MEDIA ADVISORY

Forty-eight school district superintendents and the leaders of the Questar III and Capital Region BOCES have released their annual legislative position paper. It outlines key public policy and legislative issues impacting area school districts.
The paper was presented at a legislative breakfast on March 6, which was well-attended by school leaders, state leaders and their aides. The annual meeting was an opportunity to celebrate the progress being made in public education and to address key public policy and legislative issues impacting school districts throughout the region.
Among other things, this year's position paper calls for state leaders to:

* Keep the promise on Foundation Aid for 2008-09
* Reject proposed cuts in BOCES Aid, which would cost area taxpayers $4.3 million
* Reject the plan to remove state police officers serving as School Resource Officers
* Take a fair and responsible approach to property tax relief -- through cost controls and mandate relief

Additional information and details can be found in the attached document.

Sally Sharkey and Charles Dedrick are the co-chairs of the regional Superintendents' Legislative Committee, which represents 48 school districts in the Questar III and Capital Region BOCES service area.

Contacts:
James Baldwin, District Superintendent
Questar III BOCES and
Interim District Superintendent
Capital Region BOCES
518/477-8771

Charles Dedrick, Superintendent
Cohoes City Schools
518/237-0100

Sally Sharkey, Superintendent
Cairo Durham Central School District
518/622-8534