The Council exists for one purpose – to help its members succeed.
Policies adopted in Albany or Washington can shift the odds either for or against success for our members and the schools they help lead. So advocacy – for members, with members, and by members – is one cornerstone in building toward success. The Council’s advocacy staff possesses exceptional expertise in education finance policy.  In past roles, staff members helped negotiate School Aid and other legislation for the Assembly, Senate and Governor. Now that expertise is employed in advocating on behalf of schools, and to support superintendents in their own advocacy on behalf of the communities they serve.

That expertise is never more valuable to school leaders than when the economy falters and governments’ capacity to deliver funding
diminishes.

The Council’s advocacy staff constantly strives to give members the most accurate and timely information possible on developments affecting school funding and policy, both in Albany and in Washington, both to help influence decisions before they are settled by policymakers, and to interpret them once they are enacted into law.

The Council’s advocacy staff also helps members resolve issues with state agencies, and to avoid actions that can lead to problems with regulatory authorities.

School leaders have the one most essential perspective for policymakers to consider. They must do what policymakers should do:  balance what students need with what taxpayers can afford.  Also, they play the pivotal role in translating statewide and national policies into local practices that work for the children and communities they serve.

Ultimately ensuring that the views of school district leaders are thoroughly
considered in policy debates is crucial -  not only to promoting their personal success, but the success of the policies themselves, for all the schoolchildren and taxpayers we have the privilege to serve.

Annual Report: The Annual Report is a yearly publication designed as a review of The Council’s goals, initiatives, programs and events held during the year.

Assistant Superintendent Resource Bank (ASRB) (in-development): The ASRB is an electronic resource network and involves assistant and deputy superintendents with a desire to respond to information requests and to share advice with colleagues. Often, contact information is provided so a dialogue can be established for sharing experiences. As responses are received, they will be compiled and forwarded back to the requesting assistant superintendent. The typical turnaround time is 3-5 days.

*Disclaimer: The ASRB is a service to Council Cabinet members. It may from time-to-time explain ways to adhere to legal requirements but should not be construed and is not in any way legal advice. As with any matter facing a school district, it is advisable to consult the district counsel before acting. Nothing in the ASRB or information from The Council
generally can substitute for formal legal advice.

The Councilgram: Our monthly newsletter is a key source of communication to our members. It includes news and analysis of State and Legal education issues; information on events, superintendent vacancies;
retiree and new superintendent announcements.

E-mail Listserv: Our electronic newsflash provides breaking education news and insights into Albany politics delivered to members by e-mail. It also reminds members about upcoming professional development offerings and events.

EdVANTAGE Blog: The Council uses our blog to express our opinions, comment on events and keep members informed. It also provides an interactive opportunity for our members and readers to post comments. You can access the blog on The Council’s website.

LEAF Professional Development Catalog: The Professional Development Catalog is a yearly publication that provides detailed information on each of the Leadership for Educational Achievement Foundations professional development opportunities.

Research Gateway: The Research Gateway is brought to our members in partnership with the Educational Research Service (ERS). This new gateway updates weekly, acts like a spam filter and allows researchers to find the top 10 articles or reports on topics most important to school leaders. May articles are complimentary. Experienced ERS researchers have done the work for your by combining the Web, electronic libraries and databases and saving you needless searching and sorting through the large number of hits you get from search engines. You can access the ERS at our website www.nyscoss.org.

Snapshot: Published every three years, the Snapshot summarizes the latest data on personal, contractual, retirement and educational issues related to the Superintendency.

Website: The Council maintains a website for general use of members - www.nyscoss.org.

The Council’s legal service for Cabinet Members was developed to provide assistant and deputy superintendents with access to an attorney who will act as a legal advisor, free of charge in the following matters:

•    General Support                          
•    General Education Law Questions
•    Interim Superintendent Contract Negotiations
•    Model Evaluation
•    Model Contract
•    Retirement Planning/Post Retirement

Retirement Services

Retirement Planning: review of contracts to maximize post-employment benefits and identify clauses or restructuring arrangements that may erode a Cabinet Member’s retirement earnings.

Interims: make available a model contract for retirees wishing to work as interim superintendents with districts on a per diem or short-term basis. Our attorneys can counsel retirees on the steps necessary to ensure that these earnings do not jeopardize retirement benefits.

Post-Retirement Representation: The Council can also represent Cabinet Members who discover contract issues that arise after retirement such as TRS determinations.

Contract Support

New Administrators: The Council will represent cabinet members in memorializing initial employment agreements, even before they join as members.

Contract Reviews/Renewals: The Council will review contracts to ensure consistency with state law and regulation and to identify out-of-date clauses that may jeopardize rights, or to identify benefits that should be restructured based on current trends, new statutes or changing personal situations. The Council will assist in memorializing any changes to the contract, negotiated by the Cabinet Member.

No Representation

The Council reserves its right to limit legal services to Cabinet Members, and will not provide legal services to Cabinet Members who have a claim or position adversarial to that of the superintendent or the district, including, but not limited to claims in the following areas:
1.   Separation of service or termination proceedings
2.  Enforcement of contract terms
3.  Due process (3020-a) Proceedings
4.  Litigation against the district  (i.e. civil suits against the District or any of its employees or board members, past or present)

Legal Service Limitations

The Council’s Legal Service is designed to provide Cabinet Members with outside counsel in their personal contract related issues. It cannot supplement or supplant the district’s legal representation. The Council cannot:

•    Provide legal advice concerning district matters.

•    Provide collective bargaining representation.

•    Defend criminal actions. However, after acquittal we may seek to ensure enforcement of the Cabinet Member’s preexisting contract.

•    Defend the management decisions of the cabinet member. These are already indemnified by the  

      District as a matter of state law.

•    Defend the Cabinet Member against actions of the community or district staff.

Cabinet Members taking advantage of The Council’s Legal Service agree to be bound by the terms of that service and to follow the direction of the Executive Director and Counsel.

Professional development opportunities at The Council are provided through our foundation, The Leadership for Educational Achievement Foundation, Inc. (LEAF).

LEAF, a 501(c)3 organization, offers a wide range of professional development opportunities for Cabinet Members developed to augment your expertise and knowledge in educational leadership. Professional development offerings include team-based programs such as Leadership for Student Achievement (LSA), superintendent preparation programs such as the Aspiring Superintendents’ Workshop, held regionally each spring, and the Future Superintendents Academy, a year-long intensive program designed for those intending to seek a superintendency within 12 months of completing the program. LEAF also offers an annual conference in partnership with NYSASCD. The conference includes presentations by national education experts. Past keynote speakers have included Dr. Michael Fullan and Dr. Rick DuFour and Becky DuFour.

In addition to regional workshops and team-based programs, LEAF has worked with a group of assistant superintendents to begin an Annual Spring Conference. Each year we will offer a conference for Cabinet Members featuring keynote addresses by national educational experts, opportunities to share best practices with colleagues through smaller education sessions focused on key issues, and networking opportunities to foster collegiality and support among members through social interaction.

Scholarships

The Raymond R. Delaney Scholarship, a $2500 scholarship sponsored by the Utica National Insurance Group is awarded to a nominated individual enrolled in a graduate study program through which a School District Administrator Certificate or a Doctoral Degree may be earned.

The Pathways to Leadership Scholarships for Minorities and Women, in the amount of $2500 are awarded to nominated minorities and women enrolled in a graduate study program through which the School District Administrator Certificate or Doctoral Degree may be awarded.

Any deputy, associate or assistant chief school administrator of a New York State school district or Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) may
become a Cabinet Level Member of The Council.

To become a Cabinet Member of The Council, fill out a Dues Schedule and Profile Report and return them with payment or purchase order to:

The New York State Council
of School Superintendents
7 Elk Street, Third Floor
Albany, NY 12207