"So, you know, this is a call to to ensure that there is no child in the state that should be placed in a position to be denied educational benefit, and that should be the commitment of our state on behalf of the future generation. Bob Lowry, Deputy Director of the New York State Council school superintendents, says DEI policies involve changing classroom practices, how information is taught and how questions are asked, recognizing that some children from different backgrounds may respond differently to different methods of teaching. School boards are under heavy fire from some parents. What - CNN Sign up below to find out about upcoming programs first. It seems as though you know, just monitoring you know everything right now. Schneider: Well, I think from my perspective and our perspective is we are approaching a new school year with some important challenges that we have to face as a school community. Levulis: And probably the finding that I found most interesting was that 88% of candidates endorsed by teachers unions were elected. And this figure stood out to me, tutoring should be three to five times a week totaling about 60 to 70 hours of instruction per school year. It means that most of the [budgets] stayed under the tax cap, which is important that we see that consistent high 90s approval rate, said Schneider. Our large regional area and our many school districts make us one of the largest school boards associations in New York State. And that could be very helpful. With over 5,000 school board members in New York, NYSSBA provides advocacy, training and information to school boards in support of their mission to govern the state's public schools. Levulis: And my next question doesn't necessarily have to do with this analysis, but does touch on what we mentioned earlier, COVID-19 policies. So I'm sure that COVID, you know, will certainly be a big factor as they plan out and be thinking about what they need to be doing based on the experts advice to keep everybody safe, but also keep kids in school, keep kids learning, because we know there's a lot of negative consequences of the pandemic mental health concerns, also learning loss that resulted from all of the time that students were out of school learning remotely, and not always fully engaged in their education. Each school board member should: As citizens of the United States, school board members have a right to free expression that is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution of the State of New York. New York State School Boards Association | Latham NY - Facebook In . Education Collection: Research Library: NYS Library And we did a good job in an unprecedented time. The New York State School Boards Association is here to help you! You know, I think right now we're starting to see, you know, an uptick and certainly hear about that, and I know, there's been concerns about the contagious level of some of these newer, you know, I guess, subvariants, if you will. Are you hearing concerns, some discussion heading into the fall? "And the fact is, our schools have been becoming more diverse. With school boards across New York reorganizing after voters went to the polls in May, an analysis has been released on the 2022 elections. The best way to do high dosage tutoring is have it baked into the academic year having teachers and paraprofessionals being the point people on that delivering that to those students. Home - New York State School Boards Association Albert: Yeah, so I think that was an interesting finding, you know, because we certainly had heard a lot throughout the state about candidates that were basing their platforms on certain issues, you know, whether it was, you know, a parent choice type of issue, as far as you know, having input into curriculum or it was masks. So it's not completely out of whack. As it pertains to New York schools, are there enough teachers and staff to accomplish that and do they have the time? What did that finding tell you that if a lot of the discussion, the heated discussion was around those issues, but those who won seats did not actually focus so much on those issues? Should not engage in any personal or commercial activity which presents a conflict of interest or an appearance of impropriety which would bring discredit upon the school district, its staff and/or its students. Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association Phone: (518) 783-0200 Email: tim.kremer@nyssba.org David Little, Director of Governmental Relations. But at the end of the day, the superintendent, the school board, they have to make tough decisions and sometimes the community are not happy with that decision. I think that would help once again, with the students that meet that local school district criteria. Election By state law, school board and budget elections, in all districts except the Big 5 (Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers), must be held on the third Tuesday in May. There's been, you know, discussions on masks vaccinations, CRT, DEI. And I do think that, you know, there is some interest, I think we've heard, you know, some interest from districts in these types of systems, but I think they just want to learn more information. Should behave in a manner consistent with this Code of Ethics. Senator for New York - Kristen Gillibrand, U.S. New York voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide on school and library budgets and school board members. But as I said earlier, during the entire pandemic, the school district community, superintendents, school boards, teachers, administrators, bus drivers, janitors, everybody involved in that ecosystem, counselors, we got through it. That high dosage tutoring might help that out. School Boards Association on foundation aid, school meals - Spectrum News Levulis: And overall voter turnout this year on school district budgets and boards was up 23% compared to 2021. [3]Public Officers Law Section 103 et. New York State School Boards Association24 Century Hill Drive, Suite 200Latham, New York 12110-2125518.783.0200 phone518.783.0211 faxContact Us, 2023 New York State School Boards Association. And so some board members just decided they had enough. Responsibilities of a Board Member With schoolchildren always their ultimate focus, school board members act officially at the board table, working with other board members to serve students and accomplish the following: Characteristics of a Board Member Below are attributes that all effective board members should possess. NYSSBA provides information, training and advice on matters affecting school boards, and collaborates with other educational and related or ganizations to promote excellence in education for public school students . I as an adult had many moments during that time of uncertainty and fear at times. She's taken the reins and we're happy that she made that decision and, and put that out on Friday for the health and safety of our children. Because we actually had more newcomers this year running for office than incumbents. NYSSBA Overview - New York State School Boards Association Contact Us. Phone: 585-328-1972 Fax: 585-328-2494. Rochester, NY 14623. And they probably had concerns about maybe retiring a little earlier than they had expected. You can imagine a child with a developing brain what was going through their head. School Board Member Qualifications and Responsibilities, 333 Metro ParkSuite C-102, Rochester, NY 14623. So we know that there have been some instances where board meetings have gotten a little bit out of hand, yelling, you know, hasn't been perfect sailing or smooth sailing. They were supported by certain groups with single agendas, Schneider said. They have children in the district, and as school board members and superintendents, we have to listen to them. 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Sign up below to find out about upcoming programs first. But as it pertains maybe nationally to masks and protocols surrounding COVID-19, have you seen or experienced anything in your career as polarizing as this as it pertains to schools? Levulis: And Bob just wanted to shift gears here away from the study. So I think right now districts are kind of in information mode. NYSSBA is ready to assist you in your effort to serve your community. So I'm very positive that this is going to work out. of Health] side of the equation. New York Public Education | Orange County School Boards Association - ocsba So I don't have the data on that. Expenditures of not more than $25 may be made without the candidates permission if the donor or donors file a sworn statement with the clerk and the commissioner stating that the candidate did not approve the expenditure. The New York State School Boards Association looked at voter turnout, board member incumbency and the major issues. In these challenging times for public education, school boards are seeking men and women who find excitement and satisfaction in confronting tough challenges and working collegially to rise above them and help students in their communities succeed. Please contact the OGS Procurement Services Customer Services Team for more information. Albert: So we haven't heard a lot. "There's confusion about what the intent of school districts are when it comes to providing lessons about the curriculum," said Worona. We were talking about tutoring earlier, bridging the gaps that have been created. Directors serve three-year terms. And that that is so interesting to me, because, as you mentioned, you know, there were the so-called parent choice candidates, but it seemed to be that there was getting an endorsement from a teachers union was basically a lock for a win. It is the duty of each school board member to a make a good faith effort to serve with integrity and to the best of ones ability. Remember, our budgets have went into place on July 1. I mean, typically, it's about 8% of registered voters. NYSSBA provides advocacy, training and information to school boards in support of their mission to govern the state's public schools.About NYSCOSS: The New York State Council of School Superintendents is a professional and advocacy organization with over a century of service to school superintendents and assistant superintendents in New York State. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. Schneider: Well, I think you know, one, the testing if somebody is not vaccinated, obviously that testing is the next option. to mobilize board members to effectively influence those outside the schools who also share responsibility for educating our children. Try to all attend all school board meetings absent exigent circumstances. New York State School Board Association | Department of State Each school board member should make decisions based on what he or she believes to be in the best interest of the community of stakeholders, including but not limited to: School board members have a duty to be open to feedback and information received from all stakeholders. Approved by the NYSSBA Board of Directors, New York State School Boards AssociationModel Code of Ethicsfor School Boards and School Board Members. Plan trauma-informed lockdown So the fact that more incumbents won was a little bit surprising, because we did expect to see more newcomers. Congressman Joseph Morelle - House of Representatives - 25th Congressional District of New York, NYS Assembly District 131 - Jeff Gallahan, NYS Assembly District 133 - Marjorie Byrnes, NYS Assembly District 135 - Jennifer Lunsford, NYS Assembly District 138 - Harry B. Bronson, NYS Assembly District 139 - Stephen Hawley, NYS Senate District 56 - Jeremy A. Cooney, NYS Senate District 59 - Patrick M. Gallivan, NYS Senate District 61 - Edward A. Rath III, Empire State College, State University of New York, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). $97.00. And then graduating children, they had children who had moved on and were going off beyond high school. So the percentage of board members that are incumbents is actually going down every year. U.S. Educational partners, business partners and contractors. Now we've seen that nationally, I think it's called what the great resignation or great retirement. And some districts may very well have done that. In general school board members who sit on local boards of education are the educational leaders in their communities. This year, though, we did see a lot more of that, to your point, in pockets of the state. I was wondering, what are you hearing, what is the Association hearing from school boards about a potential new COVID surge this fall, given the latest variants rising cases? Actually, two budget plans one built on billions of dollars in long-sought federal, WAMC Northeast Public Radio | But that's my sense of it, it was kind of twofold safety from COVID and also deciding to retire early. According to Schneider, activist board members arent new, and he pointed to parental outrage over the Common Core. Our reaction is we want students in the classroom. So last year, it was 60% of incumbents won. A survey by the New York State School Boards' Association of 50 school districts found that most will stay within the 2% tax cap. The expenditure of public funds payable as dues to NYSSBA was given a legal foundation in Education Law by the state legislature in 1945. The board of education is a uniquely American institution. That gave school districts additional money that was due them to focus on certain academic areas and one of those areas will be obviously the mental health side of it which includes, don't forget the tutoring. But still, the Association analysis found that most of the nearly 1,500 elected school board candidates did not base their campaign platforms around those issues. The expenditure and contribution statement prepared for the Commissioner of Education should be mailed to:Commissioner of Education c/o Educational Management Services 89 Washington Avenue, 1075 EBAAlbany, NY 12234. Therefore, whenever communicating about issues related to the district, each board member should clearly state that he or she is communicating a personal opinion and is not speaking for the board. Must never use ones position as a school board member to benefit either oneself, a family member or any other individual or entity in a manner inconsistent with the law or ones sincere belief that one is acting in the best interest of the school district and all stakeholders. Employers, colleges, universities, and others with a vested interest in the education provided by the district or BOCES. New research published by the New York State School Boards Association finds remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic left the average student five months behind in math and four months behind in reading. WAMC's Jim Levulis spoke with the Associations David Albert about the findings including that 54 percent of elected school board candidates this year were incumbents. New York Education Laws (NYSSBA Members and Students Only) $87.00. Chicago and New York, for example, have appointed boards. But the whole reason we're happy is because this is the best plan to get the students back in the classroom where that is the most important place they need to be right now. According to the New York State School Boards Association, 99.2% of school budgets were passed by voters. 2022, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Nominating Petitions The requirements for filing nominating petitions for a school board vary depending upon the type of school district. PDF SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY INITIATIVE - Office of the New York These are people who feel strongly that the societal impact of systemic racism shouldnt be taught in schools, or that LGBTQ+ issues shouldnt be raised in early grades. Our large regional area and our many school districts make us one of the largest school boards associations in New York State. Learning loss was pretty heavy as far as the past year because of all the online virtual classroom experiences versus being in the classroom. By 1929 it became the Associated School Boards and Trustees of the State of New York. And maybe some of them did, because their health and they didn't want to be exposed in the classroom and the other ones might have just decided it's time to retire, time to resign because this was quite a time to go through and to see, you know, the death that happened with COVID. How school districts in New York are approaching diversity - WAMC Albert: Yeah, we did see an increase. And as far as the learning loss, as you know, we said this before in our conversations, nothing replaces the in-classroom experience for a student. So there was confusion and uncertainty and we thank Commissioner Betty Rosa and the Board of Regents for pushing that and trying to get more definitive answers from the DOH. So there's a big gap there between, you know, folks who are showing up in board elections and showing up for larger elections. I know we can do it again. Since 1959, the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association has stood as an advocate and resource for and on behalf of Long Island's public schools and boards of education. Senator for New York - Kristen Gillibrand; The ruling creates more uncertainty for high school students applying to college. Position available starting July, 2023. The district code of ethics sets out the standard of conduct reasonably expected of such individuals and serves to promote confidence in our public schools. to provide forums for school board members where they may learn from one another. "There was a divide, you know, it was an equity divide digitally, right, with kids who didn't have access to technology, or in areas of the state that were very remote and they did not have broadband capabilities," Worona said. Who we serve: Boards from school districts in four BOCES (OCM, Cayuga-Onondaga, Oswego, and Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga) comprise our membership. School board members may contact the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) at 1-800-342-3360 or go to the respective NYSSBA websites shown below to access the following sample policies: 2160 School District Officer and Employee Code of Ethics at http://www.nyssba.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=samplepolicy2160. In 1932 the organization merged with the New York State Association of Central Rural School District Boards to form the New York State School Boards Association, which was then incorporated in 1935. So, I think right now, they're really just looking at, you know, what does the bill say, or the law, you know, what is it? One was lack of civility. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. New York State School Boards Association If you are elected, you dont need to face this new challenge alone. Five county school boards associations exist within CNYSBA: Oswego; Onondaga-Madison; Cayuga-Onondaga; Cortland-Madison; and the Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga School Boards Associations. Levulis: You mentioned some students there do thrive in the virtual environment. But the majority of the students really need to get back into that school district and do the live instruction. Born and raised in Albany, hes been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. So there was a little confusion and there has been confusion in the past. And that could make a big impact on a student who has trauma in their life not outside of the school building and coming into that building. And yes, it can work in the virtual environment for those students. . We've got students coming back and we have to make sure a student's wellbeing has to be focused in on before they can truly learn at an optimal rate. Which Diversity Programs Actually Improve Diversity. NYSSBA serves more than 675 local school boards and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES), which represent more than 5,200 members - nearly half the elected officials in the state. What did that tell you? In . And Governor Hochul wanted to hear our concerns about opening from the DOH [Dept. And then we also saw a couple of other reasons. The adoption of DEI initiatives by school districts is about ensuring that all students have the opportunities and assistance we would want for our own children and preparing all students for a diverse workforce and world they will enter upon leaving school. Model Code of Ethics for School Boards and School Board Members And instead, we found that they tended to focus on, the winning candidates really tended to focus more on cohesion, bringing the community together. Doug Mills/The New York Times. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. We had a lot of districts in the state that were doing the hybrid approach where you had virtual teaching but you also had students coming into the school building and the transmission rates were very low. "The National School Boards Association was seeing some horrific examples around the country where board members and administrators truly felt physically threatened," explained Jay Worona, deputy executive director and general counsel for the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA). PublishedNovember 11, 2021 at 3:42 PM EST. They didn't have the resources, they didn't have the access. Levulis: You mentioned that lack of or decrease in civility, a lot of it had to do with hot button issues, diversity, equity, inclusion and COVID-19 policies. So you put that on top of it and we've got an issue. Be well-versed in parliamentary procedure. And there has now been an effort over the summer to try to close that learning loss gap. What do you think drove that increase? That was more the winning theme, as opposed to, you know, perhaps focusing on an issue that was seen by some members in the community as divisive. So this is no blame on Governor Hochul. Generally, candidates must submit a nominating petition to the school district clerk. You know, at this point, I haven't heard anything that would suggest that there would be you know, any type of return to masks or anything like that in school districts in the fall. I'm not sure if they did it for safety. The New York State School Boards Association, New York State Council of School Superintendents, Conference of Big 5 School Districts and Rural Schools Association of New York State have issued a . Albert: Yeah, so we're kind of really in the early stages, that legislation was just signed, I think, in the last couple of weeks. SteveLpez,chairperson, Conference of Big 5 School Districts and Doug Gustin, chair of the board of directors, Rural Schools Association of New York State. Running for the School Board - New York State School Boards Association I know, the teachers union does that we do that just for people to get out and participate in school board elections, because it's really grassroots democracy at its most foundational level. The Monroe County School Boards Association (MCSBA) is a membership organization of school board members and superintendents who lead the 20 school districts and 2 BOCES of Monroe County. If it's, you know, one-on-one, small group sessions, that sort of thing? WAMC's Capital Region Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports it is now being considered and adopted in many school districts. Consistent with our dedication to children, learning and the community, the Association provides advocacy, information, leadership development and custom services to public school boards. Albert: It did surprise us and I'll tell you why. But diversity doesn't appear to be getting better. The tutoring will help those students with that learning loss gap. Good luck in your pursuit of school board service and thank you for your dedication to providing quality education for New York State public school children. Training Once elected, you will be required by New York State law to fulfill mandatory training within your first year of service. "The fact is that schools all across New York state have been doing good work for several years now, with little or no controversy, trying to make their schools more welcoming and supportive to children of all backgrounds," Lowry said. Central New York School Boards Association 2023 All Rights Reserved. 227 were here. I mean, you know, they come from all walks of life, some may be medical experts, but most of them don't have that medical or public health background. The New York State School Boards Association looked at voter turnout, board member incumbency and the major issues. School Law | LexisNexis Store It says DEI policies and practices aim to include all groups that have been disadvantaged, whether due to race, ethnicity, disability, gender or gender identity, socioeconomic status or another factor. And obviously most conversations involving children in education are often tense, you can point to a number of topics, you know such as Common Core. The size of a school board depends on the type ofschool district but generally ranges between three and nine members. In addition to that gap, there were disadvantaged students throughout this state that really lost a lot more in the educational realm. Worona says when a school board adopts a DEI policy, it is committing to ensuring all students have equal educational opportunities and the resources matched to their individual needs.