Two key members of the CAS/ESSAA Lobbying Team, Bob Ungar and Tony Laurino, recently met with NYS Senate Standing Committee on Education Chair Shelley Mayer and Assembly Standing Committee on Education Chair Michael Benedetto to advocate for the restoration of full Foundation Aid and the continuance of the Hold Harmless provisions ensuring no school district on Long Island receives less state aid than they did the previous school year.
Bob and Tony brought our members’ voices to let our elected leaders know what devasting effects the reduction of Foundation Aid will have on Long Island school districts like Amityville, East Hampton, Riverhead, Sachem, Three Village, West Babylon, and William Floyd, among others. During the meeting, both Chairs indicated their opposition to the Governor’s health and education budget reductions and pledged to work to restore full Foundation Aid and maintain the Hold Harmless provisions for school districts.
CAS/ESSAA provides ongoing, active lobbying to support and enhance issues that impact our members’ personal and professional lives. Bob and Tony have cultivated productive relationships with significant decision makers in Albany and regularly communicate their interactions with the State Education Department and our elected officials to our executive board. As a result, CAS/ESSAA has a strong voice in Albany!
