Forum discusses lack of funding for teacher centers

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February 3, 2012

By Mark Boshnack Staff Writer The Daily Star Fri Feb 03, 2012, 09:50 AM EST

ONEONTA -- About 30 people and three area legislators, as well as a representative for one, attended the eighth annual Catskill Regional Teacher Center's State Legislative Forum on Thursday.

It was held at the Bugbee School auditorium and was an informal opportunity for legislators to discuss issues with area educators, center Director Mary Ann Luciano said.

These include the lack of funding for teacher centers in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's upcoming budget. The state Legislature has to weigh in on the issue before a final budget is resolved. The deadline is April 1.

The centers were created by the state Legislature for a variety of professional teacher development goals.

Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, R-Guilford, said the centers are often used as a bargaining chip in budget negotiations. He affirmed his support for them, along with others on the panel including Assemblyman Bill Magee, D-Nelson.

State Sen. James Seward's chief of staff, Duncan Davie, said that it is probably an issue because the centers are not part of the executive budget. But Seward, R-Milford, recognizes their value and will work to get them funded, he said.

He also seeks to restore to general school aid much of the $250 million for performance grants that are part of Cuomo's proposed budget.

Assemblyman Pete Lopez, who came in later in the session because of a conflicting economic development meeting, also supported the centers.

Among the other issues discussed was Cuomo's insistence that administrators and teachers resolve their differences quickly on federally required evaluations.

Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School special education teacher Aaron Sorensen said that the school's team of teachers and administrators are having a difficult time on the issue. They were unsure what the state Education Department requires, he said.

Making matters worse, teachers are still working in the classroom while trying to understand the issues. An area New York State United Teachers union representative, Nancy Bowers, said despite a dispute between the union and state negotiators, the Education Department has not provided all pieces of the puzzle to local teams working on the subject.

On another issue, Oneonta City School Superintendent Michael Shea expressed his frustration in the continuing cuts to area schools, while the state tries to close its budget gap.

Although the state deficit was much less for the upcoming year, the cuts was still almost the same as this year's $2.4 million. If allowed to remain it will begin to "radically change" upstate schools and leave them further behind downstate counterparts.

After the session, Bowers said the forum provided a valuable opportunity for people to voice their opinion.

Karley Morgans, who teaches family and consumer science at Sidney and Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central schools, said she was glad to hear the legislators understood the importance of her field.

Franklin Central School Board President Linda DeAndrea said a lot of good points were made during the session. This included recognition from the legislators that "we need some financial help to maintain the status quo."