Tech Valley Bill Receives Bi-partisan Support

State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/I/C - Mount Hope) announced today that his legislation, Senate bill 8087, will be introduced in the Assembly by Assemblyman Kevin Cahill. The measure, if enacted, would create the Hudson School of Math, Science, and Engineering Regional Technology Institute.

"We need a regional effort to ensure our children are not left behind, and that leading educational opportunities such as this are brought to their doorstep," Bonacic said.

Senator Bonacic said that in November of 2005, the Governor signed into law the Tech Valley High School Act (Senate bill 5729) a joint collaboration between two Boards of Cooperative Services (BOCES) serving the greater Albany region. Under that law, two BOCES districts will collaborate to establish a regional school that will focus on technology.

Senator Bonacic continued, "Albany and SUNY Albany have received substantial State aid in the technology development area and young people in that area will benefit from it. The Hudson Valley region of the State is the fastest growing region in the State and a regional school with a focus on the jobs of tomorrow would be an asset to our young people as well as allow for more investment in the fast growing technology sector."

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill stated, "If the State is going to be competitive in the emerging global economy, we need to focus on advancing a comprehensive vision aimed at overhauling our approach to public education. To prepare our children for the jobs of tomorrow, we need to start today by advancing bold initiatives like the regional institute proposed in this legislation."

As in the case of the Albany region's Tech Valley High School, partnerships will be developed with existing technology based businesses to integrate local technology into the classroom; the school will be treated as a regional institute rather than a freestanding high school and provisions comparable to other State Education Department approved programs for accountability, voter participation and fiscal oversight are included in the Bonacic/Cahill bill.

"We envision a school that will be open to students of diverse talents who want to focus their talents in the areas of science, math, and engineering and believe that all students of our region deserve an opportunity to nurture those talents and energies in those areas," Senator Bonacic and Assemblyman Cahill said. "We look forward to seeing this legislation become law, as it will greatly benefit the residents, businesses, and students of our region today and well into the future."

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