Schools taking message closer to Albany

10/3/2012

By Jim Poole

Local school officials want to be heard in Albany, so they're going closer to the capitol.
Leaders from Cobleskill-Richmondville and Schoharie will participate in an Educate NY Now! press conference in South Colonie October 18 with the aim of getting a fair shake in state aid and state policies.
Open to the public and running 6:30-8pm at Sand Creek Middle School, the event is designed to publicize the perilous state of New York schools.
Although area administrators and school board members have lobbied Albany in the past--generally, unsuccessfully--the Educate NY Now! conference is different because it's not limited to rural, cash-strapped schools.
Besides speakers from Schoharie and C-R, the audience will hear from school leaders from South Colonie, Schenectady and Niskayuna.
"The difference is, with the way things are going, those [larger] school districts are starting to look like Cobleskill-Richmondville and Schoharie," said C-R Superintendent Lynn Macan.
"It's not just about rural schools any more. Different districts speaking together should hit home."
Speakers will focus on what Schoharie Superintendent Brian Sherman termed "the erosion of the quality of education" across the state.
"We intend to paint a picture of what has been lost in our public schools and what's looming for our children if nothing changes," Mr. Sherman said.
Each district will have 10 minutes to describe how reduced funding has affected school programs, Ms. Macan said.
But the press conference is intended to have a broad scope, not just focusing on aid. While local schools have been forced to cut programs and staff, affecting students, they've also had to deal with increasingly stringent state regulations.
The result? Albany's policies are hurting education, administrators believe.
"This is not just a public education issue, it's a community issue," Mr. Sherman said. "And it's not simply about funding, it's about fairness."
The October 11 press conference is not only for the media, but also "anyone interested in the future of education," Mr. Sherman said.
And especially, legislators are being invited.
"That's where we need to get this message," Ms. Macan said. "We need staff, students and community members to make a good showing."
Educate NY Now! is an advocacy group formed of parents, teachers, administrators, school board members and others.
Not intended to be just a state-budget-season group, Educate NY Now! launched its campaign in May.
Sand Creek Middle School is off Wolf Road.