As a former English teacher and as as someone in my 13th year on the Potsdam Central School Board of Education, I find my commitment to education has only grown with each passing year. I have decided to blog about education because I am hoping that like-minded individuals will glean some useful information from my observations about education and from my thoughts on issues facing the board.

NYS Budget: The good news is that yesterday both houses of the state legislature approved a budget. Significant cuts to education ($1.4 billion) are now official. With the federal stimulus monies ending this academic year, planning for the next school year's budget will be a great challenge. Another financial problem has to do with federal funding for Medicaid. As noted in a NYSSBA (New York State School Boards Association) alert, "If federal funds are not forthcoming, the state legislature will cut up to an additional $300 million from school aid..."

The legislators also approved changes to teacher and principal evaluations. Student performance on state mandated tests will be tied to these evaluations. According to NYSSBA, "With the potential loss of an additional $300 million in aid hanging over our heads, continued political pressure for a tax cap, ongoing major reform efforts by the State Education Department, and the scandal over student testing, normalcy will prove an illusive goal for the foreseeable future."