NYS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 2021 STATEMENT TO LEGISLATORS The mission of the Oneida-Madison-Herkimer School Boards Institute and the Children Mohawk Regional Association of School District Administrators, which represent 35 school boards, is to provide the best possible education for our 53,000 students FIRST which are in the OMH-SBI legislative districts. We support the higher academic standards adopted by the Board of Regents and will ensure each student be given the opportunity to achieve these standards at their highest academic level.

ONEIDA, MADISON & HERKIMER COUNTIES SCHOOL BOARDS INSTITUTE To help us accomplish this mission, we need a renewed and continued commitment from you, our State Legislator, to provide, unfailing and fair financial support to the students and the 350,000 members of our school communities in your region.

MEMBER AREA BOARDS LEGISLATORS

Oneida-Herkimer Madison BOCES UNITED STATES SENATORS Brookfield Central Charles E. Schumer (D) Clinton Central Kirsten Gillibrand (D) OFFICERS Holland Patent Central New Hartford Central Michael Head UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL President New York Mills Union Free REPRESENTATIVES Oriskany Central TBD Remsen Central Robert1st Vice President Batson Sauquoit Valley Central Doug Gustin Utica City Schools NEW YORK STATE SENATORS 2nd Vice President Waterville Central Joseph Griffo (R 47) James Van Wormer Westmoreland Central James Tedisco (R 49) Coordinator for Board Training Whitesboro Central Peter Oberacker (R-C-I 51) Madison-Oneida BOCES Rachael May (D 53) Camden Central Mohawk Region Association for School Administrators Canastota Central NEW YORK STATE Brennan Fahey Hamilton Central ASSEMBLY REPRESENTATIVES President Owen D. Young CSD Madison Central John Salka (R 121) Morrisville-Eaton Central (R 118) Dr. Stephen Grimm New York State School for the Deaf Vice President Brian Miller (R 101) Oneida City Schools Clinton CSD (D 119) Rome City Schools Gregory Molloy Stockbridge Valley Central Ken Blakenbush (R 117) Treasurer Morrisville-Eaton CSD Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central Herkimer BOCES Central Valley Central For questions, please contact James Van Wormer Dolgeville Central at [email protected] or 315-941-6229 Frankfort-Schuyler Central Herkimer Central Little Falls City Schools Mount Markham Central Owen D. Young Central Poland Central Richfield Springs Central West Canada Valley Central ONEIDA, MADISON & HERKIMER COUNTIES SCHOOL BOARDS INSTITUTE

We ask you to support and commit to the following fiscal regulatory issues to insure a child’s access to a high-quality, sound basic education is not dependent on their zip code. Your commitment will also prevent your school districts from declaring Educational Insolvency due to lack to fiscal and / or regulatory support.

Commit to a 3 year phase in of an updated Foundation formula that is Equitable, Consistent and Predictable.

Increased broadband capacity for all our school buildings and student homes. Our virtual programs this fall showcased the critical need for this infrastructure in both our rural and city schools.

Raise the salary cap on the aidable portion for BOCES itinerant personnel.

Expense Driven Aids need to be a stand alone budget category and are critical to the fiscal planning of our schools. Our schools plan on these aids as they build their budgets for the school community.

Transportation aid for services that were used during the pandemic must be reimbursed. Several transportation initiatives were required by the Governor’s Executive Orders (delivering food, academic support etc.)

We oppose any mid-year state aid reductions as a promise made is a promise kept to our school community that voted on the budget. This is especially true for our low-wealth high-need schools in your legislative district.

Pandemic Aid that comes from the Federal government needs to go directly to school districts and not to the State government. Those funds are not to be supplanted by the state aid due our school districts.

Fully fund all mandated reports for ESSA regulations.

Support (or propose) legislation that will provide BOCES Aid and state targeted aid for the hiring of school resource officers.

Regulatory Issues Propose and support legislation that will change the burden of proof for CSE litigation from the schools (defendants) to plaintiffs. This will follow the vast majority of the states that have this code in law and will prevent unscrupulous attorneys from filing frivolous lawsuits.

Fund charter schools from their own aid category and not from the host school districts from where their students come from.

Revise the Tax Cap Levy Limit in the following ways: • Eliminate super majority vote • Allow for a minimum base of 2% levy increase • Exclude additional financial school safety issues from the formula (SRO/SPO)

Support legislation that will provide authority to small rural districts to form regional based partnerships that will expand curriculum offerings and programs for students. This concept is already in effect in selected Long Island school districts.