On Board Online • April 12, 2021

By Chris Carola
Special Correspondent

New York has legalized the use of recreational cannabis by adults ages 21 and older, ending years of debate over the issue and putting the state on track to an estimated $350 million annually in taxes on cannabis-related sales.

On Board Online • April 12, 2021

By Alicia Gene Artessa
Governmental Relations Representative

As part of a state budget agreement, New York has a plan to phase in full funding of foundation aid for all school districts over three years.

On Board Online • April 12, 2021

By Mark Snyder
Leadership Development Manager

The statewide day for school board elections and budget votes is May 18. While a school board should not be directly involved in the recruitment of candidates, there are steps that can be taken at the district level and individual level to encourage this form of public service.

On Board Online • April 12, 2021

By Pauline Liu
Special Correspondent

For two weeks in February, students, parents, teachers and staff in the Rush-Henrietta Central School District were asked to voluntarily and anonymously participate in independent consciousness-raising activities. It was called the 10-Day Equity Journey.

On Board Online • March 22, 2021

By Brian Fessler
Director of Governmental Relations

In late fall 2020, school districts were bracing for the possibility of billions of dollars in state aid cuts. But after two federal stimulus packages that included billions of dollars in new education funding, some of largest education funding increases in years are possible.

On Board Online • March 22, 2021

By Alicia Gené Artessa
Governmental Relations Representative

In recent weeks, NYSSBA championed a bill related to the number of signatures needed for school board election petitions. The bill passed both houses of the state Legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on March 8.

On Board Online • March 22, 2021

By Gayle Simidian
Research Analyst

When the pandemic hit last spring, many U.S. adolescents reported feeling more disconnected from school personnel and peers and reported more unhappiness when schools shifted from in-person to remote learning, according to research by America's Promise Alliance, a consortium of hundreds of organizations committed to positive development of young people.

On Board Online • March 1, 2021

By Merri Rosenberg
Special Correspondent

It's been nearly a year since Gov. Andrew Cuomo closed schools due to the coronavirus pandemic. What percentage of students are showing up for online classes?

On Board Online • March 1, 2021

By Cathy Woodruff
Senior Writer

The experience of operating school systems during the last year will inform state-level decisions about educational issues that were considered urgent even before the pandemic, according Betty Rosa, the state's newly appointed commissioner of education.

On Board Online • March 1, 2021

By Paul Heiser
Senior Research Analyst

For Allison Forth-Farrar, a second-grade teacher in the Hamilton Central School District, hybrid education has become a way of life this school year. For two days per week, she instructs students in person.