Surprise Ousting Of Western Queens School Superintendent Spurs Outrage

ASTORIA, QUEENS — The beloved superintendent of Western Queens's public schools has been removed from the position he has held for two decades, sparking outrage among the area's teachers and families.

Dr. Philip A. Composto was told by the Department of Education that he would need to leave his post by June 30, according to a letter from three neighborhood elected officials, who say they only learned of Composto's termination on Wednesday.

Composto has served as superintendent of school District 30 since 2002, according to his LinkedIn page, making him responsible for dozens of schools across Astoria, Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Woodside, Sunnyside, Corona and East Elmhurst.

"Parents are flabbergasted. Educators are beside themselves," said one school supervisor within District 30, who spoke to Patch on the condition of anonymity. "Administrators are — it’s like someone has just sucked the air out of the room."

Composto has spent more than 40 years in the city's school system, previously serving as the district's deputy superintendent, principal of I.S. 204 Oliver W. Holmes in Dutch Kills, and as a teacher and special education supervisor. The anonymous school supervisor said Composto had earned educators' trust by working closely with them over the decades.

"Under his leadership, our schools have performed well and students, parents, and the community have felt meaningfully engaged," reads the letter sent Thursday to Schools Chancellor David Banks by State Senator Michael Gianaris, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and City Councilmember Tiffany Cabán.

"He has earned the respect of the incredibly diverse communities in western Queens," they wrote. (Meanwhile, an online petition urging DOE to keep Composto as superintendent had racked up more than 2,300 signatures by Friday morning.)

Like all 32 superintendents across the city, Composto had been asked by Chancellor Banks to re-apply for his position and go through the multi-step selection process that governs all school leadership positions. But Composto apparently failed to advance through one of the initial steps, leaving his subordinates confused.

"It just needs to be transparent and fair, and we’re not getting that information," the anonymous supervisor said. "How do you discount the person that has the most experience, has had a stellar track record, in favor of others who may not even have experience?"

A message left at Composto's office was not immediately returned.

In a statement, a DOE spokesperson did not comment directly on Composto's position, but alluded to Banks's plan to expand the superintendent role during the next school year.

"45 superintendents will lead our schools this fall with significantly expanded responsibilities and accountability – tasked with improving academic achievement, real family and community engagement, and providing absolutely critical supports to schools," DOE spokesperson Nathaniel Styer said. "As part of the first stage in this process, leadership put 130 potential candidates through a rigorous interview process and advanced the two or three best candidates for each district that fit this reimagined role."

"We are proud that we are putting the strongest candidates in front of parents and community members at public town halls and will receive their input on the final selection decisions," he added.

That explanation has not placated the local elected officials, who are asking DOE to keep Composto as superintendent. A Friday afternoon news conference at Van Alst Playground drew additional officeholders including Councilmember Julie Won and Assemblymembers Brian Barnwell and Cathy Nolan — plus several District 30 parents, who joined the calls for Composto's reinstatement.

The city's response has also failed to satisfy the local supervisor, who called the decision hypocritical, given Chancellor Banks's stated goals for the city's schools.

"If we’re saying we want what’s best for all students, we believe in equity, we believe in education, we believe in excellence, why is he being removed?" she asked. "He has done it all."

Have an Astoria/Long Island City news tip? Contact reporter Nick Garber at nick.garber@patch.com.