Advocacy

Members of the East Greenbush Central School District's Advocacy Committee meeting with Assemblyman John McDonald in the NYS Assembly chamber as part of Legislative Lobby Day on March 8.

Members of the East Greenbush Central School District’s Advocacy Committee meeting with Assemblyman John McDonald in the NYS Assembly chamber as part of Legislative Lobby Day on March 8, 2024.

The East Greenbush Central School District has an Advocacy Committee that meets throughout the year to discuss topics that affect our schools and organize advocacy efforts to improve the education we offer. The committee is led by the Superintendent of Schools and includes students, teachers, administrators, support staff, school board members and parents. Current priorities include:

School Aid Funding

  • Fund the state Foundation Aid appropriately to ensure schools can continue to provide high quality academic, extra-curricular and social emotional/mental health supports for all students.

Universal Pre-K

  • Funding Caps: Increase the NYS Universal Pre-K Funding cap. The current cost per student exceeds the $5,400 and thus, the general fund budget of the local school district funds the difference. Districts are unable to fully utilize the state’s allocation of UPK funds.
  • Transportation: Schools should receive the same support through Transportation Aid for UPK children as for students in kindergarten and later grades. Some districts are already providing that service, wholly at the expense of local taxpayers but not all can, and none should be required to do so. Where families must provide transportation on their own, some are unable to take advantage of UPK. Therefore, to provide equitable access, NYS should provide transportation aid for UPK students.
  • UPK Lottery: Districts should be allowed to target placements for students who have the greatest needs and whose families have the least capacity to pay for other options. The State Education Department should promulgate criteria for districts to follow.
  • Eliminate the 10% CBO Set-Aside: Schools should not be required to partner with outside entities if they can offer high quality pre-kindergarten programming on their own.
  • Child Care in Schools: The state should establish a grant program to enable schools to offer infant and toddler childcare in school buildings and eliminate duplicative daycare requirements that strangle these efforts. Expanding childcare in school buildings would help attract employers into rural areas and help recruit high quality educators.

School Nutrition Programs

  • Ensure funding so that all schools can provide free breakfast and lunch for all students. For the current school year, all schools in the East Greenbush CSD qualify, however, this may not be permanent.

School Safety

  • The state should make an allocation of funds exclusively for school safety purposes, with broad allowable uses. These funds should support capital projects aimed at securing school buildings, hiring security personnel such as SROs and mental health professionals, and providing comprehensive safety training for school staff. Such aid should not be included as a set aside within the district’s foundation aid allocation.

Zero Emission Bus Mandate Overhaul

The state requirement for all schools to begin purchasing only zero-emission buses in 2027 and to cease using any traditional buses altogether in 2035 was well intentioned, but significantly flawed. As schools have worked with utilities, transportation providers, completed feasibility studies, and much more, it has become clear that the law needs a complete overhaul.

  • State-Funded Implementation Studies: The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority should fund an implementation feasibility study for each school district – before a district is required to purchase any zero-emission buses – that identifies routes for which the use of such buses is feasible, factoring in geographic disparities, weather conditions, and impact of battery degradation.
  • Allow for Reasonable Exemptions: Recognize the need for flexibility and authorize exemptions from the universal requirement for zero-emission buses for routes determined to be impractical by the studies called for above. Alternatively, establish a minimum quota of zero-emission buses per district based on feasibility assessments, with state financial support to ensure that the cost of these buses does not exceed that of current buses.
  • Independent Verification of Range: Prohibit manufacturers from selling zero-emission buses unless the range of these buses has been independently verified under different weather conditions and terrain. Presently, manufacturers determine range estimates without an impartial third-party source, leading to uncertainties for districts.
  • Price Caps: Authorize the Office of General Services to establish price caps on base level pricing for different size buses and different battery sizes. The state mandate on zero emission buses has empowered manufacturers to sell these vehicles at absurd prices since schools have no choice but to purchase them. The state should protect schools against predatory pricing.
  • Utility Company Challenges: The Department of Public Service should mandate that utility companies provide the necessary power generating capacity to school bus lots and garages for the purpose of charging zero emission buses without cost to the school district.

Students, parents, teachers, staff and community members are encouraged to advocate on behalf of our schools.

Contact Your Elected Representatives

Governor Kathy Hochul
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390
Email form
Twitter: @GovKathyHochul
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KathyHochul

NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE

Assemblyman Scott Bendett
NYS Assembly District 107
Albany Office
LOB
Albany, NY 12248
Phone: 518-455-5923
Email: bendetts@nyassembly.gov

Assemblyman John McDonald III
NYS Assembly District 108
Albany Office
LOB 417
Albany, NY 12248
Phone: 518-455-4474
Fax: 518-455-4727
Email: mcdonaldj@nyassembly.gov
Facebook: Facebook.com/assemblymemberjohn.mcdonald
Twitter: @johnmcdonald108

Senator Jake Ashby
NYS Senate District 43
Albany Office
LOB, Room 706
Albany, NY 12247
Phone: 518-426-6985
Email: ashby@nysenate.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JakeAshbyforNYSSenate

UNITED STATES CONGRESS

Congressman Paul Tonko
New York District 20
19 Dove St., Suite 302
Albany, NY 12210
Phone: 518-465-0700
Fax: 518-427-5107
Email form
Twitter: @RepPaulTonko
Facebook: Facebook.com/reppaultonko

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik
New York District 21
137 Margaret Street, Suite 100
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Phone: 518-561-2324
Email form
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RepStefanik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepEliseStefanik

Senator Charles Schumer
Leo O’Brien Federal Office Building, Room 420
Albany, NY 12207
Phone: 518-431-4070
Fax: 518-431-4076
Email form
Twitter: @SenSchumer
Facebook: Facebook.com/senschumer

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Leo O’Brien Federal Office Building
11A Clinton Ave., Room 821
Albany, NY 12207
Phone: 518-431-0120
Fax: 518-431-0128
Email form
Twitter: @SenGillibrand
Facebook: Facebook.com/KirstenGillibrand