Message from the Executive Director
Feb. 8, 2026
Dear Members and Stakeholders,
On Tuesday, as dozens of New York State school board members and superintendents joined with our Governmental Relations team in our nation’s capital to advocate for adequate funding for public schools, Congress passed a bill to sustain funding for K-12 programs for the remainder of this current fiscal year, which ends on Sept. 30.
The final budget agreement left federal funding for schools generally flat, with moderate increases to Title I ($20 million increase) and IDEA ($20 million increase). NYSSBA was pleased that proposals by the administration and House of Representatives to cut billions of dollars from education funding did not come to fruition.
Our attention now turns to the next fiscal year as we continue to advocate for robust increases to critical funding streams that ensure our schools are well equipped to meet our students’ needs. The president’s budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2027 may be released as early as next month, and we will share his plans for education funding as they become known.
I want to thank every school board member and superintendent who shared their district’s challenges and stories in these meetings with their federal representatives, while also participating in NSBA’s Advocacy Institute. You have made a meaningful contribution to our collective effort to protect public education funding and advance our priorities.
Now our attention is focused on meetings with our state lawmakers during Lobby Day this Wednesday. There’s still time to sign up and be among more than 130 school board members and superintendents who will come to Albany. These public education advocates will join with NYSSBA leadership and staff to discuss with lawmakers how proposed budgets, legislation and regulations will affect our school districts and the children they serve. I look forward to seeing many of you there.
Nearly 300 members signed up for Friday’s virtual Capital Conference to learn more about education issues, the governor’s budget proposal and how to advocate for public education on Lobby Day and beyond. If you missed the conference live, I encourage you to watch the video.
Your response needed: Please complete the member survey
Much like your voice matters when it comes to advocacy, hearing from you through your responses to our member survey is vital to NYSSBA’s ability to ensure it’s delivering programs and services that help you fulfill your responsibilities as a school board member.
Please take a moment to view this special message from NYSSBA President Christine Schnars. I know it seems as though we are asked so often these days to participate in one survey or another, or to give our opinions. Your input will be particularly impactful as we begin the process of developing our next strategic plan.
So please watch for the message from Chris, and keep an eye out for an email on Tuesday from Survey Monkey using the NYSSBA Executive Director email address with the link to our survey. The survey will close the next day, Feb. 11.
Missed the latest Executive Director’s webinar? Watch the video
Last week’s Executive Director’s Complimentary Lunchtime Webinar – Student Staff Relationships - Establishing and Enforcing Appropriate Legal Boundaries was an illuminating session for all who attended. If you missed it live, the video will help you learn more about the Board of Regents’ regulations that allow for the temporary suspension of educators who become subject to a lack of good moral character referral based on alleged violations of student-staff relationship boundaries. The ground rules applicable to interactions with students in such instances, investigative practices and legal requirements were also covered.
Weekly updates and reminders
Board of Regents meets Monday
The next meeting of the Board of Regents will be tomorrow, February 9, starting at 9 a.m. The link to the webcast will be available 30 minutes before the start of the meeting.
SED offering February webinars
The Office of Postsecondary Access, Support, and Success (OPASS) is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 3 p.m. to discuss the new dual enrollment partnership agreement requirement. The webinar will provide an overview of dual enrollment programs in New York State and the partnership agreement form (e.g., format, who completes and submits the form, resources, and related requirements). Register here.
The New York State School Environmental Health Program February webinar will cover Communication Strategies for Environmental Health Topics on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. It will focus on tips and best practices for communicating the benefits of managing indoor air quality and environmental health in schools to key stakeholders. Register here.
Read the latest national association news
Here’s the latest from the Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA) and the National School Boards Association (NSBA):
As you read this week’s message, Black History Month is underway. In celebration of the many achievements and contributions of African Americans, New York State is presenting "A Century of Black History Commemorations" in the state capitol and online.
In closing, I hope that you will take advantage of the resources I’ve shared this week. Our goal, as always, is to keep you informed. Even if you don’t immediately watch the videos, I hope you’ll find time in your schedule over the next week to watch the Capital Conference and the student-staff relationships webinar.
Be well and stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Robert S. Schneider CPA, CAE
Executive Director
New York State School Boards Association