Over the past few years Public Schools in New York have suffered
immeasurably. Schools across New York State have lost programs, AP courses, elementary
arts, music and sports programs. In our region alone, our schools have
lost $128M in state funding just due to the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA).
Some districts have fared better than others, managing to hold on to their educational programs and extracurriculars, ours is one of those that has held on so far, but
we are all on the same train heading towards a brick wall- those at the front
of the train are feeling it worse, but only for now. That brick wall is right
around the corner for our students here in Warwick too.
Current funding for public education in New York is abysmal and
getting worse, if we don’t do something to change the way that are schools are funded we will lose them. That sounds crazy, but we are watching it happen as what we
have to offer our children is eroded every year by funding shortfalls that can only
be made up by taking things away from our children.
Sadly, the political will to stand up for our schools is nowhere to be
found, our political leaders have abdicated their constitutional
responsibility to provide a sound basic education for all of our children. This is where we come in... the only thing that will affect change is for all of us to demand of
our leaders that they fix the educational funding problem in NY!
I've been part of a group consisting of Orange County administrators, school board members and school staff that are
planning a regional advocacy event in Middletown for fair and adequate funding for
public education. This event will be held on October 2nd, at 7:00 pm in Middletown, NY.
The Fair Funding
for Our Schools event will feature speaker Dr. Rick Timbs, from the
Statewide School Finance Consortium, who will illustrate in plain language the
crisis in public education funding in New York. He and other speakers will help
us understand what the problem is and what we can do about it. It is so
important that we all show up and send
the message that we are not willing to stand by and allow our educational
system to be taken apart piece by piece.
Formal invitations have been sent out to our regional leaders and
politicians, however the most effective way to encourage people to come is through word
of mouth. We need help in reaching parents and community members in our
designated school districts so that we have a strong turnout.
I hope you will come and share in this important event with your colleagues and friends. Thanks
for helping to spread the word, together we can help save public education in
NY!
Like us on Facebook: Fair Funding for our Schools
Follow us on Twitter: fairEDfundingNY (@fairEDfundingNY)
Name of
Event: Fair Funding for Our Schools
Date: October 2nd,
2013
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Twin
Tower’s Middle School in Middletown NY (112 Grand Ave.)
