Tarrytown UFSD Superintendent Dr. Raymond Sanchez Named as 2025 New York State School Superintendent of the Year

September 23, 2024

Albany, NY - The New York State Council of School Superintendents (The Council and NYSCOSS) announced that they selected Dr. Raymond Sanchez of the Tarrytown UFSD as its Superintendent of the Year for 2025 at it's 2024 Fall Leadership Summit Monday Morning Keynote on September 23, 2024.

Dr. Sanchez will be honored at our Winter Institute & Lobby Day in Albany on March 2-4, 2025, and he will represent New York as the state’s nominee for consideration as the national Superintendent of the Year, awarded by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) at their National Conference on Education in New Orleans on March 6-8, 2025.

“Ray’s recognition as the New York State Superintendent of the Year is a testament to his focus every day on what is important–success and opportunity for every student he serves,” said Council President Lars Clemensen, who serves as the superintendent in Hampton Bays, NY. 

Dr. Clemensen added, “All throughout his career, Ray has been a leader in the superintendency, from driving advocacy initiatives that increased resources in high-need communities across New York State and as an educational leader, creating trajectory-changing opportunities for his students. The Council looks forward to honoring Ray with this award.”

Dr. Sanchez explained, “What has always driven me is a personal maxim: my good intentions are never enough. The hard work lies not in wanting to do the right thing, but in actually doing it. And that requires the efforts of many. I want to thank the communities of Ossining and Tarrytown, the many fine professionals I have worked with, and especially my Boards of Education for encouraging meaningful change on behalf of all children by recognizing that each child brings the potential for achievement and growth– and it is our moral responsibility to nurture and sustain them.”

Dr. Sanchez began his work as superintendent of Tarrytown UFSD on July 1, 2023, after spending most of his career just a few miles up the Hudson River in Ossining, NY, where he brought an energy marked by coalition-building, a focus on equity, and a zeal for community and district advocacy.  

“Ray's recognition as the New York State Superintendent of the year is a testament to his focus every day on what is important-success and opportunity for every student he serves, said Council president Lars Clemensen, who serves as the superintendent in Hampton Bays, NY. 

Dr. Sanchez is extremely proud of the commitment to social justice and equity for all students that exists in both Ossining and Tarrytown. In the latter, a community whose demographic profile closely resembles that of Ossining, he has brought the same passion and the same principles of fairness and individualized focus on the families of the community. He has collaborated with his staff members to peel back the layers of the status quo to isolate unconscious biases, appreciate cultural differences on a more informed level, and use data to drive objective decision-making and resource allocation. 

His ethos centers on the needs of the youngest students to create both systemic and generational change. “The research is clear that the earlier we can get to students, the greater opportunity we have to erase inequities, mitigate negative cycles, and lift young people to greater heights,” he said. Indeed, his focus on creating a full-day Prekindergarten program at Ossining is a testament to his commitment to starting the youngest members of his community (and their families) with resources.

While the focus on the youngest students potentially carries a long-term impact for good, Dr. Sanchez also believes firmly in an integrated community-school model to support ALL students and families, and especially bringing to light the value of family-school-community partnerships. He is particularly proud of programs that leverage relationships with community partners to reimagine schools as ‘hubs’ of support for families seeking resources like health providers, legal counsel, clothing, and housing. Internally, he initiated diversity job fairs and created more focused HR processes anchored by a commitment to diversifying the teacher workforce, providing the highest quality certified staff, and building diversity, equity, and inclusion into HR practices.

Dr. Sanchez is also proud of the dual language programs he has instituted in both Ossining and Tarrytown–programs help all students become bilingual, bi-literate, and bi-cultural, and which contribute significantly to a broader appreciation of the power and promise of diversity and equity efforts. 

“We are delighted for Ray and honored to be part of this recognition,” said Tarrytown UFSD Board of Education President Michelle DeFilippis. “His passion for social justice, his commitment to equity for all students, and his relentless support for the power of diversity is incredibly meaningful to our residents. In his short time in Tarrytown, he has inspired our educators, our families, and our broader community through his tireless efforts to create a fabric of collaboration and pride.”

Dr. Sanchez, who holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Manhattanville College, has a passion for school leadership that extends significantly through his colleagues and many professional organizations, where he has served as both a leader and a mentor. Dr. Sanchez has been on the executive board of NYSCOSS, was the president of both the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents and the Putnam Northern Westchester Curriculum Council and served as a delegate for both AASA (national school administrators association) and the NYS Association for Bilingual Education. Outside of public education, he has been a board member at NY Presbyterian Hospital and the United Way, among other groups. 

“The New York State Superintendent of the Year is a recognition that honors exceptional leadership and this year it is being awarded to Dr. Raymond Sanchez, a superintendent who has demonstrated a commitment to improving outcomes, fostering innovation, and championing the needs of students, teachers, and his community. Dr. Sanchez exemplifies excellence in administration by serving as a visionary leader who inspires others. His work is characterized by a proactive approach to address issues through collaboration, communication, planning, and unwavering dedication to his students. We are proud to have Dr. Sanchez represent New York as the 2025 Superintendent of the Year,” said NYSCOSS Executive Director Charles Dedrick. 

In May 2024, Dr. Sanchez was awarded an honorary doctorate from Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, NY.

Council Provides Testimony on Future of Foundation Aid

August 14, 2024

Questions? Contact:

ALBANY, NY – Today, Bob Lowry, The Council’s Deputy Director for Advocacy, Research, and Communications, is providing testimony on the future of Foundation Aid at a hearing conducted by the State University’s Rockefeller Institute of Government.

Our submitted testimony is available here. 

The testimony outlines a general approach for reviewing the formula, suggests principles to guide review, and recommends some specific changes for adoption or consideration. It concludes by offering observations on enrollment declines, save-harmless funding, and district reserves.

The 2024-25 state budget charged the Rockefeller Institute with producing a report and recommendations by December 1.

Bellmore Superintendent Dr. Joseph Famularo Celebrated as 2024 New York State School Superintendent of the Year

March 4, 2024

ALBANY, NY - The New York State Council of School Superintendents (The Council/NYSCOSS)  chose Dr. Joe Famularo as their 2024 New York State Superintendent for the Year. The Council formally announced Dr. Famularo’s selection at our 2023 Fall Leadership Summit on October 2nd and celebrated his accomplishments and presented the award at our 2024 Winter Institute in Albany on March 4, 2024. As New York’s Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Famularo also represented New York as its nominee for the national Superintendent of the Year, awarded by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) in San Diego, CA in February 2024. 

“Dr. Famularo's unwavering dedication to the advancement of education and his tireless commitment to the betterment of our schools have set an remarkable standard for educational leadership.” 

Bellmore Board of Education President Maryanne Kelly expressed the Board’s pride, saying, "We are exceptionally proud of Dr. Famularo for this well-deserved recognition as New York State Superintendent of the Year. Affectionately known as 'Dr. Joe' among our staff, he has always been recognized as a multifaceted educator, musician, presenter, and author. Driven by his collaborative approach, he places children at the heart of our collective focus. We have been honored to have Dr. Joe as a valued member of the Bellmore Schools for 32 years, including the past 16 years of exemplary service as Superintendent of Schools."

Dr. Famularo further added, "Our district's mission is to foster an environment where everyone actively 'Leads and Learns.' This isn't just a statement; it's a living practice embodied daily by each member of our school community, united in our dedication to 'Inspire to Aspire.' I am just one part of an exceptional team that believes in the boundless potential and unique aspirations of every student. Our vision is a future where every student not only dares to dream but also possesses the tools, guidance, and motivation to transform those dreams into reality."

Dr. Joe Famularo holds a doctorate in educational leadership and possesses seven New York State certifications, including five teaching certifications in the areas of mathematics (7-12), special education (K-12), reading (K-12), elementary education (N-6), and music (K-12). His career journey began three decades ago as a teacher, progressing through roles as an assistant principal, director, principal, assistant superintendent for instructional services, and culminating in his current role as superintendent of schools, all within the Bellmore school district.

Mrs. Kelly emphasized, "Dr. Joe's extensive experience and impressive credentials equip him with a comprehensive knowledge base to address and lead with specialized expertise in all facets of our school community. His forward-thinking mindset and belief in our 'Bellmore Stars Education Program,' coupled with his efforts in developing and promoting our Leadership Principles and Star Core Values of respect, dedication, integrity, trust, and teamwork, have empowered all Bellmore Star Students to consistently thrive in our mission to 'Lead and Learn.'

Under Dr. Joe's visionary leadership, Bellmore's educational landscape has flourished, leading the district to become the first in New York State and the second globally to be recognized as a Lighthouse District for Leadership by FranklinCovey Education. Leadership is deeply ingrained in every facet of the school community, exemplified by the leadership roles undertaken by students themselves. The Bellmore schools regularly host visiting schools from the region for a "Leadership Tour" led by their own students. 

A highly skilled musician, Dr. Joe has ensured that the arts have flourished in Bellmore, earning the district recognition from numerous regional and national music organizations. He takes pride in collaborating with Bellmore's music educators to implement innovative programs that inspire young learners. These initiatives encompass a wide range of offerings, including introductory strings for second-grade students, ukulele instruction tailored for third to sixth graders, and a fifth and sixth-grade musical theatre club that consistently stages remarkable annual productions. Dr. Joe's influence extends beyond the administrative role, as he annually performs alongside Bellmore's dedicated teachers with their school band known as "The Belltones."

In addition to his instrumental contributions, Dr. Joe has composed several songs for students, with a notable example being the touching composition titled "Be Strong and Lead Together," dedicated to the Class of 2020 students who graduated during the pandemic. During the lockdown period, he used his Twitter platform (@doctorfamularo) to personally engage with district students. Every week, he serenaded them with heartfelt renditions of "Happy Birthday" while simultaneously providing informal music lessons, showcasing a new instrument each week in a series of 10 episodes.

Dr. Joe Famularo has previously served as president of the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents, president of SCOPE Educational Services, and currently holds the role of Co-chair of NYSCOSS' Legislative Committee. He has garnered numerous prestigious accolades, such as the National School Development Council Leadership Award, BOCES Education Partner Award, National PTA Life Achievement Award, SCOPE Administrator Service Award, and the PTA Distinguished Service Award, among others.

A highly accomplished educator and leader, Dr. Joe Famularo's dedication to education and leadership is far reaching. In addition to his significant contributions in Bellmore, he has authored a bestselling book on leadership that has garnered widespread acclaim for its insightful perspectives and practical guidance. Moreover, Dr. Famularo's commitment to nurturing the potential of young learners is evident in his authorship of several children's books. These books serve as invaluable resources, helping children acquire essential life skills and fostering the confidence needed to embark on their unique life journeys. Dr. Famularo's literary contributions underscore his unwavering commitment to the holistic development of students, both within and beyond the classroom.

NYSCOSS Executive Director Charles Dedrick said, “NYSCOSS is thrilled to have Dr. Famularo as our 2024 New York State Superintendent of the Year.” Dedrick added, “Joe brings a level of enthusiasm to the superintendency that truly makes him stand out as a leader among leaders. He has been involved with NYSCOSS as long as I can remember whether it be helping new superintendents to adjust to their position, leading his county superintendent group or simply playing his guitar at our conferences. Joe has become a role model for other superintendents across the state.” 

Dr. Joe Famularo derives his inspiration from various sources but, most importantly, from his cherished family. His beloved wife Ann, herself an educator, along with their three children and son-in-law, Eric, Emma, Amanda, and Mike, continually provide him with perspective and inspiration. As Dr. Joe aptly puts it, "They inspire me and make me a better person every day."

In closing, Dr. Joe Famularo emphasized that being an educational leader is both an honor and a profound responsibility, one that demands constant innovation and fresh approaches to inspire students to aspire to their fullest potential and pursue their life dreams. Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Joe stated, "I have dedicated 32 years of my life to Bellmore, with the privilege of serving as Superintendent of Schools for half of those years. I am profoundly grateful to every member of the Bellmore Star staff for their unwavering commitment to our students. As part of our steadfast commitment to continuous improvement, I look forward to countless opportunities to nurture our Community of Learners and empower all children to Lead and Learn.” 

"We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Joe on this richly deserved honor and eagerly anticipate his ongoing contributions to leading our district and the entire state," remarked Board President Kelly. "We look forward to celebrating this achievement throughout the year."

Easier to Read School Aid Run

January 24, 2024

Questions? Contact:

ALBANY, NY – The Council's version of an easier to read School Aid run for Governor Kathy Hochul's proposed budget is now available online.

To access the spreadsheet, please copy this link into your browser https://www.nyscoss.org/nyscossdocs/Advocacy2324/2401_BT_Report1.xlsx.The spreadsheet includes table which will produce four reports for any district (hitting "Ctrl P" on any tab will print a report for that tab):

“All Aids” shows aid results by category with 2023-24 and proposed 2024-25 amounts presented side-by-side, with year-to-year change and percentage change. The format makes it easy to identify categories experiencing increases and decreases and which categories may be most influencing the bottom-line total change.

"Save-Harmless Summary" is a first-time addition to our spreadsheet. This tab will show how much, if any, a district is due to receive as save-harmless funding and the reduction in Foundation Aid it would experience as a result of the proposed changes to save-harmless. To illustrate the potential impact of the reduction, this report calculates the reductions as percentages of 2023-24 district total general fund expenditures and 2023-24 district tax levy, providing a sense of the magnitude of budget cuts or tax increases need to offset the aid loss. 

“Foundation Aid Analysis” shows Foundation Aid amounts as calculated under the Governor’s proposal and under the formula as under current law and the difference between the two calculations. As explained further through the link at the end of this article, the Governor proposes two changes to Foundation Aid—lowering an inflation factor and cutting save-harmless. For nearly all districts not on save-harmless, the lower inflation adjustment reduces the size of the increases by about 1.4 percentage points from what they would receive under current law. This tab also shows how some of the key district variables in calculating Foundation Aid have changed over time.

"Estimate Change Over Time" shows whether calculated aid amounts by category for 2023-24 have changed since the time the current state budget was enacted last May. Any variances are due to changes in data, not actions by policymakers. This tab also shows differences by aid category for 2024-25 between the Governor’s proposal and what districts would receive, if current formulas were continued without change. Here, variances can be due to proposed formula changes, but the only formula the Governor proposes to change is Foundation Aid.

Here is a one-page piece which explains the proposed changes to Foundation Aid.

Please write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.

Statement of NYS Council of School Superintendents on Governor Hochul's Proposed 2024-25 State Budget

January 17, 2024

Contact:

Albany, NY - New York State Council of School Superintendents Executive Director Charles Dedrick issued the following statement on Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2024-25 state budget:

“Governor Hochul’s proposed 2024-25 state budget would undermine one of the signature accomplishments of her administration—achieving full funding of the Foundation Aid formula.

“The proposal would reduce by over $400 million the Foundation Aid level called for by the formula now in law. That proposed increase—2.1%—would be less than what the budget forecasts for inflation in the coming year. Districts strain now to find resources to offer pay needed to keep and recruit necessary employees.  

“The Foundation Aid changes would further imperil already struggling districts. Past Foundation Aid increases and now expiring federal assistance have enabled widespread improvements in key student services. But repeatedly we hear from superintendents that their schools have taken on helping students and families with many needs beyond academics—health care, child care, after school care, mental health services, food assistance, and more. Many say they cannot meet all the needs in their community. Many, especially in rural areas, say their schools are the only agencies where families can find that help. 

“We thank the Governor for proposing to maintain full funding of reimbursement aids for schools and for prioritizing improving mental health services for schoolchildren and other New Yorkers in need.

“We look forward to working with the Governor, legislators, and partners in education to produce a final budget that does our very best to support all students, everywhere in our state.”

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The New York State Council of School Superintendents is a professional and advocacy organization with over a century of service to school superintendents and assistant superintendents in New York State. The Council provides more than 875 members with numerous professional development opportunities, publications and personal services while advocating for public education and the superintendency.

LEAF, Inc. Director Vren Banks Named to 2023 Power Player in Education List

October 11, 2023 

SuperEval Created New Leaders Learning From Leaders Podcast Highlighting New York Superintendent Leaders

July 27, 2023 

Dr. Gladys Cruz, District Superintendent, Questar II BOCES Sworn in as 2023-24 President of AASA, The School Superintendents Association

July 6, 2023 

Dr. Jason Andrews Elected as President of the New York State Council of School Superintendents

July 6, 2023 

Nominations Open for the 2024 New York State Superintendent of the Year Award

April 1, 2021

Questions?

Contact:
Theresa Wutzer Moore
Associate Director
NYSCOSS
theresa@nyscoss.org
518.694.4884

• Ensure there are no application process impediments to building an ample nomination pool that is representative of New York State;
• Provide candidates professional and due consideration and support through the nomination and applicant process; and
• Sufficiently celebrate the process and award itself as open to all members; and

Engaged and Streamlined Application Process

To ensure that as many qualified candidates who truly reflect the New York State landscape are included for consideration, the Distinguished Service Committee members will invite various stakeholder groups to nominate a candidate who they believe has significantly advanced their work. Those invitations were sent in April and included BOCES Joint Management Teams and members of the Educational Conference Board.They committee also recommend that individuals continue to nominate a superintendent leader in their region who they think meet the criteria. The committee also created a new timeline for the application process and will continue to use the AASA SOY portal for the modified application.

• Nominations of an individual on the AASA portal https://soy.aasa.org/ are due by May 19, 2023.
• Nominees will be individually notified of their nomination. They will create their own login on https://soy.aasa.org/ portal to complete a shorter version of the application process. Nominees will provide their CV (complete Education, Administrative Experience, and School District tabs on the portal) and answer two of the four essays presented in the portal by June 16, 2023. 
• The Distinguished Service Committee will review the basic submitted materials for each nominated candidate over the summer and then select the 2024 New York State Superintendent of the Year. 

Final Application Process

The selected New York candidate will be notified after selections and be invited to complete the more extensive AASA application process with support from the Distinguished Service Committee to ensure its competitiveness for national consideration. The final two essays, along with additional support material and artifacts under the Professional Growth tab will be required. This process allows The Council to:

• Support a candidate’s efforts to build a competitive, national candidate package.
• Harness the experience of former New York State Superintendent of the Year winners to lend perspective from the experience.
• Engage the Distinguished Service Committee’s institutional knowledge to provide statewide perspective.
• Collaborate with Council staff to construct a marketable, competitive, and complete deliverable for AASA and use within New York State.

The deadline to complete the entire application is October 13, 2023. The Council is required to submit the final application to AASA by November 1st for inclusion in the National Superintendent of the Year process.  

After Application Submission

Once the application has been submitted to AASA via the portal, The Council will coordinate an announcement in November with the selected candidate's school district. We will announce our New York State winner at the 2023 Fall Leadership Summit and honor them and present the award at our 2024 Winter Institute in March. The application submission via the portal will then allow AASA's national blue-ribbon panel to review the application so they can narrow the field to four candidates from across the country. 

• Each January, AASA announces their four finalists who will participate in interviews and a moderated press conference. The National Superintendent of the Year is announced at AASA’s National Conference on Education typically held in February each year. All state superintendents of the year are also recognized.
• A $10,000 scholarship is awarded to a student from the high school from which the National Superintendent of the Year graduated from AASA.

Selection Criteria

Each candidate will be judged on the following attributes and skills:

• Leadership for Learning – creativity in successfully meeting the needs of students in his or her school system.
• Communication – strength in both personal and organizational communication.
• Professionalism – constant improvement of administrative knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and motivation to others on the education team. 
• Community Involvement – active participation in local community activities and an understanding of regional, national, and international issues. 

Dr. Kevin McGowan, Brighton Named 2023 AASA National School Superintendent of the Year

Announcement Made at AASA's National Conference on Education / February 16, 2023

San Antonio Texas - Dr. Kevin C. McGowan, superintendent of Brighton Central Schools in Rochester, N.Y., has been named the 2023 AASA National Superintendent of the Year®. Today’s announcement came at the National Conference on Education, hosted by AASA, The School Superintendents Association.  

VIDEO: Click here to see the National Superintendent of the Year® announcement and remarks.

VIDEO: Click here to see the 2023 NYS Superintendent of the Year award ceremony and remarks. 

Now in its 36th year, the National Superintendent of the Year program is co-sponsored by AASA, Corebridge Financial (formerly known as AIG Life & Retirement) and First Student and celebrates the contributions and leadership of public school superintendents. 

The other National Superintendent of the Year finalists were:

• PJ Caposey, Meridian Community Unit School District #223, Stillman Valley, Ill.
• Mathew Hillman, Northfield Public Schools, ISD 659, Northfield, Minn.
• Trent North, Douglas County School System, Douglasville, GA

"We're on the right path," McGowan, when asked in January what it means to be a National Superintendent of the Year finalist. "The work that's happening in our district for children is approaching a place where people are noticing the gaps we've closed for children, the work that's gone into that and the leadership that's been provided to support each child and each family. This is really such a recognition of that work."

"Congratulations to Kevin McGowan, a proven leader in public education and inspiration to the Brighton Central Schools community," Said Terri Fiedler, president of retirement services, Corebridge Financial. "Corebridge Financial is honored to support school superintendents, and we thank this year's finalists for their commitment to students, teachers and staff."

Council President Martha Group also acknowledged, “Kevin is recognized as a model of leadership for superintendents and educators throughout the greater educational community. His vision and commitment to children coupled with his thoughtful, deliberate, respectful, and selfless approach to meaningful state and local policy change, and developing and coaching current and future leaders is immeasurable. Recognizing Kevin as the 2023 New York State Superintendent of the Year last September and now as the 2023 National Superintendent of the Year serves to highlight how we all can embrace the challenges of the 21st Century and ensure that every child, every family, and each of our public schools continues to thrive.”

"It is an honor to congratulate Kevin McGowan on being named the 2023 National Superintendent of the Year," said John Kenning, CEO and president, First Student. "We appreciate how vital superintendents are to the future of our students and the communities we serve. Superintendent McGowan and our three other finalists selected for their prestigious recognition represent the hallmark of education excellence. First Student is proud to partner with AASA in celebrating the profound contributions these leaders are making to create positive learning environments in our classrooms."

Council Executive Director Charles Dedrick, Ed.D. said, “Congratulations to this year’s national superintendent of the year selection of Kevin McGowan. I have known Dr. McGowan through all his years as a superintendent and want to congratulate him on this important achievement. Kevin was president of the NYSCOSS Executive Committee at the beginning of COVID in 2020. He led the organization and our superintendents during that most difficult period. Dr. McGowan truly exemplifies the fact that leadership matters.” 

"Navigating the myriad of challenges that school district face on an ongoing basis requires unparalleled leadership. Superintendent Kevin McGowan exemplifies a leader who is excelling on the job on behalf of the learning community he serves, and I am so pleased to congratulate him as the 2023 National Superintendent of the Year," said Daniel A. Domenech, executive director, AASA. It is truly an honor to recognize Kevin, as well as our other three finalists, PJ Caposey, Mathew Hillmann, and Trent North, for serving as champions for children and empowering their students to lead us into a better world. I thank Corebridge Financial and First Student for supporting our program.

The AASA National Superintendent of the Year program is open to all U.S. superintendents who plan to continue in the profession. The program also honors Canadian and other international school superintendents. The applicants were measured against the following criteria:

- Leadership for Learning: creativity in successfully meeting the needs of students in the school system;
- Communication: strength in both personal and organizational communication;
- Professionalism: constant improvement of administrative knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and motivation to others on the education team; and
- Community involvement: active participation in local community activities and an understanding of regional, national, and international issues.

A $10,000 college scholarship will be presented in the name of the 2023 New York State Superintendent of the Year to a student attending the high school from which the superintendent graduated, or the school now serving in the same area.

For more information about the program, contact Jennifer Rooney, AASA director, meetings, and awards, at jrooney@aasa.org. Click here to access a list of the AASA 2023 State Superintendents of the Year. For more information about the New York State Superintendent of the year program contact Theresa Wutzer Moore, Associate Director, NYSCOSS at theresa@nyscoss.org.

Regarded as the most comprehensive professional learning and networking event for school superintendents and administrators, AASA's National Conference on Education addresses the most critical issues affecting public education today, including leading through the COVID-19 pandemic, health and wellness, equity in education and emotional learning, personalizing education, technology and school safety. 

For more information about the AASA National Conference on Education, access AASA's Conference Daily Online.  

NYSCOSS will honor Dr. Kevin McGowan at our 2023 Winter Institute on Monday, March 6, 2023. Thanks to these partners for sponsoring special events related to this important program including Campus Construction Management Group, Day Automation, SEI Design Group, SuperEval and ThoughtExchange.

More About Dr. Kevin C. McGowan, Superintendent and the Brighton Central School District

Dr. McGowan has been the Superintendent of the Brighton Central School District since 2009. He began his career as an elementary teacher in the Starpoint Central School District before becoming a High School Assistant Principal at Iroquois High School and then an elementary principal at Wales Primary School. Prior to Brighton, Kevin was the Superintendent of the Warsaw Central School District in Wyoming County.   

Under his leadership in Brighton, the district has emphasized that excellence is for everybody. Brighton has closed achievement gaps by focusing on the needs of each individual child. Other recent highlights for the district include:   

• Niche.com ranked BCSD as the No. 1 district in both the Rochester area and Upstate New York in its 2022 Best School Rankings.
• Niche ranked Brighton High School as the No. 1 high school in the Rochester area and Twelve Corners Middle School as the No. 2 middle school. 
• Niche also ranked the district No. 1 for best places to teach in the Rochester area, No. 1 for best teachers in the Rochester area. 
• Brighton High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2018 and a NYS Reward School for increased student achievement and closing gaps in student performance in 2017. 
• BHS was named one of Newsweek’s Top 500 STEM High Schools in its nationwide 2020 ranking. BHS was ranked No. 1 in the Rochester area, No. 10 in New York, and No. 117 in the country for its excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 
• Twelve Corners Middle School was re-designated as an Essential Elements: School to Watch for 2021. This was the sixth time TCMS was selected. 
• Council Rock Primary School became the first primary school in the United States to receive an International Habits of Mind School of Excellence Award in 2019. 

Kevin is a graduate of Canisius College with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a master's degree in Educational Leadership and Supervision. Kevin completed his doctoral work in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University at Buffalo. His dissertation was selected for presentation at the graduate research conference at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. 

Kevin previously served as president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents and president of the Monroe County Council of School Superintendents. He currently leads the Leadership for Educational Achievement Foundation, Inc. (LEAF, Inc.) as president and is a member of the National Governing Board of the American Association of School Administrators. He is also active in mentoring and coaching superintendents and aspiring superintendents throughout the state. 

Most importantly, Kevin proudly holds the title of husband and dad in his Brighton household. Among his three children are two sons, one a high school senior who constantly reminds him of the need for more snow days, additional free periods, and better school food; one in college who bemoans the same concerns from his K-12 days; and a daughter in fifth grade who seems to enjoy her dad being in her classroom slightly more than her brother does and is generally more appreciative of his performance. His children and exceptionally supportive wife, an educator herself, help him keep perspective and focus our most important priorities - the needs of each and every child and all their families.  

Easier to Read School Aid Run - and Foundation Aid Analysis

February 9, 2023

Questions? Contact:

ALBANY, NY – Check out our version of an easier to read School Aid run. The spreadsheet will produce three reports for any district:

“All Aids” shows aid results by category with 2022-23 and proposed 2023-24 amounts presented side-by-side, with year-to-year dollar and percentage change. This makes it easier to identify which formulas are driving changes in total aid.

“Foundation Aid Analysis” shows each district’s base year and proposed Foundation Aid amounts and what its funded Foundation Aid would be if there no save-harmless or minimum percentage increases in aid. It also presents key aid factors for 2023-24, 2022-23 and 2007-08 -- the year the formula became law. This can help illuminate what a district is projected to receive a large boost in aid or in the proposed 3% minimum increase. 

"Estimate Change Over Time" shows how estimates for each aid category for the 2022-23 school year have changed between April, when the current state budget was enacted, and now. 

Here is a link to access and use the spreadsheet. It may take a while to load. Once it does, enter a district’s six digit BEDS Code to create a report. To look up a code for any district, click on the tab named “CODE LIST” at the bottom of the screen. 

Superintendent Survey Finds Mission of Schools Expanding in Wake of COVID-19; State and Federal Aid is Enabling Wide Improvements in Key Students Services

November 30, 2022

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Brighton Superintendent Dr. Kevin C. McGowan Selected as 2023 New York State School Superintendent of the Year

September 19, 2022

ALBANY, NY - The New York State Council of School Superintendents (The Council) has chosen Dr. Kevin C. McGowan as their 2023 New York State Superintendent of the Year. The Council formally announced Dr. McGowan's selection at our 2022 Fall Leadership Summit on September 19th and will fully celebrate his accomplishments and present the award at our 2023 Winter Institute in Albany on March 5-7, 2023.

Brighton Central School District will be hosting members of NYSCOSS for their official announcement at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3 at the Central Administration Building, 2035 Monroe Ave. Members of the media are invited to the event to interview NYSCOSS Executive Director Chuck Dedrick and Dr. McGowan.

“Kevin McGowan is an extraordinary leader,” said NYSCOSS President Martha Group, the superintendent of the Vernon Verona Sherrill School District. She added, “His deep commitment to the success of all students, families, and educators is woven throughout the Brighton Central School District. It is demonstrated by the whole district’s commitment to ensuring that: 

• All students feel safe, valued, included, and challenged.
• Every child is advocated for and connected.
• All families are engaged, respected, and appreciated partners.
• Every staff member is valued, supported, inspired, and committed.”

“Kevin is an extraordinary leader. His deep commitment to the success of all students, families, and educators is woven throughout the Brighton Central School District.” 

As New York’s Superintendent of the Year, Dr. McGowan will represent New York as its nominee for national Superintendent of the Year, awarded by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) February 16-18, 2023, in San Antonio, TX.  

The candidates for Superintendent of the Year were judged on the following attributes and skills: Leadership for learning, communication, professionalism, and community involvement. 

Board President Davis added, “The entire school district is proud of this award. Dr. McGowan has consistently put our students first, and demonstrated a collaborative philosophy that involves students, their families, staff, and the community. Kevin is a role model in terms of his integrity, selflessness, and work ethic. Students are at the core of everything that Dr. McGowan does. He focuses each day on how Brighton schools can be better, working with the students, their families, and staff to set and maintain high standards. We are proud to be a school district under his leadership that is unafraid to challenge the status quo, and hear all voices.” 

Dr. McGowan has been the Superintendent of the Brighton Central School District since 2009. He began his career as an elementary teacher in the Starpoint Central School District before becoming a High School Assistant Principal at Iroquois High School and then an elementary principal at Wales Primary School. Prior to Brighton, Kevin was the Superintendent of the Warsaw Central School District in Wyoming County.   

Under his leadership in Brighton, the district has emphasized that excellence is for everybody. Brighton has closed achievement gaps by focusing on the needs of each individual child. Other recent highlights for the district include: 

• Niche.com ranked BCSD as the No. 1 district in both the Rochester area and Upstate New York in its 2022 Best Schools Rankings.  

• Niche ranked Brighton High School as the No. 1 high school in the Rochester area and Twelve Corners Middle School as the No. 2 middle school. 

• Niche also ranked the district No. 1 for best places to teach in the Rochester area, No. 1 for best teachers in the Rochester area. 

• Brighton High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2018 and a NYS Reward School for increased student achievement and closing gaps in student performance in 2017. 

• BHS was named one of Newsweek’s Top 500 STEM High Schools in its nationwide 2020 ranking. BHS was ranked No. 1 in the Rochester area, No. 10 in New York, and No. 117 in the country for its excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

• Twelve Corners Middle School was re-designated as an Essential Elements: School to Watch for 2021. This was the sixth time TCMS was selected. 

• Council Rock Primary School became the first primary school in the United States to receive an International Habits of Mind School of Excellence Award in 2019. 

Kevin is a graduate of Canisius College with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a master's degree in Educational Leadership and Supervision. Kevin completed his doctoral work in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University at Buffalo. His dissertation was selected for presentation at the graduate research conference at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. 

Council President Martha Group also acknowledged, “Kevin is recognized as a model of leadership for superintendents and educators throughout the greater educational community. His vision and commitment to children coupled with his thoughtful, deliberate, respectful, and selfless approach to meaningful state and local policy change, and developing and coaching current and future leaders is immeasurable. Recognizing Kevin as the 2023 New York State Superintendent of the year serves to highlight how we all can embrace the challenges of the 21st Century and ensure that every child, every family, and each of our public schools continues to thrive.”

Kevin previously served as president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents and president of the Monroe County Council of School Superintendents. He currently leads the Leadership for Educational Achievement Foundation, Inc. (LEAF, Inc.) as president and is a member of the National Governing Board of the American Association of School Administrators. He is also active in mentoring and coaching superintendents and aspiring superintendents throughout the state. 

Council Executive Director Charles Dedrick, Ed.D. said, “Congratulations to this year’s superintendent of the year selection Kevin McGowan. I have known Dr. McGowan through all his years as a superintendent and want to congratulate both him and THE COUNCIL’S Distinguished Service Committee for his selection. Kevin was president of the NYSCOSS Executive Committee at the beginning of COVID in 2020. He led the organization and our superintendents during that most difficult period. Dr. McGowan truly exemplifies the fact that leadership matters.” 

Most importantly, Kevin proudly holds the title of husband and dad in his Brighton household. Among his three children are two sons, one a high school senior who constantly reminds him of the need for more snow days, additional free periods, and better school food; one in college who bemoans the same concerns from his K-12 days; and a daughter in fifth grade who seems to enjoy her dad being in her classroom slightly more than her brother does and is generally more appreciative of his performance. His children and exceptionally supportive wife, an educator herself, help him keep perspective and focus our most important priorities - the needs of each and every child and all their families.  

2022-2023  New York State Superintendent of the Year Award Announcement Coming Soon!

September 16, 2022

Questions About the New Process?

Contact:
Theresa Wutzer Moore
Associate Director
NYSCOSS
theresa@nyscoss.org
518.694.4884

• Ensure there were no application impediments to building an ample nomination pool that is representative of New York State;
• Provide candidates professional and due consideration and support through the nomination and applicant process; and
• Sufficiently celebrate the process and award itself as open to all members.

Selection Criteria

Each candidate was judged on the following attributes and skills:

• Leadership for Learning – creativity in successfully meeting the needs of students in his or her school system.
• Communication – strength in both personal and organizational communication.
• Professionalism – constant improvement of administrative knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and motivation to others on the education team. 
• Community Involvement – active participation in local community activities and an understanding of regional, national, and international issues. 

Statement of New York State Council of School Superintendents on Uvalde, Texas School Shooting Horror

May 25, 2022

Questions? Contact:

Please write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.  

Statement of New York State Council of School Superintendents on Buffalo Supermarket Shooting

May 16, 2022

Questions? Contact:

Please write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.  

2022-23 School Aid Runs for the New State Budget

April 13, 2022

Questions? Contact:

Albany, NY - The state budget passed by the Legislature includes a $2.07 billion increase in School Aid. For a better sense of how the new state budget affects any district check out our spreadsheet to produce an easier to read School Aid run. 

The spreadsheet will produce three reports for any district: 

• “All Aids” shows aid results by category with 2021-22 and 2022-23 amounts presented side-by-side, with year-to-year dollar and percentage change. This makes it easier to identify which formulas are driving changes in total aid.
  
  
• “Foundation Aid Analysis” shows where each district’s new Foundation Aid amount would place it in relation to full funding. It also presents key aid factors for 2022-23 and 2007-08 –the year the formula first became law. This can help illuminate why a district is projected to receive a large boost in aid or the proposed 3% minimum increase.
  
  
• “Change in Estimates Over Time” shows how estimates for each aid category for the 2021-22 school year have changed between April, when the current state budget was enacted, in January when the Governor’s budget was issued, and in the just passed state budget for the year ahead.
  
  
• The change in estimates report also compares aid estimates for 2022-23 under the Governor’s budget and the enacted budget. The enacted budget adds $100 million for expansion of full-day prekindergarten. Data updates result in a further net increase of $64 million statewide, but individual districts may experience either increases or decreases in their estimated aid due compared to the Governor’s budget.

Please call or write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.
  

East Syracuse Minoa Superintendent Dr. Donna J. DeSiato Honored as 2022 New York State School Superintendent of the Year

March 7, 2022

Albany, NY – The New York State Council of School Superintendents (The Council) chose longtime East Syracuse Minoa Central School District Superintendent Dr. Donna J. DeSiato as its New York State Superintendent of the Year.

The selection of Dr. DeSiato was formally announced at The Council's 2021 Fall Leadership Summit on September 26-28 in Saratoga, and was fully celebrated at our Winter Institute in Albany on March 7, 2022. 

As New York’s Superintendent of the Year, Dr. DeSiato represented New York as its nominee for national Superintendent of the Year, awarded by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) in Nashville this past February.

“I have been honored to work with Dr. DeSiato on the Executive Committee of The Council over the years and I’m simply delighted for this recognition of Donna’s extraordinary leadership,” said Council President Dr. Phyllis S. Harrington, a fellow superintendent who leads the Oceanside UFSD. “With a strategic planning mindset, relentless attention to detail, embrace of inclusionary practices and broad individual involvement, Donna proudly exemplifies the power of school leaders to bring meaningful change to our communities.” 

“She is the quintessential 21st century school leader, a professional who authentically believes in the value of inclusivity and partnership.” 

The STEM programming at ESM is a particular source of pride for Dr. DeSiato. ESM has been recognized for advancements and accomplishments in STEM learning at the local, state, and national level. In 2015 ESM was selected as 1 of only 27 "ecosystems" across the United States to pilot the multi-year national science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) Ecosystems Initiative. The district is a nationally recognized STEM Learning Ecosystem in collaboration with business, higher education, and community partners. Today, ESM continues its involvement as one of 84 communities now recognized in the U.S. as part of the national STEM Learning Ecosystem. 

Dr. DeSiato preaches the power of business partnerships, not for fundraising purposes, but for the vital impacts on the post-secondary prospects of its graduates. ESM is recognized for developing a broad array of career pathways including innovative STEM learning models in partnership with business, community and higher education with the Core Federal Credit Union, King & King Architects, Siemens, SUNY ESF, LeMoyne College, Syracuse University, Onondaga Community College and the Village of Minoa, along with the study of the development of pharmaceutical drugs through RxeSearch: An Educational Journey supported by Bristol Myers Squibb. 

Most recently in 2018-19, ESM launched the first Aviation Career Pathway High School Courses in New York State and the ESM Spartan Academy as one of 19 Early College High Schools in New York State. In 2013 the district was awarded the “Be the Change for Kids Innovation Award” by the Nanoscale College of Science and Engineering and New York State School Board Association and in 2015 ESM was recognized nationally at the White House as one of the first STEM Learning Ecosystems. 

Dr. DeSiato was the first female to lead ESM and is the first female school leader selected as New York Superintendent of the Year since 2016. As a recognized woman in leadership, she was instrumental in the inaugural convening of the Central New York Chapter of the Association for Women in Administration. Dr. DeSiato is a Trustee at Onondaga Community College, President of the Syracuse University Study Council and serves on the Executive Committee of the New York State Council of School Superintendents and the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority. 

Dr. DeSiato was awarded the 2015 Margaret Ashida STEM Leadership Award by the New York State STEM Education Collaborative, the STEM Woman of the Year Award by the CNY STEM Hub in 2016 and the STEM Outreach Individual of the Year 2020 Award by TACNY. Dr. DeSiato has presented on Innovative Learning Models, STEM and 21st Century Learning at the national conferences of AASA, and the National School Boards Association.

NYSCOSS Executive Director Charles Dedrick said, “Dr. DeSiato is a tremendous selection by our Distinguished Service Committee to honor as the 2021-2022 New York State Superintendent of the Year.  I have always found Donna to be the epitome of what a superintendent is supposed to be; caring, thoughtful, helpful, learned and skilled in leadership. It is clear from our interactions over the years how much she cares for her community and the children she serves so well. All of us at NYSCOSS congratulate her and wish her all the best as she moves on to compete for national superintendent of the year.”

Easier to Read School Aid Run - and Foundation Aid Analysis

February 9, 2022

Questions? Contact:

ALBANY, NY – Check out our version of an easier to read School Aid run. The spreadsheet will produce three reports for any district:

“All Aids” shows aid results by category with 2021-22 and proposed 2022-23 amounts presented side-by-side, with year-to-year dollar and percentage change. This makes it easier to identify which formulas are driving changes in total aid.

“Foundation Aid Analysis” shows where each district’s proposed Foundation Aid amount would place it in relation to full funding. It also presents key aid factors for 2022-23 and 2007-08 –the year the formula first became law. This can help illuminate why a district is projected to receive a large boost in aid or the proposed 3% minimum increase.

“2021-22 Aid Comparison” shows how estimates for each aid category for the 2021-22 school year have changed between April, when the current state budget was enacted, and January

Here is a link to access and use the spreadsheet. It may take a while to load. Once it does, enter a district’s six digit BEDS Code to create a report. To look up a code for any district, click on the tab named “CODE LIST” at the bottom of the screen.

NYSCOSS Calls on State to Issue Metrics for School Mask Decisions

February 7, 2022

Questions? Contact:

ALBANY, NY – On February 3, the Council wrote to New York State Health Commissioner Mary Bassett to reiterate a request we have made since before the school year began—that the state establish and publicize criteria it will apply in determining when it will rescind or modify mask requirements for schools.

Releasing the letter to the media a few days later, Council Executive Director Charles Dedrick noted, “In conversations with state officials going back to August, we have repeatedly urged that they take the step we have recommended in our letter—'to provide reasonable, understandable, and achievable metrics based on recommendations from medical professionals for when masking rules will eventually be changed.’” He added, “A theme we have repeatedly stressed to state officials is that thoughtful changes to their policies could help sustain public acceptance of whatever requirements that remain necessary or might become necessary as our circumstances change.”

You may read the Council's letter here.

Please write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.

2021-2022  New York State Superintendent of the Year Award Announcement Coming Soon!

September 21, 2021

Questions About the New Process?

Contact:
Theresa Wutzer Moore
Associate Director
NYSCOSS
theresa@nyscoss.org
518.694.4884

• Ensure there were no application impediments to building an ample nomination pool that is representative of New York State;
• Provide candidates professional and due consideration and support through the nomination and applicant process; and
• Sufficiently celebrate the process and award itself as open to all members.

Selection Criteria

Each candidate was judged on the following attributes and skills:

• Leadership for Learning – creativity in successfully meeting the needs of students in his or her school system.
• Communication – strength in both personal and organizational communication.
• Professionalism – constant improvement of administrative knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and motivation to others on the education team. 
• Community Involvement – active participation in local community activities and an understanding of regional, national, and international issues. 

Oceanside Superintendent Dr. Phyllis Harrington Inaugurated as President of NYSCOSS

July 1, 2021 

Federal COVID-Relief Funding

May 20, 2021

Questions? Contact:

A $12 billion influx of federal COVID-relief funding provides both opportunities and challenges for school districts. Statewide, the sum approaches the equivalence of a 50% increase in state aid. But the funding is temporary and it comes with strings attached.

To help school district leaders understand the requirements accompanying this federal aid and develop sound plans for its use, the Council has created a website section which will share resources we produce as well as items from the State Education Department and other sources.

Among the items you will find are the recording of our May 13 and a compilation of extracts from laws and regulations which illuminate what can or must be done with the federal aid, while we await more formal guidance from the U.S. Education Department.

Access our resource page here.

Please call or write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.

Easy to Read School Aid Run - Plus Details

April 13, 2021

Questions? Contact:

We have created an Excel spreadsheet which allows users to create an easier to read School Aid run for any district passed on the state budget passed by the Legislature last week.

In addition to presenting the same information as the state-produced runs in an easier to analyze format, we provide more detail on federal aid and where districts stand in relation to full funding of the Foundation Aid formula.

Here is the link to access and use the spreadsheet .

It may take a while to load. Once it does, enter a district’s six digit BEDS Code to create a report. To look up a code for any district, click on the tab named “CODE LIST” at the bottom of the screen.  

There are tabs for REPORT 1 and REPORT 2 on the bottom of the screen.
  
The upper section of REPORT 1 replicates what appears on the state-produced aid runs but with the two years of aid for each category presented side-by-side, along with the change and percentage change by category. This makes it easier to identify which aid categories are most influencing the change in total aid.
  
The lower section provides more detail.
  
First, in the state-produced runs, the Pandemic Adjustment is included in 2020-21 aids, but not the offsetting allocations from the federal CARES Act. While this is an accurate representation of state funding, it arguably has the effect of making the change in total funding appear greater than it “feels” for each district. We include a row showing the change in total funding excluding the 2020-21 Pandemic Adjustment.
  
Second, for some districts, 2021-22 Universal Prekindergarten Aid includes a new full-day prekindergarten expansion grant. We include a row with this sum for affected districts.
  
Third, at the bottom of the state-produced runs, estimates appear for district allocations from the December Coronavirus Relief and Recovery Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and March American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)—“CRRSA 90% ESSER + BASE ALLOC” and “AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN,” respectively. We include rows for these sums. 

For some districts, the American Rescue Plan allocations are comprised of two parts—an allocation based on shares of Title 1 funding as required by federal law, plus a “Learning Loss Grant.” We show the total ARPA allocation and separate lines for these two components.
  
Under ARPA, states are allowed or required to reserve parts of their federal education funding for specified purposes, including at least 5% to address learning loss, at least 1% for summer enrichment programs, and at least 1% for after-school programs. The enacted budget aims to satisfy these federally required set-asides through the Learning Loss Grants program.
  
All districts are required to use at least 20% of their allocations based on Title 1 shares to address learning loss. The Learning Loss Grants are in addition to those local set-asides. We provide more information about the learning loss funding here.
  
Finally, we include a row showing required community schools set-asides for affected districts—although not included on state-produced runs, that requirement has been continued.
  
REPORT 2 presents changes in aid estimates over time: from March 2020 to November 2020 to April 2021 for 2020-21 aid and from November 2020 to April 2021-22 aid. The March 2020 estimates reflect what districts were projected to receive at the time the 2020-21 state budget was enacted. The November 2020 database was used for the Governor’s budget proposal. The April 2021 figures reflect what is projected for the 2021-22 enacted state budget.

Please call or write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.
  
Here are some other resources: 

- State Education Department Memorandum on American Rescue Plan Funding

- Compilation of Education-Related Funding Provisions of the American Rescue Plan 

- U.S. Department of Education FACT SHEET American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ARP ESSER) 

Statement of NYS Council of School Superintendents Chuck Dedrick on the 2021-22 Budget for Education

April 8, 2021

Contact:

Albany, NY - The new state budget delivers great news for New York’s school districts, putting our public schools in a vastly better position than we would have dared to hope for last summer or fall. 
 
It provides a $1.4 billion increase in Foundation Aid, full-funding of expense-based aids, no new cuts, and an expansion of full-day prekindergarten throughout the state. 
 
The budget also assures that federal stimulus funding for education will supplement and not supplant state resources, enabling districts to apply that funding to safely reopening schools, maximizing in-person instruction, and helping students overcome the effects of the pandemic’s disruptions upon their learning and personal well-being.
 
The plan to fully phase-in the Foundation Aid formula over three years will at last fulfill a promise to the state’s schoolchildren, especially in our neediest communities.
 
We thank the Senate, Assembly, and Governor for their work. We also need to express our gratitude to Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, our delegation in the House of Representatives, and President Biden for their efforts in Washington. 

Our elected leaders in Washington and Albany came together and now have given our public schools a bright light of promise at the end of the pandemic’s very dark tunnel.

Nominations Open for the 2022 New York State Superintendent of the Year Award

April 1, 2021

Questions?

Contact:
Theresa Wutzer Moore
Associate Director
NYSCOSS
theresa@nyscoss.org
518.694.4884

• Ensure there are no application process impediments to building an ample nomination pool that is representative of New York State;
• Provide candidates professional and due consideration and support through the nomination and applicant process; and
• Sufficiently celebrate the process and award itself as open to all members; and

Engaged and Streamlined Application Process

To ensure that as many qualified candidates who truly reflect the New York State landscape are included for consideration, the Distinguished Service Committee members will invite various stakeholder groups to nominate a candidate who they believe has significantly advanced their work. Those invitations will be sent in April and will include BOCES Joint Management Teams and members of the Educational Conference Board.

They also recommend that individuals continue to nominate a superintendent leader in their region who they think meet the criteria. The committee also created a new timeline for the application process and will continue to use the AASA SOY portal for the modified application.

• Nominations of an individual on the AASA portal https://soy.aasa.org/ are due by May 21, 2021.
• Nominees will be individually notified of their nomination. They will create their own login on https://soy.aasa.org/ portal to complete a shorter version of the application process. Nominees will provide their CV and answer two of the four questions presented in the portal by June 15, 2021. 
• The Distinguished Service Committee will review the basic submitted materials for each nominated candidate between June 15 – July 15 and then select the 2022 New York State Superintendent of the Year. 

Final Application Process

The selected New York candidate will be notified after July 15th and be invited to complete the more extensive AASA application process with support from the Distinguished Service Committee to ensure its competitiveness for national consideration. The final two questions, along with additional support material and artifacts, including recommendations and videos will be required. This new process allows The Council to:

• Support a candidate’s efforts to build a competitive, national candidate package.
• Harness the experience of former New York State Superintendent of the Year winners to lend perspective from the experience.
• Engage the Distinguished Service Committee’s institutional knowledge to provide statewide perspective.
• Collaborate with Council staff to construct a marketable, competitive, and complete deliverable for AASA and use within New York State.

The deadline to complete the entire application is October 15, 2021. The Council is required to submit the final application to AASA by November 1st for inclusion in the National Superintendent of the Year process.  

After Application Submission

Once the application has been submitted to AASA via the portal, The Council will coordinate an announcement in November with the selected candidate's school district. We will recognize our New York State winner at our 2022 Winter Institute & Lobby Day next March. The application submission via the portal will then allow AASA's national blue-ribbon panel to review the application so they can narrow the field to four candidates from across the country. 

• Each January, AASA announces their four finalists who will participate in interviews and a moderated press conference. The National Superintendent of the Year is announced at AASA’s National Conference on Education typically held in February each year. All state superintendents of the year are also recognized.
• A $10,000 scholarship is awarded to a student from the high school from which the National Superintendent of the Year graduated from AASA.

Selection Criteria

Each candidate will be judged on the following attributes and skills:

• Leadership for Learning – creativity in successfully meeting the needs of students in his or her school system.
• Communication – strength in both personal and organizational communication.
• Professionalism – constant improvement of administrative knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and motivation to others on the education team. 
• Community Involvement – active participation in local community activities and an understanding of regional, national, and international issues. 

New York Superintendent to Serve as President-Elect of AASA, The National School Superintendents Association

March 26, 2021 

Using Cooperative Purchasing for Capital Projects

March 2, 2021

Contact:

School construction is always part of the job that is exciting but is also very stressful.  Communities and district stakeholders are trusting that their capital expectations will be met as they support capital referendums.  However, ensuring a successful capital project is so much more than just designing, bidding, and building.

District leaders are not typically construction experts.  Educators, develop programming, fiscally support it, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure students are placed first and foremost every single day.  So, they do our best to surround themselves with the best possible team (architects, bond advisors, and construction managers), to give themselves the absolute best opportunity to complete a successful project.

A phase of school construction that is overlooked is procurement.  As leaders they know their options to procure most items and most assume the only way to do capital projects is to bid them.  However, that is not the case.  In the past few years, the national movement for construction procurement and has become more prevalent in New York State is utilizing cooperative purchasing agreements and/or piggybacking agreements to procure school capital projects.  Its an idea that many professionals claim to understand, but very few seem to realize the benefits. 

One of the many advantages comes from understanding what a construction bid is really composed of.  Contractors are competing with one another to “win” the bid, not to necessarily do your job.  The problem with this is the “bid” is really about winning.  The challenge that brings to the district is the price you receive is a direct response to the drawings and the competition not your project.  It seems crazy that leaders are forced to place trust in a contractor that just looked at a drawing, priced it and never was part of the team.  The cooperative process allows you to take a pre-existing procured contract (similar to a state contract) and price your specific job.  You bring the contractor on to the team as part of the process, not as a result of a bid.

In educational terms, there is not district that would hire a teacher because they were the cheapest or low bidder.  Rather, they go through a specific hiring process that ensures the candidates know the expectations, are a good fit, and most importantly share the desire to ensure all students will be successful.  So if given the same option to procure construction why do districts risk a low bidder “winning” and “hope” they get a good number and “hope” for a good outcome?  “Hope” is never a strategy, but rather something that is often a result of no choice. 

It is certainly fuel for thought, but also understand it is not always understood in NY.  If you are currently frustrated or maybe haven’t really thought much about construction process, I would encourage you to call The Smith Group.  In the past two years this process has become the go to process for many districts in NY.  We would love to sit down and talk about the process and let you decide if it works.

https://thesmithgroupus.com/

https://twitter.com/TheSmithGroupU1

https://www.instagram.com/the_smith_group_us/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-smith-group-us/?viewAsMember=true

https://www.facebook.com/thesmithgroupus/

Statement of Chuck Dedrick, Executive Director of NYSCOSS, on the Appointment of Dr. Betty A. Rosa as Commissioner of Education

Februrary 8, 2021

Contact:

Albany, NY - The New York State Council of School Superintendents commends the Board of Regents for their action making Dr. Betty Rosa the permanent commissioner of New York’s State Education Department. We congratulate her upon her selection.

As Interim Commissioner and Chancellor during an exceptionally challenging time, Dr. Rosa has been a steady leader for the department and a steadfast partner for school superintendents. We appreciate her frequent acknowledgment of the heroic work being done by our members and their colleagues in schools across our state during this time.

As a one-time fellow superintendent, principal, teacher, and bilingual paraprofessional, Dr. Rosa knows from on-the-ground experience how state actions affect the work that schools are called upon to do every day and how those actions the chances for them to be successful on behalf of the children they serve.

Throughout her career, Dr. Rosa has been a champion for giving all children, whatever their circumstances, the opportunities and resources they need to thrive in school and in life beyond school. We have enjoyed a productive relationship with Dr. Rosa and we are committed to doing all that we can to help her succeed on behalf of all children in her new permanent role as leader of our state’s education system.

Today's teenagers are experiencing anxiety, uncertainty and depression at truly alarming rates. What can we do to help them?

February 2, 2021

Contact:

Many of this nation’s teens are experiencing overwhelming depression and anxiety in light of the ongoing pandemic and related stressors involving remote learning, increased isolation and family instability, according to a poll Navigate360 recently conducted with John Zogby Strategies.

According to the Navigate360 / Zogby Strategies Public Safety and Security Survey, 56% of teens say they know someone who has considered self-harm or suicide, but less than one-third (32%) believe their schools are prepared to handle this issue. This data indicates that too many American teens lack confidence in schools’ ability to keep them safe when they return to the classroom – in fact, even less confidence compared to a previous survey conducted last year.

“Students are telling us they don’t feel safe in school, and we as a nation need to put in the work to reverse this trend,” said Navigate360 CEO JP Guilbault. “Through staff trainings and established processes and protocols, schools can ensure students are supported and comfortable asking for help.

“Leaders in both the public and private sectors need to come together and take action to address our nation’s school safety crisis,” added Guilbault. “Americans should have confidence that students are learning in environments that are physically, socially and emotionally safe and allow young adults to thrive so they can reach their full potential.”

What We Can Do
Despite teens’ uncertainty about schools’ ability to ensure their safety and emotional wellbeing, there are steps we can take to build their confidence and sense of security – whether they’re returning to their classrooms or continuing learning in virtual environments.

Students can benefit from access to social-emotional learning curricula that can help them manage their emotions as they build a sense of accountability, empathy and justice for everyday life. Additionally, schools can connect troubled students to counseling and other critical mental health resources when concerning behavior is identified through comprehensive behavioral threat assessment programs. Providing ongoing support is key to making students feel that their schools are taking their physical and emotional safety seriously. This is especially crucial given the current national climate.

“While adults are slowly becoming more confident, today’s Gen Z teens are known for not trusting familiar institutions and leaders,” said John Zogby, who conducted the poll. “The current crisis only seems to have exacerbated that rejection, especially towards school leadership and their ability to keep students safe. Unaddressed, this could have broader outcomes on Gen-Z’s future.”




About the Poll
The Navigate360 / Zogby Strategies Public Safety and Security Survey consisted of a sampling of 1,000 of this nation’s adults and was conducted online on December 14, 2020. The margin of sampling error is within +/-3.2 percentage points. The poll of 304 16- and 17-year-olds was conducted online on December 14, 2020, with parental permission. It has a sampling error of +/-5.7 percentage points.

Impacts of COVID-19 on Building Energy Usage and Energy Performance Contracts

February 1, 2021

Contact:

School Districts have been pressed to make many adjustments to the ways they use and operate their facilities over the past year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guidance provided by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) for reducing airborne infectious aerosol exposure have included improved air filtration (MERV 13 or better), increased ventilation rates, running HVAC systems longer to “flush” spaces between occupied periods and incorporating disinfection technology such as Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI).

All of the above strategies can have an impact on building energy usage. Better filtration can cause fans to work harder to move the same airflow. Extending HVAC schedules to complete air purges will also increase energy use. Higher ventilation rates may present the largest potential energy impact, particularly during cold winter months, as systems are challenged to heat the additional cold air to room temperature.

Recent studies have suggested that the degree of those impacts may vary widely from building to building. Key considerations include building type, condition and capabilities of existing equipment as well as the heating fuel source. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is currently funding studies in a variety of facilities across the State to evaluate the effectiveness and energy impacts of indoor air quality (IAQ) improvement strategies and other optimization measures.

In guidance released in January, ASHRAE proposed that building owners “select control options that provide desired exposure reduction while minimizing associated energy penalties”. A combination of ventilation air, filtration and air cleaning or disinfection devices can be used to achieve the equivalent desired air change rates. Adding air cleaning devices or improving filtration can help mitigate the amount of fresh air required, thus reducing the energy impact compared to increasing air changes using ventilation alone. This impact can be further offset by implementing energy conservation measures, such as LED lighting, high efficiency equipment, building weatherization and HVAC controls upgrades.

The dynamic conditions of our new environment require robust, reliable HVAC controls that respond quickly and accurately to provide proper IAQ while maintaining comfort. Older systems that have not been re-commissioned in recent years may have “hidden” issues, such as non-functional dampers or other components. This may cause issues providing proper ventilation, and also increases the potential for energy waste under larger loads and longer run hours.

Appropriately sized high efficiency heating equipment can help alleviate the energy impacts of increased heating loads and LED lighting can provide better illumination while reducing energy use by 60% or more.

Although the pandemic has forced Districts to re-think how they use and operate their buildings, they rely on their HVAC systems more than ever to provide safe, comfortable conditions for students and staff. With a comprehensive approach to building energy efficiency and improving IAQ, an EPC provides a viable financial avenue for using energy and operational savings to fund critical infrastructure improvements.An Energy Performance Contract (EPC) is a viable, budget-neutral solution for addressing these infrastructure needs.  Energy professionals can help Districts determine the effectiveness of their existing systems, evaluate the difference in upfront and on-going costs for various strategies and design a project around the desired solutions.

For more information from ASHRAE and NYSERDA:

ASHRAE

https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/resources

NYSERDA

https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/FlexTech-Program/Indoor-Air-Quality

Council Provides Testimony to the Legislature on Governor Cuomo's Proposed Budget for Schools

January 28, 2021

Contact:

Albany, NY - Today, the State Legislature’s fiscal committees are holding their annual hearing on the Governor’s proposed budget for education. Robert Lowry, the Council’s Deputy Director for Advocacy, Research, and Communications will be testifying.

Here is the written testimony that we submitted in advance of the hearing.

The testimony emphasizes these points:

• The 7.1% statewide increase in combined state and federal funding shown on aid runs is not representative of what most districts would experience. Half the state’s districts would receive increases of 2.1% or less, including nearly one-quarter that would suffer reductions in funding, notwithstanding the $3.8 billion in federal stimulus aid allocated on the runs. Over 70% of districts would have the federal allocations entirely offset by cuts in state support.
  
  
• The budget indicates that the $1.3 billion cut imposed against STAR property tax relief reimbursements to school districts is intended to be recurring. This raises the question, what is expected to happen to STAR once federal aid is gone.
  
  
• The proposal to consolidate 11 aid categories into “Services Aid” is alarming for multiple reasons. It would cut funding by nearly $700 million from what districts would receive under current law. The cuts are generally regressive, taking more per pupil from poorer districts. The proposal would obliterate one remaining strand of predictability in school revenues—there would be no way for districts forecast their Services Aid for the future.
  
  
• We support the Regents legislative proposal to assure school districts are reimbursed through Transportation Aid for exceptional costs they incurred last year and this year while school buildings have been closed.  We also point out that this issue can overstate projected increases in total aid for 2021-22—if their estimated 2020-21 Transportation Aid is depressed.
  
  
• We need to learn from the past, recognizing that the hardest budget choices have come when federal aid ends. So we recognize the need to raise state revenues and to secure federal fiscal relief for our state government.

An Easier Way to Read Governor's School Aid Run

January 25, 2021

Questions? Contact:

We have created an Excel spreadsheet which allows users to create an easier way to read School Aid run for any district. Reports will show estimates for Governor Cuomo’s 2021-22 proposed state budget.

Here is the link to access and to use the spreadsheet. 

It may take a while to load. Once it does, enter a district’s six digit BEDS Code to create a report. To look up a code for any district, click on the tab named “CODE LIST” at the bottom of the screen.

The upper section replicates what is shown on the state-produced runs, but with aid figures for 2020-21 and 2021-22 presented side-by-side, along with the year-to-year dollar change and percent change for each category. This makes it easier to identify which formulas are driving the overall increase or decrease in aid.

The lower section illustrates how the proposal to consolidate 11 aid categories into “Services Aid” would operate. Briefly, aid for each of the now separate categories would be calculated for 2021-22 as under formulas now in law. The sum produced would then be cut by a Services Aid Reduction factor. Although some districts show an increase in Services Aid from 2020-21 to 2021-22, every district would receive less under the proposal than it would from the existing separate formulas.

Please call or write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.

Statement of the New York State Council of School Superintendents on the Election of Dr. Lester Young as Chancellor of the Board of Regents

January 11, 2021

Contact:

ALBANY, NY – The New York State Council of School Superintendents congratulates Dr. Lester Young on his election as Chancellor of the Board of Regents. 

Chancellor Young has already had a profound impact on New York’s educational landscape and has kept a steadfast focus on equity for all children, everywhere in our state. He brings a strong set of diverse experiences to his new position. He was once a superintendent within the New York City school system and was once a Deputy Commissioner within the Department that he will now help to lead.

Chancellor Young has directly contributed to the work of the Council through our Commission on Diversity and Inclusivity. We admire the work he has done in leading the state’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative aimed at improving opportunities and outcomes for boys and young men of color.

We are confident Chancellor Young will be an advocate for all students and a strong leader for our state’s top education policymaking body.

The New York State Council of School Superintendents is a professional and advocacy organization with over a century of service to school superintendents and assistant superintendents in New York State. The Council provides more than 800 members with professional development opportunities, publications and personal support while advocating for public education and the superintendency.

Our Message About Events in our Nation's Capitol

January 7, 2021 - A Message to our members from President Robert Ike and Executive Director Charles Dedrick

New Guidance on COVID-19 Testing in Schools

December 7, 2020

Access COVID Testing Webinar Recording

On Friday (December 4), the New York State Health Department issued guidance on revised COVID-19 testing requirements for schools located in orange or red zones as part of the state’s “micro-cluster” strategy for combatting the virus. The guidance had been expected since Governor Andrew Cuomo first announced the change in a press conference at the beginning of the week.

Previously, schools located in orange or red zones were required to close and switch to remote-only instruction for at least four days, to conduct cleaning and testing. Schools could then reopen for in-person instruction if 100% of all returning on-site students and employees received a negative result from a COVID-19 test.

We and superintendents of affected districts strongly advocated for a change in these requirements. The near universal conclusion was the that 100% participation in testing was unattainable. We also emphasized the very low positivity rates in schools where testing has been done.

“They should be an example to us all. Too many adults have not heeded their education, ignoring the experts and acting without regard for the consequences of their actions by hosting large gatherings or failing to use the most effective tool at our disposal right now: a face covering.”

The new guidance allows schools in orange or red zones to remain open. To do so, schools in orange zones must test 20% of students and employees over a month, with testing spread evenly across the weeks. Schools in red zones must test 30% of students and employees over a month, spread evenly across bi-weekly periods.

  
The new guidance also allows schools to use pool testing but it must be conducted by a laboratory that is approved to conduct diagnostic pooled testing.
  
The guidance does not make changes in testing requirements for schools in yellow zones.

We conducted a webinar on COVID-19 testing today with superintendents who have implemented testing procedures to comply with state requirements. You can review the resources they cited here.
  
The change in guidance reflects growing recognition of the low rate of infections found in schools. Governor Cuomo had a column in Newsday on Sunday. It was titled, “Schools offer smart lessons about COVID-19 spread.” In his briefings, the Governor has used "astonishing" and "amazing" in reference to how low test positivity rates in schools have been. In the column he said,

 “As parents know, schools are usually places where illnesses spread easily. But in the case of COVID-19, the safest place in the community is truly the school. That’s because schools follow basic rules. The students and teachers wear masks. They practice social distancing. They frequently wash their hands. Many of the students are serious about doing their part to keep their friends and families safe.

“They should be an example to us all. Too many adults have not heeded their education, ignoring the experts and acting without regard for the consequences of their actions by hosting large gatherings or failing to use the most effective tool at our disposal right now: a face covering.”

Up-to-date School Aid Estimates for Any District

December 7, 2020

View School Aid Estimates

Access downloadable Excel spreadsheet here.

Questions?
Contact:
Bob Lowry
Deputy Director
T: 518.694.4879
E: boblowry@nyscoss.org

Which Legislators Represent Your School District?

December 7, 2020

Dr. Roberto Padilla Named 2020-21 New York State School Superintendent of the Year

November 10, 2020

Albany, NY – The New York State Council of School Superintendents (The Council) has named Superintendent Dr. Roberto Padilla the 2020-2021 New York State Superintendent of the Year. 

“This is a phenomenal achievement for Newburgh,” said Dr. Roberto Padilla. He added “Over the last seven years, we have had the NYS Teacher of the Year and the National CTE Teacher of the Year. From the moment I stepped foot in the district, it was abundantly clear, we have exceptional talent here! We are honored and humbled by this prestigious award. This recognition is the result of a very dedicated and committed district. It truly takes a team to achieve success and I am excited that this is just the beginning.” 

Council President and Palmyra-Macedon Superintendent Dr. Robert Ike said, “Selection as the New York State Superintendent of the Year is a testament to Dr. Padilla's unwavering commitment to students. As a champion for equity and access, Dr. Padilla's leadership is a model for leaders across the New York State.” 

Board President for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, Ms. Carole Mineo said, "Especially during such a scary and unpredictable time in our lives, this award brings joy and hope to the people of our city and towns. Our district is often overlooked for notable achievements. I am thrilled that Dr. Padilla has been recognized, joining some of our exceptional educators earning a statewide recognition and being nominated on a national level." 

Dr. Roberto Padilla is the proud Superintendent for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, located 60 north miles of New York City. Dr. Padilla is a teacher who just happens to be a superintendent. He is nationally recognized as a champion for all children. In 2019, Dr. Padilla was selected as one of Education Week’s National Leaders to Learn From for his visionary leadership on equity and inclusive excellence. 

There are several key initiatives that continue to propel Newburgh to new heights. They include, but are not limited to, hiring a Chief Equity Officer, ensuring all 12,000 scholars receive breakfast and lunch at no cost regardless of their zip code and socioeconomic status, starting two additional high school campuses: NFA West and NFA Noche (evening high school), where scholars receive more personalized learning and opportunities to take more advanced courses and catch up if they fall behind. 

“We are honored and humbled by this prestigious award. This recognition is the result of a very dedicated and committed district.” 

Additionally, Dr. Padilla is committed to ensuring all scholars enter Pre-K prepared to learn at the same level as their peers by bringing the Boston Basics to Newburgh, which is implemented in the local hospital neonatal department for new mothers, at our local library, and through community partnerships.

In May 2019, voters in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District passed a $257M bond referendum, the largest in New York State, which focuses on improvements to each school building as well as building a state of the art facility for the 23 Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs currently offered in the district. The new facility will give scholars an opportunity to explore career paths as well as earn required hours and experience to be ready for college and career upon graduation. 

Newburgh also has the largest Energy Performance Contract for school districts in New York State. This $29 million project was at no cost to the taxpayers, will provide an annual savings of $1.3M in energy costs and reduce greenhouse gases by 60%.  

Dr. Padilla leads a district of approximately 2,000 employees, 1100 teachers, 12,000 scholars, 14 school buildings spread throughout four municipalities and manages an operating budget of $287 million. Dr. Padilla holds a doctorate in Education with a focus on Urban School Leadership. He was previously a teacher and principal for the NYC Department of Education, a member of Harvard University’s Principal’s Advisory Board, an Education Policy Fellow at Columbia University, a fellow for the Broad Center at the Yale School of Management, and a Deeper Learning Equity Fellow. He is a published author and an adjunct professor at SUNY New Paltz and Fordham University. 

Dr. Padilla is a member of the Board of Trustees for Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital as well as the Newburgh Armory Unity Center. He is the founding President of the New York Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (NYSALAS), and a member of the Greater Newburgh Rotary Club. 

Dr. Padilla is New York’s nominee for consideration as the National Superintendent of the Year to be awarded at the National Conference on Education of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) held February 18-19, 2021. Dr. Padilla will will be recognized at The Council's 2021 Winter Institute and Lobby Day, March 7-9, 2021 in Albany, NY as New York State’s Superintendent of the Year. The Council has not yet determined if the Winter Institute will be in-person, hybrid or virtual and will depend on decisions made at the state level as related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Council Executive Director Dr. Charles Dedrick said, “Roberto Padilla is respected statewide as an educational leader and always exemplifies the best of our profession. Dr. Padilla is a thoughtful and informed leader providing keen insight on key issues affecting our state. He understands how important superintendent leadership is to a school district’s success to provide students with a comprehensive educational experience.”

Under Dr. Padilla’s leadership, together with educators and community members, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District has established programs and served scholars through a variety of initiatives that you can read more about here:

2017-2018 Accomplishments Report
2018-2019 Accomplishments Report
2019-2020 Accomplishments Report

PHOTO CREDIT: Photos provided courtesy of Mike Bradley, Education Week

Thank You for Attending First Virtual Fall Summit

October 6, 2020

Future Fall Leadership Summit Dates

2021 Fall Leadership Summit 
September 26 - 28, 2021 
Saratoga Hilton & Saratoga Springs City Center
Saratoga Springs, NY

2022 Fall Leadership Summit
September 18 - 20, 2022
Saratoga Hilton & Saratoga Springs City Center
Saratoga Springs, NY

2023 Fall Leadership Summit
October 1 - 3, 2023 
Saratoga Hilton & Saratoga Springs City Center
Saratoga Springs, NY 

Applications Closed for 2021 New York State Superintendent of Year

October 1, 2020

Nominations and applications for the 2021 New York State Superintendent of Year are now closed for the 2021 application process.

• August 15, 2020 – Nominations were due using AASA’s online portal. The deadline was extended due to the current demands of educational leaders under the pandemic.

• October 1, 2020 – Final applications were due using AASA’s online portal.

• October 2020 – Distinguished Service Committee met and selected New York State’s candidate.

• November 1, 2020 – Final New York State representative submitted to AASA’s National Superintendent of the Year process.

• November 10, 2020 – New York State Superintendent of the Year announced.

• January 8, 2021 – AASA announces final four candidates and they participate in virtual interviews and a moderated press briefing.

• February 18-19, 2021 – National Superintendent of the Year is announced at AASA’s Virtual National Conference of Education.

• March 8, 2021 – New York State Superintendent of the Year honored at the 2021 Winter Institute & Lobby Day, March 7-9, 2021.

Resurrecting the Promise of Foundation Aid

September 29, 2021

Questions? Contact:

ALBANY, NY – At the end of September, The Council released a report on the state of Foundation Aid, the primary general purpose operating aid formula supporting public schools in New York State.

The 2021-22 enacted state budget increases Foundation Aid by $1.4 billion (7.6%) and commits to fully funding the formula within three years—by 2023-24.

Almost from the beginning back in 2007, the Council has described Foundation Aid as an underappreciated achievement in public policy—it generally delivered the greatest aid per pupil to the neediest districts and promised more transparency in state funding. We are grateful to Senators and Assembly members for the commitment they have demonstrated to funding Foundation Aid.

The report analyzes trends in progress toward full funding for different groupings of districts. For example, 42% of districts are on “save-harmless”—fully funded now. Eighty-three percent of this save-harmless aid supports average and high need school districts, many serving low-wealth rural communities. On the other hand, 17% of districts are further from full-funding now than when the formula began. Typically, these districts have received relatively strong Foundation Aid increases, but enrollment growth and other demographic changes have caused their full funding targets to increase even more.

The report also notes that the state budget formula used to allocate some federal COVID-relief aid may indicate possible future directions for revising Foundation Aid. The formula for federal aid distribution updates and restructures an index used to account for regional cost differences and introduces new measures of student poverty.

The state’s major revenue sources can be hard to predict and that creates uncertainty for school funding. But the determination the legislature has shown in funding the formula is impressive and that gives hope that the promise of Foundation Aid will finally be fulfilled.

COVID-19 Coronavirus Resources

April 15, 2020

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

• Executive Orders Issued in Response to COVID-19 
  

New York State Education Department 

• COVID-19 Homepage 

• New York State Center for School Health COVID-19 Homepage

Capital Region BOCES

• Capital Region BOCES in partnership with its 24 components school districts  has launched this website as a resource for K-12 educators to support them with remote learning. 

New York State Department of Health

• COVID-19 Homepage for Schools

• Contact Information for Local Health Departments

• Novel Coronavirus Hotline:  1-888-364-3065 

New York State Office of Children and Family Services

• School Emergency Care Guidance (March 18, 2020)

• Emergency Reservation Form – Completed by Parents (March 18, 2020)

• Emergency Employment Attestation For Adults (March 18, 2020)

• Legally Exempt Group Child Care Program Inspection Report (March 19, 2020) 

New York State Empire Development

• Updated Guidance on Essential Businesses, Services, and Functions (April 9, 2020)

  • See #9 for clarification on school district construction projects 

• Frequently Asked Questions for Determining Whether a Business Is Subject to a Workforce Reduction Under Recent Executive Order Enacted to Address Covid-19 Outbreak (March 31, 2020)

United States Centers for Disease Control 

• COVID-19 Homepage

Hunger Solutions New York

• New Outreach toolkit to provide resources to help families apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (May 18, 2020) 

Harvard University Graduate School of Education 

1. Enjoy a free, Open Access book, just published, explaining how to reform education systems so they educate all students as global citizens, with the necessary competencies to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This free resources is presented by Fernando M. Reimers, Ford Foundation Professor of the Practice in International Education at the Harvard School of Education and a former Council presenter.

2. Feranando Reimers also shared a recently published report, that he wrote with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), that shows a framework to support the development of an education response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Superintendents’ survey finds school district finances mostly stable—for now—but concerns about student needs are widespread

November 20, 2019

ALBANY – New York’s school districts appear to be “treading water” financially, with most superintendents reporting little or no change in their district’s financial condition compared to a year ago. But urgent concerns about the ability of schools to meet student needs remain. These are key themes in a survey report released today by the New York State Council of School Superintendents. 

Council Executive Director Charles Dedrick said, “In the aftermath of the Great Recession, we saw steady improvement in the financial condition of many school districts, although not all. But our surveys indicate those gains have faltered since 2016.”  

Dedrick added, “At the same time, the mission of schools has expanded over the past decade or so. More and more school districts are taking exceptional steps that weren’t widespread 10 years ago, both to help students and families with non-school problems, and to make sure nothing is overlooked that could make their schools as safe and secure as possible.” 

Sixty-five percent of superintendents this year said that the financial condition of their district is unchanged from a year ago. But for the third straight year, the share of superintendents seeing improved financial condition dropped—from 31% in 2016 to just 14% this year.  
Improving mental health services was again the most widely cited priority among superintendents for new funding, should their districts receive more revenue than what would be needed to maintain current services and satisfy mandates. It was the most widely cited priority for all groupings of districts, whether grouped as city, suburb, or rural, or by region, or by student poverty level. 

Council Deputy Director Robert Lowry said, “Our survey shows all types of districts, everywhere, are straining to address student mental health needs. Sixty-seven percent of superintendents identified improving student mental health services as a top funding priority, up from 56% last year and from 35% three years ago.”  

He added, “Also, 53% of superintendents said their district budgets for this year will improve student mental health services—only the second time in the nine years of our survey that a majority of superintendents anticipated improvement in any area of student services.” 

The Council’s report found that: 

• 14% of superintendents statewide see the financial condition of their district as improved from a year ago, 65% see it as unchanged, and 20% see it as worse. The share of superintendents seeing improvement peaked at 31% in 2015 and 2016. 
Council News Release – Finance Survey Results November 20, 2019 

• Asked to look ahead three years or so, only 25% of superintendents said that they are somewhat or very optimistic about their district’s ability to funding adequate services. Sixty-seven percent answered that they are somewhat or very pessimistic and 8% said that their districts are unable to offer adequate services now. These numbers show little change from past years.

• City, Mohawk Valley, and North Country superintendents were most likely to say their district’s financial condition is significantly worse than one year ago. City, Southern Tier, North Country, and Western New York superintendents were most pessimistic about the three-year financial outlook for their districts.

• Sixty-five percent of superintendents said that they are concerned by their district’s reliance upon reserves or fund balance to pay recurring costs, a jump from 33% a year ago.  − This increase may be due to concerns about the new $10,000 federal cap on state and local tax deductions:  91% of superintendents who said that the SALT cap had had a significant impact on the budget their district proposed to voters were somewhat or very concerned about their district’s reliance on reserves.

• Asked about how their district budget for 2019-20 would affect various student services, 53% anticipate a positive impact on mental health-related services, 49% anticipate a positive impact on school safety/security. − Over one-third of superintendents said that their schools will improve mental health services this year and that improving those services further would be a top priority for new funding.

• Generally, findings on current year budget impact on specific student services are more positive than for overall financial impact. But these too mostly peaked in 2016.

• The prospect of inadequate state aid was most widely cited as a concern in thinking about their schools’ financial outlook (cited by 48% of superintendents), followed by the property tax cap (11%), and by increases in fixed or hard to control costs such as pensions and health insurance (9%).

• Increasing special education costs were named by 56% of superintendents as a significant problem among programmatic cost items, more than any other concern. Council analysis of State Education Department enrollment data shows an especially steep increase in students in special education in early grades (K-2)—up 16.1% outside New York City since 2011-12, compared to 3.1% in grades three through 12. This increase may be partly a response to growing student mental health needs.

• The report also includes sections on superintendent perspectives on aspects of child well-being, opportunities for students, and financially struggling districts. 

The survey was conducted online, from August 12th through the 25th, 2019. A total of 364 superintendents submitted completed surveys, a response rate of 53.7%. 

The entire survey report is available here. 
 
# # # 
The New York State Council of School Superintendents is a professional and advocacy organization with over a century of service to school superintendents and assistant superintendents in New York State. The Council provides more than 850 members with professional development opportunities, publications and personal support while advocating for public education and the superintendency.