The state’s leading education organizations today unanimously recommended that New York reform its receivership law to create a more reasonable timeframe to turn-around struggling schools, and to commit additional funding to create more community schools and better conditions for teaching and learning in these schools.

Today’s announcement that property tax levy growth for school districts will be capped at 0.12 percent next year will create a hardship for school districts and their ability to meet student needs.

That’s because schools will not be able to raise any meaningful new revenue without obtaining a 60 percent supermajority in support of their budget – a very challenging task.

FOR RELEASE: January 13, 2016                        

The theme of Gov. Cuomo's State of the State and budget proposal was "Built to Lead," but perhaps a more fitting description might be "A Work in Progress." 

While the governor suggested many laudable programs in our public schools, his funding proposal for enacting those programs falls short. 

FOR RELEASE: December 10, 2015                         

Governor Cuomo’s Common Core Task Force has made several sensible recommendations that will help restore trust and confidence in New York’s public education system.

FOR RELEASE: December 9, 2015                         

 Bergtraum of Long Island elected president of the state School Boards Association;

Miller, Langstaff, Nespeca elected board officers

Susan Bergtraum of Old Westbury, NY was elected president of the New York State School Boards Association. Her one-year term begins Jan. 1, 2016.

FOR RELEASE: November 20, 2015                         

Report finds student test anxiety greater on state than local exams;
study also finds adults have a significant impact on student test anxiety

Joint School Board-School Psychologist Research Report Examines Test Anxiety

About three-quarters (76 percent) of school psychologists in New York say their students experience greater anxiety over state tests than for local assessments, according to a new research report issued jointly today by the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) and the New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP).

FOR RELEASE: November 16, 2015                         

Nearly four in 10 school board members (38 percent) would consider asking voters to exceed their property tax cap in 2016 if their districts' cap were essentially zero percent, according to a poll by the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA). 

Such a move would require 60 percent voter approval.

"With no growth allowed in their tax levies, we expect more school boards to attempt a tax cap override in order to meet their rising expenses," said Timothy G. Kremer, NYSSBA's executive director. "We'll know more in 2016 when school boards begin the budgeting process in earnest and share various budgeting scenarios with their communities."

FOR RELEASE: November 9, 2015                         

New York’s major statewide education organizations issued a report today outlining the need for a $2.2 billion state aide increase for 2016-17, along with broader action help to schools prepare the next generation of students for success.

In a school finance report released today, the Educational Conference Board (ECB) also called on the state to address the strong possibility that schools could face a punishing zero percent limit on local tax increases next year due to the way the state tax cap is constructed.

The recommended $2.2 billion state aid increase includes $1.7 billion to continue current school services plus $500 million in targeted funding to fund critical school improvement initiatives such as expanding prekindergarten access, providing sufficient support for struggling schools and English language learners, training teachers, and opening new pathways to graduation.

“Public schools are eager to rise to the challenge of a changing world and increased standards, but they need a responsive and reliable state partner to help,” said ECB Chair John Yagielski.

ECB’s projection for the state aid increase that is needed to continue current school services is based on outside estimates for costs such as salaries, health insurance, and pension contributions.

The estimate also reflects state Division of Budget figures, as well as a lower rate next year for employer pension contributions to the Teachers Retirement System. All in all, the ECB estimates that continuing current services in school districts would result in a modest increase in total school spending of 2.7 percent statewide in 2016-17.

FOR RELEASE: October 26, 2015                         

"Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch deserves praise for her nearly two decades of service to public education in New York State. During her tenure as Chancellor, she sought to improve lower performing schools, close the achievement gap, and improve accountability. Through it all, she demonstrated a resiliency and unyielding belief in high standards for all of our students. Like that of a school board president, her job as chancellor of the state board of education is very difficult. NYSSBA thanks her for her years of service in this challenging position."

FOR RELEASE: October 23, 2015                          

Joan Reeves, a member of the Baldwinsville Board  of Education and the Onondaga Cortland Madison (OCM) BOCES Board, received the Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service at NYSSBA’s 96th Annual Convention and Education Expo in New York City.

Reeves has served on the Baldwinsville board for more than three decades and on the OCM BOCES board since 2007. Since joining the Baldwinsville board in 1981, she has served as vice president for 13 years and as president for 6 years. She has been a member of 14 board committees in Baldwinsville, including ones focused on long range planning, facilities, policy, insurance, transportation, audit, sustainability, legislation and negotiations. Reeves also serves on the boards of directors of the Central New York School Boards Association and the Onondaga Madison School Boards Association.