Board names NISLA voting delegate, discusses statewide resolutions on charters, pre‑K, testing, AI and lockdown drills

The board held a wide‑ranging discussion of proposed New York State School Boards Association (NYSBA/NISLA) resolutions and on Oct. 8 appointed a voting delegate to represent Schenectady at the association’s business meeting.

Board members reviewed a list of proposed resolutions submitted by districts statewide and considered the Diversity/Equity/Accessibility committee’s take on each. Topics ranged from an opposition to expanding mayoral control outside New York City to proposals on pre‑K funding, charter school caps, special education legal cost relief, revising state testing, limiting publication costs for legal notices, and guidance on incorporating artificial intelligence in schools.

Members expressed clear support for some items (for example, incorporating pre‑kindergarten funding into the k‑12 aid formula and seeking state support for school air conditioning/electrical upgrades). They voiced opposition to others (including raising the number of state‑authorized charter schools) and debated the merits of still others — notably a proposal to reduce lockdown drills from four times per year to two. District safety staff explained nationally informed, trauma‑informed drill practice and emphasized muscle‑memory benefits; several board members ultimately opposed reducing the number of drills pending additional review.

Board members asked for follow‑up on two items in particular: higher‑profile questions about charter expansion and tuition tax credits/vouchers (the board asked to consult with absent member Amanda before finalizing positions) and a review of the district’s AI policy to ensure alignment with any statewide language. The board voted to name Alexandria Carver as the district’s NISLA voting delegate and directed the delegate to reflect the board’s feedback at the association’s business meeting.