ACROSS THE BOARD - January 2016
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2/11 Legislative Forum...A Sit-Down with NYS Legislators
Mark you calendars -- Annual Legislative Forum!
This is your opportunity to sit down with your New York State legislators and discuss the education issues that are critical to your district.  Based on the 2016-17 Executive Budget runs, we need your support to advocate for appropriate funding and legislation. Come prepared to share district budget data and narratives with your legislators and colleagues.   
 
Thursday, February 11; 7 pm - 9 pm  
Purchase Elementary School (Harrison CSD)
2995 Purchase Street, Purchase, NY 10577
To Register, CLICK HERE 
Looking Forward - President's Message
Last month, WPSBA hosted a special Legislative Advocacy meeting.  Attendees included representatives from NYSSBA, area superintendents, the Suburban Consortium and local school boards. The purpose of this meeting was to establish a common ground for our efforts and to create a stronger voice in our advocacy for the children and constituents that we serve.       
Through a consensus-building exercise we agreed that funding, Funding and FUNDING was the over-arching concern.  In the words of one attendee (who probably spoke for all of us): "Show me the money!"
 
While issues like quality assurance and APPR are important, we feel too dangerously close to the end of our runways to take our eyes off of this issue. GEA, Foundation Aid and unfunded mandates continue to plague us and our fiscal survival. We have run out of patience.
In the face of such a predicament, our area's advocates remain strong and united in their convictions and optimistic as we face forward to the challenges of 2016! We are hoping for the best, yet taking nothing for granted. 
~ Stephen O. Jambor, Ph.D, WPSBA President/Brewster BOE
Legislative Advocacy Meeting This Week
Capitol BldgThursday, January 28th from  8 pm - 9:30 pm
Valhalla Kensico School Cafeteria, 320 Columbus Avenue, Valhalla
At this week's LAC meeting, we'll be discussing the Governor's January 13th State of the State Address, analyzing the 2016-17 school district budget runs, and developing an action plan. We hope you'll come and share your district's input.  To Register, CLICK HERE

It's Official; the 2016-17 Tax Levy Cap CPI Rate is 0.12%!
With a CPI factor just over 0%, school districts in our area are bracing for a challenging budget season. The tax levy provides over 85% of school funding for most of our districts, and given the combination of a flat levy and lower than expected 2016-17 school aid runs, projected revenues will not even cover a roll-over budget.

WPSBA has extracted our regional data and is launching a multi-prong public education advocacy campaign for full GEA elimination, increased Foundation Aid funding, and ample state aid to compensate for the 2016-17 State-imposed 0% tax levy limit. Twenty school districts have already approved a Resolution regarding the school funding shortfall and sent it to their legislators and 900 people have already sent a VoterVoice e-letter to legislators requesting legislative support for appropriate school district funding. We encourage you to CLICK HERE to send your own e-letter and to share this link with your community.

We also are partnering with our superintendents to ensure that the APPR assessment moratorium timeline includes a task force of research-based experts and local practitioners to address the need for a valid, reliable, yet flexible accountability process based on multiple measures.
Dine & Network - School Budget Issues to Chew On
Join man_with_money_offer.jpgboard colleagues from neighboring districts for table discussions focusing on the school district budget process.  Possible table topics include: Crafting budgets around the Tax Levy Limit based on 0.12% CPI; Overriding the Levy Limit; Community Communications and Outreach; Other Revenue Sources; Citizens Budget Committee, etc.
Thursday, February 25th from  6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
SW BOCES Career Services, Building "I"
65 Grasslands Road, Valhalla
$20 per person
Fee Event.  Register thru your District Clerk.
For a full list of upcoming events: WPSBA 2015-16 PRINTABLE CALENDAR
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