FOR RELEASE: November 7, 2011
CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell
Gov. Cuomo’s video message today called attention to the property tax cap’s effectiveness in thus far holding down municipal property tax levies.
The property tax cap may well serve its intended purpose, but it’s going to come at a cost to educational programs and services in school districts, unless the state loosens its reins on school districts by providing significant mandate relief.
More...FOR RELEASE: October 27, 2011
CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell
Thomas Nespeca of Webster, NY has been elected president of the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA). His one-year term begins Jan. 1, 2012.
The election took place Saturday, Oct. 29, at NYSSBA’s Annual Business Meeting in Buffalo. A total of 233 voting delegates participated in the business meeting, which was held in conjunction with the Association’s 92nd Annual Convention and Education Expo attended by nearly 3,000 members of the education community.
FOR RELEASE: October 27, 2011
CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell
Noted educator Dr. Lloyd Elm has been named the 2011 New York State School Boards Association’s President’s Award winner.
Elm was honored during the Association’s 92nd Annual Convention in Buffalo on Thursday, October 27.
More...FOR RELEASE: October 27, 2011
CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell
William Boss, a member of the Orange-Ulster BOCES school board, is the 2011 winner of the New York State School Boards Association’s (NYSSBA) top award for distinguished service.
Boss, who has served as a school board member for nearly 30 years, received the 2011 Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service from NYSSBA President Florence Johnson Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Association’s annual convention in Buffalo.
FOR RELEASE: October 19, 2011
CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell
Nearly 3,000 school board members, superintendents and educators from across New York will arrive in Buffalo next week for the New York State School Boards Association’s 92nd Annual Convention and Education Expo.
More...FOR RELEASE: October 17, 2011
CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell
Today’s decision by the state Board of Regents to seek a federal waiver from the strictures of No Child Left Behind is welcome news for school districts across this state that were facing unrealistic expectations, such as requiring 100 percent proficiency in English/Language Arts and mathematics by 2014.
More...FOR RELEASE: September 15, 2011
CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell
A large majority of school board members – 70 percent – responding to a NYSSBA poll believe that teachers should not grade their own students’ state assessments, but are more evenly divided on other test security issues.
Earlier this week, the state Board of Regents approved a series of measures to combat possible cheating on state exams. The board is set to consider additional proposals next month, including: barring teachers from grading or proctoring their own students’ tests; developing a centralized statewide scanning system; and distributive scoring, in which answer sheets are scanned and uploaded onto computers, and graded by other educators across the state.
In the wake of the Regents' decision, board members were asked if they believed teachers should be prohibited from grading their own students’ state assessments. Seventy percent of the respondents to the online poll answered yes.
More...FOR RELEASE: September 1, 2011
CONTACT: Brian Butry
(518) 783-3723 or (518)522-6249 cell
Facing a changing education landscape and challenging fiscal environment, school boards across New York are embracing innovation and efficiencies to help improve student achievement as the school year begins.
While state budget cuts forced most districts to cut valuable programs and lay off staff, New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Timothy G. Kremer said the dawn of a new school year has brought with it a renewed sense of commitment.
More...FOR RELEASE: June 25 , 2011
CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell
The 2011 legislative session was a mixed bag for school districts. On the plus side, the Legislature passed several mandate relief items that will prove very useful to school districts. Also noteworthy: Lawmakers imposed no new unfunded mandates on schools. Clearly, the focus in Albany has shifted from spending to reigning in state costs and to start allowing school districts to do the same.
| ADVOCACY ALERT – TAX CAP AND MANDATE RELIEF |
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Tax cap looks permanent |
FOR RELEASE: May 24, 2011
CONTACT: David Albert
(518) 783-3716 or (518) 320-2221 cell
Let’s be clear: a 2 percent tax cap on school districts fails to address the root causes of our ever-increasing tax burden.
Politicians and special interest groups can trumpet the tax cap all they want, but homeowners across New York will find their taxes continuing to rise unless their elected officials get serious about relieving local schools of millions of dollars of costs tied up in state mandates that do nothing to advance student achievement.
Unfortunately, lawmakers have focused strictly on limiting a school district’s ability to raise revenue. This will undoubtedly force officials to lay off employees and cut spending on classroom programs, sports and other extracurricular activities in order to pay for mandated costs.
More...