The Farmingdale Lobby Committee recently met to develop their legislative proposals for the 2007-08 State Budget. They have committed to a letter writing campaign, endorsed by the National School Board Association, asking Federal and State legislators to sign a Pledge to America's Schoolchildren ensuring that America's schoolchildren receive the highest quality public education available. This pledge urges members of Congress to improve the No Child Left Behind Act, help school districts meet the needs of disabled students, support readiness programs for kindergarten age students, collaborate with school districts to improving math and science skills, and attract or train qualified teachers. The Farmingdale Lobby Committee hopes that the signing of this pledge will boost student performance and close the achievement gaps nationwide. Pledge signers will be listed on the website www.pledgetoamericasschoolchildren.org.

The Farmingdale Lobby Committee has developed legislative proposals in order to pursue increases in Federal and State Aid to education. These proposals address unfunded mandates and the changes that can be made to support Long Island school districts, thus positively impacting Farmingdale School District programs.

The legislative proposals are as follows:

- A Regional Cost Factor Must Be a Part of the State Operating Aid Formula: The state needs to consider the fact that regional cost differences provide Long Island schools with less buying power than those in other regions of the New York.

- Support Students at Risk: Special Education and Limited English Proficient students are at high risk for not meeting the new state standards. Creative collaboration programs will be necessary to help these students reach the standards. Additionally, aid tied to special education students should remain uncapped as not to limit school district ability in meeting the needs of these students.

- Teacher Center Aid: The legislature should continue to provide Teacher Center aid that supports staff development programs.

- Wicks Law Exemption: Long Island school construction programs should be exempt from the Wicks Law, just as those in New York City are. The Wicks Law adds millions of dollars to construction costs and costs school districts time due to bidding processes.

- Charter Schools: The state must assure that the funding of charter schools does not adversely affect that of public schools, as it currently does, and that charter schools are held to the same high academic standards as public schools.

- The State Must Continue to Finalize its Budget by April 1: The Governor, Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker must continue to ensure that the New York State budget will be completed on time.

- Two Year State Aid Budget Numbers for School Districts: Developing a methodology that provides for two years of state aid budget numbers for school districts would permit these districts to plan for sustained improvements.

- Tax Refunds Are Not Our Responsibility: The legislature must protect school districts from responsibility for the tax refunds that result from certiorari. These changes should not be part of the school district budget.

- Campaign for Fiscal Equity: As New York City Public Schools receive state aid, Long Island school districts should not be shortchanged.

On Thursday, Nov. 30, the Lobby Committee met with Assemblyman James Conti to discuss the aforementioned proposals. According to Conti, "Long Island school districts have to be ever-vigilant in lobbying their legislators and governors to see that they continue to receive their fair share. I want to see that we are on the same page and fighting the same fight." The Farmingdale Lobby Committee will be meeting with our Legislators over the next several weeks.