January 2007 Vol. XXI, No. 1

GOVERNOR SPITZER DELIVERS STATE OF THE STATE

Eliot Spitzer gave his first address as Governor to the State Legislature on January 1^st and outlined his agenda for the next four years. Among reforming Government in the areas of campaign finance, lobbying and election, Spitzer spoke to reform he plans for the judiciary, public authorities, the budget and local government. He is simultaneously planning to reduce government spending and property taxes while stimulating the state’s economy and improving its infrastructure. And of course, Spitzer spoke about improving education in New York State. All of these goals, successfully accomplished, Spitzer feels, will unite New Yorkers and make the state what he describes as “One New York.”

Governor Spitzer has married education reform to accountability. He will commit increased resources to school districts in an effort to turn discussions away from equitable funding and to performance. Each new “Spitzer education dollar” will have a string attached. Spitzer will require school districts to shoulder the additional burden to prove where that dollar is being spent and how that dollar has improved performance to justify its expenditure. School districts will be required to invest in programs already “proven to work.” Spitzer also promises to work to provide pre-kindergarten to every four year old in New York, raise the charter school cap with accompanying transition aid and make higher education in the state the “best in America.” Spitzer also promises a property tax cut plan for the middle-class.

A self described “ambitious agenda”, Spitzer has begun 2007 with a long list of goals. We will continue to monitor his progress and keep the Association informed.

NEW BOARD POLICY – LEGAL ADVISORY SERVICES

At the May Board of Directors meeting, the need for an official board policy on requests for legal opinions from Association members was discussed. From time to time, member districts make requests of Association counsel for legal opinions. While many of these requests are fairly straightforward, they often take time for research and preparation of the opinion. The Board adopted the following policy for these requests.

BOARD POLICY

Re: Legal Advisory Services           
November 27, 2006

From time to time, Association members seek to obtain legal opinions, advice or consultation on matters of specific concern to an individual member district from Association counsel. The Association through its counsel have been providing such opinions, advice and consultation on an ad hoc basis without charge to the district. The Board wishes to continue providing such services to individual member districts at Association expense within certain parameters so that such services may be provided evenly throughout the membership and within the Association budget.

Therefore, it is approved that Association counsel may provide district specific legal services to individual member districts as requested by them, including but not limited to legal opinions, advice and consultation., provided as follows:

1) the first five hours of such services in any year shall be provided without charge to the requesting district,

2) requests for such services which require work exceeding five hours may be provided by counsel at the district’s expense as may be agreed by and between the district and counsel, and

3) such expense shall be payable to the Association upon terms and conditions specified in the agreement between the district and Association counsel, shall be evidenced by a district purchase order, and shall be characterized as ‘Association dues-legal services.’

Please feel free to contact the Association with questions or comments about this policy (518-475-9500 or via email, beb@biggerstaff-firm.com).

ANNUAL ASSOCIATION
COMMITTEE DRIVE

With the new legislative year and bi-annual session beginning, more that 15,000 bills are expected to be introduced or re-introduced. Many of these bills are focused on education and related issues. The Association reviews all bills introduced to identify legislation of particular interest to small city school districts. 

Association committees traditionally assist in the process by identifying and defining positions and lobbying strategies. Most communication is through e-mail and phone calls. Committee meetings are generally held via conference call. We welcome your participation in this process. Below is a list of Association committees and the areas they cover.

Current committee membership can be found on the Association website (http://scsd.neric.org). Please feel free to contact our office if you have any questions (518-475-9500 or beb@biggerstaff-firm.com).

OFFICER APPOINTMENT –

Fred Wachtmeister

Fred Wachtmeister, long standing board of education member from Plattsburgh City School District and member of the Association’s board of directors, has graciously agreed to serve as the Association’s secretary.

Mr. Wachtmeister has a distinguished career of service to both the Association and to his district. Plattsburgh Superintendent Jack Short shared with this office that Mr. Wachtmeister has been on the board of education since the 1984-85 school year, serving as Vice President and President twice respectively. Mr. Short also said that the board of education relies on Mr. Wachtmeister as its unofficial historian as he can recall in good detail the many issues and resulting actions that the board has faced over the years. The Plattsburgh board also relies on Mr. Wachtmeister to keep an eye on the happenings in Albany.

Mr. Wachtmeister has always remained dedicated to strengthening the educational system, first through his long and successful career as a social studies teacher in the Peru Central School District and now through his tireless work in Plattsburgh and for the Association. The Association is fortunate to have him as an officer.

SPAM FILTERS

Please be aware that from time to time the Association’s newsletters, legislative alerts and other e-mail correspondence are returned as “undeliverable” due to district spam filters. Our office is working to address this issue and will fax these messages to district offices as they are returned. Association correspondence will come from either Bob Biggerstaff (reb@biggerstaff-firm.com) or Beth (beb@biggerstaff-firm.com). Spam filters can be adjusted to allow messages from these email addresses to be delivered. Please let our office know if there is anything we can do to help make communication successful.

UPCOMING
EVENTS

January 21, 2007
Time 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Board of Directors Meeting
Desmond Hotel, Albany at NYSCOSS mid winter meeting
High Street #28 

March 13, 2007
Legislative Breakfast
Fort Orange Club
Albany, NY 

May 20-21, 2007
Annual Conference
PLACE TBA