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Sachem legislative team reports gains in Albany on security-guard, AIS and UPK issues
Summary
Members of Sachem’s legislative committee described a productive Albany lobby day: they said the school-security-guard bill has new assembly sponsors and committee interest, they introduced a draft AIS reimbursement bill aimed at 50% reimbursement, and they urged the state to keep proposed UPK funding in the budget.
At the March 25 meeting the district’s legislative committee reported the results of a lobby day in Albany, describing meetings with committee chairs, governor’s staff and multiple legislators and outlining several priorities that gained traction.
Paul Sapienza, who introduced the update, said the committee pursued a bipartisan strategy and targeted committee chairs and aides most able to move legislation. Committee members described “planting seeds” on longer-term issues such as state-aid formula changes and electric-bus timing, and they said several items received positive receptions.
Jim Kiernan, who has led the security-guard effort, said the bill has passed the state senate in prior sessions and that Assemblyman O’Farrell took up the assembly sponsorship this year with multiple bipartisan cosponsors. Kiernan emphasized there is no fiscal cost to districts under the bill and said the chair of the assembly economic-development committee agreed to place the bill on the next agenda. “There is no cost to this bill,” Kiernan said, repeating that point during discussion.
Committee member Brian described a locally drafted academic-intervention-services bill, the “Help Every Student Succeed Act,” intended to create a stand‑alone reimbursement category and provide a minimum 50 percent reimbursement on AIS spending (subject to appropriation). He said Assemblyman Bill Conrad expressed interest in sponsoring the bill and that the committee will seek cosponsors, further drafting and coalition building with PTAs and unions.
Jenna Colletti reported the committee also pressed to retain a governor-proposed UPK expansion in the state budget; she said a $10,000-per-student proposal could allow Sachem to offer seats to all eligible children if enacted.
Committee members said they plan further follow-up visits and, if necessary, testimony in committee; they credited the administration and board volunteers for preparatory research and outreach.
The board thanked the committee; no board vote was taken on legislative matters during the update.
