21st Century Schools Act a Topic at Onteora Speakers’ Panel

Cahill plan would ensure quality education, lower school costs and improve efficiency

January 25, 2010

Boiceville – Lowering costs, improving local government efficiency and ensuring community needs are met were among the topics addressed by Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D-Ulster, Dutchess) and other panelists at the kick off of the Onteora School Board’s 2010 Speakers’ Series. Ideas for consolidating services were also discussed including more efficient ways to plow local roads and the safety and maintenance of the Route 28 corridor.

Education was a major topic and it ranged from charter schools to alternative uses for the currently empty West Hurley elementary school. Assemblymember Cahill used the occasion to preview his”21st Century Schools Act” (A.9510) which is designed to curb school spending yet still provide New York’s children with a world-class education.

“Our current system is bloated and expensive. We must act to take advantage of modern economies of scale and improve the delivery of services to our kids and teachers” said Assemblymember Cahill. “My legislation addresses costs by streamlining services and ending duplication. This bill is poised to save hundreds of millions of dollars while preserving the quality and local character of our schools.”

A recent report by Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli estimated that the state could save close to $400 million if school districts took better advantage of back-office services already offered by BOCES. The 21st Century Schools Act builds on that by maximizing the use of BOCES, increasing cooperative participation and expanding regional approaches to bigger ticket items like transportation and special education.

The bill also calls for a complete reexamination of school district lines. “District lines have not been comprehensively redrawn since the 1950s. Population shifts and community growth often mean boundaries drawn sixty years ago no longer make sense today.” Assemblymember Cahill said. “For example, of the 700 school districts in our state, 200 serve less than 1,000 students each. Along with better service coordination, it is time we re-examined school district lines.”

The bill would create an implementation board modeled after the successful Commission on Health Care Facilities, better known as the Berger Commission. The 21st Century Schools Commission would assure the goals of modernization, educational excellence, efficiency and cost reduction while enhancing the local character and control of our schools

“This is not another powerless blue ribbon panel. The Berger Commission succeeded by bringing together people in all levels of health care to address complex issues. That process lead to a consolidation of health care services and the shuttering of many hospitals without harming the delivery of services.” said Assemblymember Cahill Following that path, my plan calls for input from local activists, parents, teachers, administrators, taxpayers and other education advocates and actually puts their ideas to work. The blueprint laid out by the 21st Century Schools Commission would automatically go into effect unless voted down in the entirety by the Legislature.”

Assemblyman Cahill was joined on the panel by officials from Ulster County and the four towns (Hurley, Olive, Shandaken, Woodstock) that comprise the Onteora school district. Woodstock Times editor Brian Hollander and Onteora Board of Education President Laurie Osmond moderated the panel. The discussion was followed by an open question-and-answer session.

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