Watkins Glen High School students, teachers meet with Senator O'Mara in Albany

Albany, N.Y., March 14—A group of nearly 30 students and teachers representing the Watkins Glen High School “Save Our Schools” movement made the trek to Albany on Wednesday, March 14th as part of a statewide Education Lobby Day.

In the photo, the group met with State Senator Tom O’Mara in the conference room of his Albany office in the Legislative Office Building to share their concerns over the future of state aid to education.

“These are tough times at every level of government and in every community.  So I can’t praise enough each and every one of these students and teachers for standing up and speaking out for their school,” said O’Mara. “It’s a difficult fight within the State Legislature, and I’m grateful for their input.  I’ve joined forces with many of my legislative colleagues representing the upstate, rural school districts that we believe deserve a more fair, equitable and regionally balanced allocation of state education aid.”

Senator O’Mara told the group that both houses of the State Legislature, the Senate and Assembly, are seeking to redirect approximately $200 million in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2012-2013 executive budget proposal to better address the concerns and challenges facing low wealth, rural and high needs school districts throughout the state.

A final 2012-2013 state budget is expected to be adopted before the April 1 start of New York’s new fiscal year.

Read more in The Odessa File: News of Schuyler County, and this morning's Elmira Star-Gazette.