You hold the future of hundreds of thousands of students across our state. On Tuesday, you get to say whether their school budgets should pass or fail. In so many communities, there are many feel good events (regardless of what some politicians might be telling you.) Here’s photo gallery of just one school district’s efforts […]

To the tune of Twisted Sister’s “We’re not Gonna Take It,” students, parents, teachers, support staff and administrators from nine Southern Tier school districts rallied over the weekend in support of more state aid for New York’s public schools. Here’s a slideshow of the event. Here’s a link to the Elmire Star-Gazette article on the […]

I love a parade, the tramping of feet, I love every beat I hear of a drum. I love a parade, when I hear a band I just want to stand and cheer as they come. Yes, that song is from the 1931 film Manhattan Parade. It’s in my head as I’m looking forward to the […]

As a high school sophomore and co-president of the class of 2015, Kyle Kilkenny knows his future is in the hands of state lawmakers. While the Sachem district on Long Island has previously been able to keep a wide variety of programs, including full-day kindergarten, Advanced Placement courses and most sports and clubs, the district […]

Education funding was in the news a lot this week.  It started with the Feb. 19 release of “For Each and Every Child,” a report from a federal commission that included Randi Weingarten and Dennis Van Roekel, presidents of the AFT and NEA, respectively. Click here to go directly to a link for the full […]

It’s 13 weeks before voters in most school districts across the state vote on school budgets. I’ve heard, so far, of one school district where some are thinking of piercing the property tax cap. Here’s a link to the Niagara Gazette article about the Wilson schools. Last year, of course, was the first year that […]

BOCES students, teachers, superintendents, parents and, I hear, even some business owners are at the state Capitol today. They will ask lawmakers to put $203 million from the Fiscal Stabilization Fund into what’s known as “foundation aid.” That’s the general operating dollars that is built into the base of funding that districts can depend on each […]

Tuesday is a busy day at the state Capitol. Members of the United Federation of Teachers — NYSUT’s largest local —  host a legislative reception starting at 8:30 a.m. Then lawmakers will start hearing testimony about the proposed budget at 10 a.m. NYSUT’s testimony will be delivered by Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta and Director […]

So Gov. Cuomo releases his executive budget proposal today. An optimist, I’m hoping state aid to schools, colleges and universities is not tied to competitive grants, like last year. I’m also hoping the state allocates the funds to provide the sound, basic education that’s required in our state constitution. We already have that irresponsible property […]

At 14 locations across Long Island yesterday, parents, teachers, administrators and students joined together to call for more state aid to education. Here’s one article, about a rally in Riverhead, and here’s another, about the event there which several have told me had more like 200 people attend. Here’s a link to the Port Jefferson […]