Senator James H. Donovan served as the chairman of the Senate Education Committee for fourteen years. During his time in that role, Donovan expanded and supported educational organizations and programs, worked to reduce teenage illiteracy and pregnancy, and created the New York City School Construction Authority. This program cut through numerous obstacles that new schools encountered.
When Jim Donovan died, it was described as a “tremendous loss” by New York’s governor. Ralph J. Marino also stated that “Jim Donovan’s most lasting contribution will be in the area of education, where he assured that quality and affordable education was the state’s top priority.”