Huntington board selects three state advocacy priorities, including opposition to charter expansion
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Summary
Board members chose three NISPA/NYS school boards association priorities to submit for statewide advocacy: opposing charter school expansion (position 1.2), comprehensive foundation-aid reform (2.8) and dedicated funding for student health and mental-health services (2.18). The board voted unanimously to make the selections.
The Huntington Union Free School District Board of Education voted Nov. 17 to submit three advocacy priorities to the New York State School Boards Association (NISPA): opposition to charter-school expansion, comprehensive reform of the foundation-aid formula and dedicated state funding for student health and mental-health services.
Board members discussed an initial longer list of adopted positions and narrowed it to three items the district will rank for statewide advocacy. One board member said charter expansion on Long Island has redirected taxpayer funds away from local public schools and identified opposition as a top priority; others supported fully funded universal prekindergarten and more funding for mental-health services.
According to the discussion, the group settled on position 1.2 (oppose increases in authorized charter schools), 2.8 (support comprehensive foundation-aid reform) and 2.18 (support dedicated funding for health and mental-health services). The motion to transmit those three priorities was moved and seconded on the record and carried by unanimous voice vote.
Board members said selecting three priorities for NISPA does not preclude advocating for district-specific items when meeting with state legislators, but the submitted list is intended to produce common statewide priorities the association will elevate at the state level.
The board asked the appointed NISPA advocate to send a follow-up email confirming the selections and to work with county and state contacts when they travel to Albany.