On a warm summer night in July, 2007 a small group of community members appointed by the board of education sat around a table in a Manhasset High School board room to introduce themselves, talk about the charge they had been given and devise a work plan for the upcoming school year. The challenge: identify current and proposed federal, state and local laws and regulations that have a deleterious impact on the Manhasset Public School District and advise the board of education on strategies to effectuate change that would benefit the district as a whole. As the members of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Legislative Affairs (CACLA) have discovered over the course of the 2007-08 school year, there are many legal and regulatory requirements which arguably adversely affect the district. The true challenge, however, has been developing meaningful ways to effectuate and implement positive change that will benefit the district for the long term.

The first formal meeting of CACLA was held on September 17, 2007. Led by Chairman Tom Maimone, the members of 2007-2008 CACLA are Mimi Donohue, Ann Marie Fruhauf, Cindy Hutton, David Langner, Theresa McSweeney, Joanne Piluso, Regina Rule, and Robert Saville. The members of CACLA represent a cross-section of the community, having a wide array of talents, professional backgrounds, varying interests and experiences, all of whom have dedicated their time and efforts to the committee. Board of education President Cindy Cardinal has acted as the board's liaison for CACLA, attending the committee's monthly meetings and providing the committee with important information, resources and contact people to assist it with its charge.

CACLA is intent upon persuading lawmakers to make change and has been carefully working to identify and, in some cases provide suggested amendments, to specific laws. Although many federal and state laws, rules and regulations have been targeted by CACLA for examination, its primary focus in the fall/winter 2007-08 was drafting an amendment to Section 3625(1)(a) of the Education law which would allow suburban school districts flexibility in planning their transportation needs by allocating buses and planning routes based on stable patterns of ridership. Current law requires that a seat be reserved for any student eligible for transportation irrespective of actual ridership. Adherence to the law has resulted in the district running half empty buses which adds to traffic and increases fuel costs and emissions in and around the schools. CACLA believes that giving the district more flexibility may allow them to better plan its transportation and perhaps reduce the number of buses needed to execute such plan, all of which can result in increased savings to the taxpayers. CACLA has begun the process of advocating for the changes it recommends by reaching out to other school districts and lawmakers to gain the support necessary to realize change in these laws.

In recent months, CACLA has been investigating and examining proposals being considered by the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief. Chaired by Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, this NYS Commission was recently formed to examine the root causes of high property taxes, identify ways to make the State's property tax system fairer and develop a reasonable and effective school property tax cap to hold the line on property tax growth. CACLA has recently completed a white paper setting forth CACLA's recommendations and responses to ideas put forth which it expects to submit to the Commission for its consideration by the end of April. An interim report of the Commission is expected in mid to late May.

In addition to the research, investigation and writings produced and performed by the committee members, CACLA has welcomed a wide array of guests to its monthly meetings over the course of the year to discuss legislative affairs affecting the district. Invited guests have included NY Senator Craig Johnson, NY Assemblywoman Michele Schimel, Merill Waxman Benlevy, board of education member for Roslyn School District and participant in a similar committee in Roslyn, and Arda Hartounian from the office of the Nassau County Executive. CACLA has also been fortunate to work closely with Manhasset UFSD administrators, such as Superintendent Charlie Cardillo, Assistant Superintendent Dr. William Shine and Assistant Business Superintendent Rosemary Johnson. All of these individuals have given of their time, offered their expertise and have been invaluable resources to the committee and its work.

CACLA has utilized these meetings to urge local representatives to examine and change state laws that create cost with no benefit. Specific laws have been studied and discussed in the committee, and a list of priorities for study next year has been formulated. There are many laws that appear to have little or no purpose, or which impose mandates that should be borne more fairly by funding sources other than local property taxes. The Board of Education can and does alter its plans when it has something pressing to refer to CACLA.

CACLA meets monthly September through June in the Manhasset High School third floor conference room and its meetings are open to the public. Each member of CACLA serves a term of three years and may only serve a maximum of two full three year terms. The terms are staggered so that only one third of the committee seats will be up for appointment in any given year. For more information on CACLA, visit www.manhassetk12.ny.us/district or contact the Manhasset Board of Education.

Submitted by the Citizens Advisory Committee for Legislative Affairs.