Your Public Schools In Fiscal Peril

Capital District School Communities Join Together for “Your Public Schools in Fiscal Peril – Running Out of Time and Options”
Hundreds of residents from all 47 local school districts will learn about fiscal crisis facing their schools and how they can help

When: Thursday, January 31 from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. (a reception with the public will be held immediately afterwards.)

What: A broad coalition of parents, educators, school board members and business/civic members – representing all 47 public school districts from seven Capital Region counties – will gather for an unprecedented advocacy rally titled "Your Public Schools in Fiscal Peril - Running Out of Time and Options.” This will be the largest (and first) advocacy forum of its kind in the region.

Where: Columbia High School Auditorium (East Greenbush CSD), 962 Luther Road, East Greenbush

Who: Featured Speaker:
· Dr. Rick Timbs, Executive Director, Statewide School Finance Consortium 
Superintendent speakers representing rural, suburban and urban school districts:
· Bob Horan, Superintendent, Schodack Central School District
· Dr. Marie Wiles, Superintendent, Guilderland Central School District
· Larry Spring, Superintendent, Schenectady City Schools

Parents, board members, educators, business/civic leaders and elected officials

Details: The evening event will include a presentation by Dr. Rick Timbs, a widely-recognized voice on school finance reform, and leaders of three area school districts, who will illustrate the magnitude of the fiscal crisis facing suburban, rural and urban school districts alike unless meaningful action is taken during the 2013 legislative session. Dr. Timbs will provide analysis of Governor Cuomo’s executive budget and local school superintendents will discuss what it means for their schools.

Attendees will also learn what they, as citizen advocates, can do to help address the lack of equitable funding and mandate relief that stands to shortchange a whole generation of school children and unravel hard-won gains in academic achievement.

The 47 districts – representing 112,336 students – have lost more than $110 million in state funding this year through the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA). State aid has also eroded over the past four years, leading to numerous program reductions/eliminations and staffing cuts.

There also will be press availability with speaker Rick Timbs before the event from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Call Communications Specialist Jason McCord at 937-6456 to schedule interview.