THE TIME IS NOW

BY CHRIS MUNROE

There are times when students should be quiet, like during class or when you’re in the library. But when decisions are being made that affect your education, it’s time to speak up.

Here are some tips to help you get involved:

• Know your priorities. Be aware of your priorities for school programs and let them be known, says Maxine Brisport, president of the Schenectady City School District board of education.  One easy way to find out what students care about is to conduct a survey. (Our “Take Action story” includes a downloadable survey.)

• Attend budget meetings. Every school has budget meetings, says Brisport, and you should show up because your school needs student input. You can find the date and time of the next budget meeting on your school’s website.

• Contact local legislators. It’s an election year. Senators and Assemblymembers are responsive to their constituents’ concerns.   “If they don’t hear outcry from parents and students about budget cuts,” says Carn Korn, a spokesperson for New York State United Teachers union (NYSUT), “they’ll think it’s okay. You can find your legislative representative here on the NYSUT website.  Click “Who Are My Elected Officials” on the left. Type in your zip code to find yours. Next, choose up to three “Action” letters and send them by fax for free.

• Go to school. Make sure you are in school as much as possible.  The amount of state aid your school gets depends on the actual number of days each student is present in school.

The time to act is now. Unless you want someone else making all the decisions about which of your clubs, sports or electives may be cut, get off the sidelines and get in the game.