

• Tom Carroll, Foundation for Education Reform & Accountability
• Whitney Tilson, Tilson Funds

12:15pm — Facilitated Discussion on Urban Education: All Panelists

1:00pm — Luncheon: Richard Ravitch, Lieutenant Governor, State of New York

Afternoon: Keeping the Fisc Afloat in States & Cities

Many of America’s largest states & cities are struggling to survive. Challenged in good times, the Great Recession eliminated any remaining financial cushion, cutting revenue and increasing need.

2:30pm — Panel 1: State Finances

• Robin Prunty, Standards & Poors
• Robert Megna, Director, Division of the Budget, State of New York
• Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, Treasurer, State of New Jersey
• Robert Genuario, Secretary, Office of Policy and Management, State of Connecticut
• Jeffrey Guilfoyle, President, Citizens Research Council of Michigan, former Dir, Office of Revenue & Tax Analysis, State of Michigan
• David Kline, VP of Communications and Research, California Taxpayers Association

3:50pm — Panel 2: City Finances

• Ronnie Lowenstein, Director, Independent Budget Office of NYC
• Stephen Agostini, Budget Director, City of Philadelphia
• Sam Tyler, President, Boston Municipal Research Bureau

5:30pm — Adjourn

Tuesday, July 27

Morning: Politics & Policy in the States

Tuesday morning will explore the root causes of political dysfunction, and explore strategies aimed at encouraging sound public policy in a political context.

8:30am — Panel 1: Roots of dysfunction & solutions

• Marc Holzer, Dean, School of Public Affairs & Admin, Rutgers University
• E.J. McMahon, Director, Empire Center for State Policy
• Discussants: Lise Valentine, Civic Federation, Chicago; Jennifer Pike, Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana
  

10:15am — Panel 2: Promoting public policy through citizen action

• Blair Horner, Legislative Director, NY Public Interest Research Group
• Dominic Calabro, President & CEO, Florida Tax Watch
• Discussants: Steve Wray, Executive Director, Economy League of Greater Philadelphia

Afternoon: Lunch and Activities on Your Own

With the diverse attractions of one of the world’s great cities at your disposal, the only problem is choosing how to spend your time. Check out the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, the Cloisters or many others. Bring the kids and visit the Bronx Zoo and the Statue of Liberty or take the Staten Island Ferry. (Maybe you’ll have to come to the conference early or stay later—it’s New York City!).

6:00pm — Awards Dinner

Join us in honoring some of the great work done by your peers from around the country.

Speaker: Wayne Barrett, Village Voice

Wednesday, July 28

8:30am — Panel 1: Use of Online Media within GRA

10:00am — Award Winners present methodology & findings

NOTE: Speakers are subject to change although most have been confirmed.

Conference Hotel

Affinia Shelburne, 303 Lexington Avenue at 37th Street

The hotel is just a few blocks from the conference site at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center (see http://goo.gl/tH1f)