FOR RELEASE:  March 6, 2013

CONTACT: Al Marlin
(518) 783-3723 or (518) 527-6933 cell
On Twitter: @nyschoolboards
#capconf13

Who: Approximately 200 school board members, state education officials and elected leaders

What: NYSSBA Capital Conference

When: Sunday, March 10, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Where: Hilton (Hotel Albany), 40 Lodge Street, Albany NY

National education attorney Michael Rebell – who maintains that withholding of state aid to schools over their teacher evaluation plans deprives students of their constitutional rights to a sound basic education – will headline the New York State School Boards Association’s Capital Conference.  

FOR RELEASE:  March 5, 2013

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

Law enforcement officials, school counselors and school board members will be on hand to outline ways school districts can prevent violence at the New York State School Boards Association’s “Safe Schools, Safe Students” conference.

FOR RELEASE:  March 1, 2013

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

As lawmakers contemplate whether to impose a teacher and principal evaluation system in New York City, 57 percent of school board members who responded to a recent poll think the state should impose such a system on school districts across the state that do not come to agreement by the deadline.

“School board members recognize the importance of having an effective evaluation system in place for teachers and principals,” said New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Timothy G. Kremer.  “At the same time, they know full well the challenges involved in negotiating evaluation plans and believe there should be some default mechanism in place for districts that do not reach agreement.”

More than one-third (35 percent) of respondents said the state should not impose its own evaluation system, while 8 percent were not sure.

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

Albany, NY – In accordance with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s vision and strategy for building a world-class nanotechnology workforce in New York, the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) and SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) today announced that nominations will be accepted starting March 1 for the second annual “Be the Change for Kids Innovation Awards,” which recognize educational programs that help students gain important 21st century learning and career skills.

“In supporting Governor Andrew Cuomo’s pioneering model for educational opportunity and economic growth, the SUNY NanoCollege is delighted to again partner with NYSSBA to showcase innovative programs that prepare students for our growing nanotechnology-enabled society,” said CNSE Senior Vice President and CEO Dr. Alain Kaloyeros. “We look forward to recognizing the outstanding efforts of school districts across the state in thinking ‘outside the box’ as they develop and deliver next-generation STEM education and training.”

“We are excited to join forces with CNSE for the second year on this great program, and we encourage school districts from around the state to showcase their innovative educational programs and apply for an award,” said NYSSBA Executive Director Timothy G. Kremer. “Last year, we had a great turnout of innovative entries from schools at all levels and we expect similar results this year.”

FOR RELEASE:  February 12, 2013

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

Today’s ruling by New York State’s highest court reinstating a school bus driver to her job despite her testing positive for marijuana use is most disappointing.  Although the decision is based upon technical provisions of law related to the ultimate authority of courts to reverse the decisions of labor arbitrators, the result of this decision is simply wrong from a public policy perspective.  The New York State School Boards Association entered this case in support of the school district to ensure that the safety of students would be preserved.  Sadly, this decision yields the exact opposite result.

FOR RELEASE:  January 25, 2013

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

Rodney George, a retired Kodak employee and president of the Avon school board in Livingston County, has been elected to represent Area 2 on NYSSBA’s Board of Directors.

As Area 2 Director, George represents school boards in Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates counties.

FOR RELEASE:  January 23, 2013

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

Nearly six in 10 school board members (59 percent) who responded to an informal poll by the New York State School Boards Association believe prospective teachers should have to pass a bar exam-type test  before they enter the profession.

“School boards support efforts to improve teacher quality,” said NYSSBA Executive Director Timothy G. Kremer. “While the details have to be worked out, there appears to be support for a bar exam-type initiative in education.”  Thirty-two percent disagreed with the proposal, while nine percent were unsure.

In addition, more than half of school board members (54 percent) support the governor’s recommendation to allow citizens to petition the state to consolidate or regionalize school districts, according to the poll. Thirty-four percent oppose the proposal, while 12 percent were not sure.

FOR RELEASE:  January 22, 2013

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

Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal provides a good starting point for public education.

We commend the governor for his commitment to funding public education with a nearly $900 million increase at a time when the economy continues to underperform.  Equally important, we welcome the governor’s proposal to relieve school districts from volatile fluctuations in budget-busting pension costs.

FOR RELEASE:  January 10, 2013

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

The Jan. 14, 2013 issue of NYSSBA’s On Board newspaper contains the following stories of possible interest to journalists:

• Sports merger trend: Senior Writer Cathy Woodruff reports that the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) meets this month to consider revising athletic classification categories in light of a number of merged athletic teams, including teams that were once rivals. 

• Newtown reaction continues: Re-evaluating school security measures isn’t the only reaction to Newtown, Woodruff reports in “Education’s 9/11: How Newtown has changed us – maybe forever.” Schools officials are concerned that mental health supports are lacking, and they are becoming a larger voice in the national debate on guns.  Also, Webster school board member (and NYSSBA President) Thomas Nespeca reacts to the Newtown shooting. 

FOR RELEASE: January 9, 2013

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

Governor Cuomo deserves high marks for putting forth solid proposals that will help raise student achievement.

Proposals to provide full-day prekindergarten, extend the school day, and offer “wrap around” community services in schools all make perfect sense.  We support them wholeheartedly.

While the governor appears to support local control, his speech was notable for its omission of any mandate relief for schools whatsoever.