FOR RELEASE: September 30, 2013

CONTACT: John Yagielski 
518-810-8382 (cell)
email: kyagiels@nycap.rr.com 

New York’s seven leading statewide education groups have come together to endorse a five-point plan to help all students and their schools meet the expectations of the new Common Core learning standards.

The Educational Conference Board (ECB), comprised of organizations that represent school boards, parents, superintendents, teachers, principals, business officials and other educators, has released a position paper entitled Common Ground on Common Core that outlines a plan to give students the support and resources they need to succeed under the state’s new Common Core learning standards.

Recent attention on student test scores, compliance with the new teacher and principal evaluation requirements, and recurring financial struggles has diverted resources and focus from student learning, the report states.

ECB Chair John Yagielski explained, “The Common Core learning standards are the right direction for our schools. These standards were designed to ensure that all students, regardless of where they live or what school they attend, are learning what they need to graduate from high school with the ability, not just to recite knowledge, but apply knowledge to real world challenges.”

For Release: Immediate – Thursday, September 26, 2013

Contact: 
Steve Janack, Vice President for Marketing and Communications, CNSE
(518) 956-7322
sjanack@albany.edu
David Albert, Director of Communications and Research, NYSSBA
(518) 783-3716 
david.albert@nyssba.org

“Be the Change for Kids” Innovation Award winners recognized for novel programs that provide education and career skills in emerging fields such as nanotechnology

Albany, NY – Supporting Governor Andrew Cuomo’s educational blueprint to prepare students for career opportunities in the state’s fastest-growing industries such as nanotechnology, three New York school districts have earned top honors for their innovative science, technology, engineering and math-related (STEM) programs in the second annual “Be the Change for Kids” Innovation Awards, presented today by the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) and the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE).

“As Governor Andrew Cuomo champions New York’s rapid rise as the global leader in nanotechnology education, innovation, and economic growth, it is critical that the state develop a well-educated, highly skilled workforce and ensure that students are prepared to take advantage of these exciting career opportunities,” said CNSE Senior Vice President and CEO Dr. Alain Kaloyeros. “We are delighted to partner with the New York State School Boards Association to recognize this year’s honorees, and we congratulate these forward-thinking schools for their vision and commitment to their students, truly our most valuable resource.”

FOR RELEASE:  September 12, 2013

CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell
On Twitter: @nyschoolboards

Smaller, financially strapped school districts that can offer greater educational opportunities by joining together are the best candidates for mergers, according to a new research report by the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA).

The report found that losses in state aid and the local property tax cap have forced some districts to eliminate teaching and support staff positions, affecting their ability to provide elective courses and, in some cases, core courses as well. By merging, these districts might be better able to offer a wider variety of educational programs and courses than they would otherwise.

FOR RELEASE:  September 3, 2013

CONTACT: Al Marlin
(518) 783-3723 or (518) 527-6933 cell
On Twitter: @nyschoolboards

Anthony Iadevaio, a member of the Valley Stream School District 24 Board of Education, is the 2013 winner of the New York State School Boards Association’s top award for school board service.

Iadevaio, who has been a school member since 1980, will receive the 2013 Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service. NYSSBA President Thomas Nespeca will present him with the award on Friday, Oct. 25, at the Association’s Annual Convention in Rochester.

“Tony is a deserving recipient of this award,” said Nespeca. “He has provided outstanding leadership to school boards and students at the local, state and federal levels. He has a powerful command of school board issues.”  Iadevaio has served as board president six times. He has chaired the finance, education, personnel, policy and legislative committees. 

FOR RELEASE:  August 26, 2013

CONTACT: Al Marlin
(518) 783-3723 or (518) 527-6933 cell
On Twitter: @nyschoolboards

As schools begin the new school year, board members across the state expect their students will perform better on next year’s grades 3-8 state assessments compared to this year, according to a recent poll by the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA).

“With another year of implementing Common Core under their belts, school board members clearly are optimistic that students will meet the challenge before them in the coming school year,” said NYSSBA Executive Director Timothy G. Kremer. “Last spring’s state assessments provided a baseline for how well schools are preparing their students to meet the new Common Core curriculum standards. Now we know the extent of the task ahead.”

FOR RELEASE:  August 7, 2013

CONTACT: Al Marlin
(518) 783-3723 or (518) 527-6933 cell
On Twitter: @nyschoolboards

The grades 3-8 test results released today create a baseline measure of student learning under the Common Core standards.

It is important to recognize that student achievement did not go down; instead, standards went up. 

The state realigned exams to more closely mirror the knowledge and skills that students will need to succeed after high school. We can use this year’s results for comparisons in future years. 

FOR RELEASE:  June 24, 2013

CONTACT: Al Marlin
(518) 783-3723 or (518) 527-6933 cell
On Twitter: @nyschoolboards

The 2013 legislative session provided many positive developments for schools.

Lawmakers delivered an on-time budget with a $1 billion education aid increase that helped schools earn a 95 percent passage rate on the first budget vote this year.

With many school districts struggling financially, school boards launched a “No New Mandates” campaign, asking lawmakers not to enact any new unfunded mandates on schools.  Lawmakers largely honored our request, passing only a handful of new initiatives compared to the many dozens under consideration.

FOR RELEASE: May 28, 2013

CONTACT: Al Marlin (518-783-3723)

A coalition of education, local government and business groups today called on state lawmakers not to pass any new unfunded mandates on schools and municipalities this year.

“The end of the legislative session is infamous for last-minute, unfunded mandates,” said Timothy Kremer, executive director of the New York State School Boards Association. “In a vacuum, they may well be good policy, but not when judged against the burdens of already struggling schools and local governments.”

Members of the Let NY Work Coalition are launching a grassroots email and phone campaign designed to prevent state legislators from shifting the costs of its new programs onto local communities and their taxpayers.

Read the Full Press Release 

FOR RELEASE: May 22, 2013

CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell
On Twitter: @nyschoolboards

98% passage rate for school districts within tax cap; 25% passage rate for districts exceeding cap

New York State voters approved 95.5 percent of school district budgets on Tuesday, May 21, according to an analysis by the New York State School Boards Association.

“Residents in communities across this state stood strong once again in support of public education,” said NYSSBA Executive Director Timothy G. Kremer.  “The high level of voter support for school budgets speaks to the importance of public education. We appreciate the trust that voters place in our school board members and educators.”

Initial statewide results gathered by NYSSBA indicate voters have passed 644 school district budgets. The number of budgets defeated was 32. NYSSBA was still awaiting results for nine districts.

In the second year of the state’s property tax cap, 642 districts, or 96 percent, were within their maximum allowable tax levy increases under the cap and required only a simple majority to pass their budgets. Of those districts, 98.3 percent passed.

Twenty-eight districts, or 4 percent, had budgets that exceeded the tax cap and required a 60 percent “supermajority” to pass. Of those districts, 25 percent passed their budgets. 

By Timothy G. Kremer
Executive Director, New York State School Boards Association

FOR RELEASE: May 17, 2013

CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell
On Twitter: @nyschoolboards

Voters across the state will go to the polls next Tuesday to vote on their school district budgets and elect school board members.

Voting day marks the culmination of a budget process that included months of public input and careful analysis.

School boards have listened to their communities and worked diligently to craft budgets that provide the best educational opportunities possible at the price taxpayers can afford.