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Ask the Superintendent -
February 13, 2008
On Saturday morning, February 9th, President of
the Board of Education, Judy Green, Vice President,
Martha Bogart, and I attended the 23rd Annual
Legislative Brunch at West Point. Each year the
Mid-Hudson School Study Council invites members of
the New York State Senate and Assembly, and the
United State Congress to meet with school board
members and central office administrators to share
and discuss mutual concerns. During this year’s
session, Congressman Maurice Hinchey, State Senator
John Bonacic, State Senator William Larkin, Jr.,
State Senator Stephen Saland, Assemblywoman Nancy
Calhoun, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, and
Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt all had an opportunity
to address school officials from approximately 70
Mid-Hudson school districts.
This was an exceptionally informative meeting. The
elected officials fielded some very difficult
questions and were able to share with us a great
deal of information about Governor Eliot Spitzer’s
budget as it pertains to education throughout the
state and specifically to the Mid-Hudson Region. The
legislators listened carefully to our concerns and
they responded honestly. They explained they were
working on a number of areas that may help districts
but there were also many items in the Governor’s
budget that were set in stone and could not be
changed
Some of the major topics discussed included the
following:
• Foundation Aid to School Districts;
• New special education mandates;
• Grades 3-8 New York State testing;
• Tax exemptions on property throughout New York
State;
• Gambling and gaming and its relationship to New
York State aid to education;
• The underfunding of federal mandates for No Child
Left Behind (NCLB);
• Reduction in aid to BOCES in New York State;
• Change in the practice of using property taxes as
a means to fund public school education.
Many of the Senators and Assemblywomen will also be
present at the O/U
BOCES Superintendents’ meeting in two weeks. This
will provide a more informal setting instead of
speaking before hundreds of people. All of the
issues listed above will be discussed in more depth
at that time.
Roy Reese
Superintendent of Schools |
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