A group of seven superintendents from the Questar III region traveled to Albany on March 10 to advocate for education, including the need to end the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) cuts to school funding in next year’s state budget.
Meeting with Jeffrey Cleary, Director of Governmental Relations, in Sen. Kathleen Marchione’s Office, the group included Cynthia DeDominick (Lansingburgh CSD), Kenneth Facin (Hoosick CSD), Dr. James Hoffman (Averill Park CSD), Robert Horan (Schodack CSD), Dr. Angelina Maloney (Brunswick CSD), Leslie Whitcomb (New Lebanon CSD) and Dr. Steven Young (Berlin CSD).
“This is a positive group. We want to work with you and help you in any way that we can,” said Superintendent Horan, who chairs Questar III’s Legislative Committee.
Superintendents discussed a range of topics including the need for the state to release more assessments, the impact of charter schools, an initiative that allows science teachers to work with researchers, and changes proposed to the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) requirements.
But superintendents stressed the most important issue for schools is ending the GEA cuts to educational funding, something the State Senate proposes to do in its recent state budget proposal.
Mr. Cleary noted that Sen. Marchione agrees with many of their issues, particularly ending the GEA cuts.
The group ended their visit by inviting Sen. Marchione to visit their schools once the state budget was finalized to see the great things students are learning.
“We are glad that Senator Marchione and her staff understand the financial stress districts face, as well as the hurdles we face in implementation of standards, assessments, and teacher evaluation,” said Dr. Hoffman. “Her support is critical to helping schools in this area meet our community’s expectations.”
