Students from Alden Terrace Elementary School in the Elmont School District recently met with district administration officials to discuss the issues they will raise with members of the State Legislature on their upcoming Albany trip.

Gathering in Principal Mary Tabone's office, the students - 6th grader Sasha Ahuja Student Council president; 5th grader Rory Eaton, Student Council vice president; 4th grader Alisha Carrano (student council secretary/treasurer); and 6th grader Shari Byer, member of the student body - listened intently as Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Maria Palandra; Board of Education President, George Paterno; and Board Trustee, Kenneth Williams answered questions from the students regarding their concerns about the need for continued support and funding of the district's programs by the State Legislature.

The students will use the insights they gained from their meeting with the administration and board officials and the feedback they have received from their peers when they meet with State Senators Michael Balboni and Dean Skalos and Assemblyman Thomas Alfano.

Specifically, the Alden Terrace students will focus on four areas that they have determined to be of high priority for the Elmont Schools. They will emphasize to their elected officials the importance of sustained state funding for education. Secondly, they will discuss the need for more space for all of Elmont's schools, along with more efficient use of that space. Technology is an area of extreme importance to the students and they will urge the legislators to increase funding so that Elmont's students are prepared for all of the challenges brought by the 21st century. Finally, the children will thank the state elected officials for their part in funding programs like the after school tutorial program, which helps students master the higher state educational standards. And they will urge Senators Balboni and Skelos and Assemblyman Alfano to do everything they can to continue funding grants that make such a positive difference in the education of the children of Elmont.

Accompanying the students on their "lobbying" trip will be student council teacher advisors Michael Sajecki and Nancy Doherty; Albany Day teacher advisor Kathy Safrey; and several parents, including PTA President, Pamela Byer, who helped to secure PTA funding for the trip.