Farmingdale District Teachers Campaign Against State Cuts

Faced with to education aimed at local school districts, the teacher’s union has begun several Internet campaigns aimed at saving jobs and educational programs.

One of the most visible is a campaign to enlist families in the community and fellow educators on its Facebook group called “Save New York State Schools.” Other campaigns organized by teachers are providing e-mail information on where to send faxes and letters protesting the proposed cut-backs.

“Our campaign is targeted to anyone in the community who is capable of voting,” said Jessica Zanco, a teacher at . “We’re trying to reach everyone so they can make an informed decision for the budget vote.”

“Our goal is to educate and to advocate on behalf of our students and future students,” added Emily M. Rhodes, a general music teacher in the Farmingdale district, who co-founded the Facebook campaign. “We hope to be able to gain enough support to challenge these cuts, and keep our schools as well rounded and cultured as they are today. We are scared for our children. Our students are the ones who would be missing out on a chance at success and their future should these political decisions be made ‘in our state’s best interest’. We just can't allow this to happen for the sake of the children.”

Rhodes and a fellow Farmingdale colleague, Amanda Rummenie, an art teacher, started the Facebook campaign in the middle of February, shortly after a faculty meeting made them aware of the current budget woes facing Long Island schools. After discussions at school over worse-case scenarios and what-ifs for the future, Rhodes and Rummenie decided to take action and the Facebook idea was born.

Since then, the Facebook campaign has quickly gained momentum. “We more than doubled our friend population within the last week or so, and we are teaming up with other Facebook pages for a type of cross-promotion / popularization,” said Rhodes. “Tell your friends and share our link,” said one Facebook member. “Together we are strong.” Another member added, “Please keep spreading the word, the truth, and the common sense that education is important to our nation. Tell friends, family, co-workers, co-Facebookers about this page. It’s a great non-partisan way to show support for education.”  ‎

Zanco’s campaign provides links on where to send free faxes and emails to state and local legislators through NYSUT, a federation of more than 1,200 local unions, each representing its own members. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA). “It’s easy,” she said. “All they have to do is click on who is to get the fax and NYSUT’s computer system automatically sends the fax. I’m hoping that they get bombarded with faxes.”

In addition, Zanco is attempting to educate the community on the proposed property tax cap. “Community members don't realize how much this cap will affect our schools,” she said. She directs her colleagues and Farmingdale families to the New York State PTS web site ( http://www.nyspta.org/) where they can click onto  "take action" and select email as the method of delivery. “It's free, no stamp required,” she added.

Rhodes’ goal is to educate as well. “These are important government issues,” she said, and will impact everyone. By joining their campaign on Facebook, community members can read other posts and articles, watch videos, and continue to educate themselves and share information, she added.

“I hope to save Long Island schools,” said Zanco. “The education and opportunities students get here is amazing, and all these proposed cuts are going to take away all that.  I also hope to get community members informed about what it means to vote ‘No’ at the budget vote and what the tax cap really means despite it sounding like a great idea.”

The teachers note that their jobs, in particular, are in jeopardy. “I teach a program that is going to be cut in the future if [Governor] Cuomo gets his way and if the budgets get voted down,” Zanco said. “We are looking at art, sports, music, technology education, and family and consumer science (home ec), referred to as ENCORE subjects. All the creative outlets that students need are programs that will potentially get cut.  I am also at the bottom of the seniority list.”

Rhodes and Rummenie, both arts teachers, agreed. “If you look at past practices in other states, if money is tight and funding is an issue, the first move is to eliminate non-mandated courses," said Rhodes.

“Additionally, these ENCORE subjects are not aligned with state assessments, and achievements in these areas are not as highly regarded because of that. We were also told that ‘worst case scenario’ would be that these ENCORE subjects would be first to go, as well as after-school clubs, extra-help, and school sports for the sheer fact that we could be facing million dollars of state aid pull-out and if we face the imposition of a tax cap, that two percent limit will not be enough to fill in the gaps forged by state aide spending cuts.”

All of the teachers agree that Long Island schools offer an array of creative classes and experiences and their campaign is to preserve those offerings. “Farmingdale has won state championships in both art and music, not to mention sports, and to deny our talented children of these experiences would be neglectful and devastating,” said Rhodes. “Many of these children are depending on talent-based scholarships to continue their education, and cutting any program in Farmingdale would result in a lesser quality educational experience.”