Port Washington BOE forms one-year legislative advocacy committee

The Port Washington Union Free School District Board of Education voted July 8 to create a one-year Legislative Advocacy Committee to develop and advise the board on a legislative agenda.

The ad hoc committee will include three board members and must meet in public. The board defined the committee’s purpose as developing a prioritized advocacy list and recommending who should meet with state and federal officials about district priorities. Trustees emphasized the committee’s role as agenda-setters; any legislative outreach would be undertaken by board members authorized to speak on the district’s behalf.

The motion called for a one-year sunset and was passed by the board. Adam Smith, Sandra Alvarez and Deborah Brooks were appointed as the initial committee members; the board asked staff to schedule the committee’s first public meeting and to produce an initial list of advocacy priorities before the start of the school year.

Board members who supported the committee cited the value of proactively developing an advocacy agenda ahead of budget and legislative cycles; others said they preferred matching individual board members with specific legislators based on relationships and expertise. Trustees agreed the committee would not have independent authority to act for the full board and would return recommendations to the full board for approval.

The committee’s creation was approved by voice vote; the board will publish meeting dates and agendas as required by open-meeting laws.