First, let’s start from the beginning. What is the NYSED Board of Regents’ Regionalization Plan?
The Regionalization Plan claims the goal is to create equitable student opportunities by pushing collaboration among school districts in order to address disparities in resources. There are many bad parts to this plan, but one is it eliminates local control from school boards (who normally oversee taxpayer funds to provide educational opportunities) and gives their power to 37 regional BOCES. School districts in each region will consolidate their resources including tax dollars, align curriculum, and share staff under one regional BOCES as “sole supervisor”. The five big cities (Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany & NYC school districts) are not included. This will ultimately lead to elimination of local school district superintendents and school boards, removing our right to vote on school decisions.
This plan is being pushed through the same way they did with the mask regulation using emergency powers. Apparently NYSED believes there is a “DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) emergency” which is their excuse for implementing this socialist plan. Their goal to provide “equitable structure” to address “educational disparities” would be our definition of a socialist education system. Lisa Azzarelli, an education advocate, said “they did not cite empirical studies, nor district surveys or data to support their decision”. Learn more about the Regionalization Plan on the NYSED website HERE and read the Regionalization Plan document HERE.
Here is a timeline:
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- September 9, 2024 -The Board of Regents presented the Regionalization Plan at a P-12 Committee meeting. Click HERE for the presentation. For the New York State School Boards Association explanation of the plan click HERE.
- September 25, 2024 -NYSED put the Regionalization Plan in the NYS Register as a “emergency” proposed rule. Click HERE to read the proposed rule on page 6 of the document.
- October 23, 2024 -NYSED adds a proposed rule in the NYS register to “clarify responsibilities and employment conditions for district superintendents. In other words, according to Azzarelli, “their hiring practices will be amended to expand their new powers under the Regionalization Plan”. Click HERE to read the proposed rule.
- November 26, 2024 -Commissioner Rosa released a letter stating a provision (124-2.8) allowing school districts to “opt-out” of the Regionalization Plan through a written notice submitted by January 15, 2025. Watch the news report HERE.
- December 9, 2024 -NYSED Board of Regents monthly meeting – voted to adopt a proposed amendment to “opt-out” of their Regionalization Plan. This proposed provision allows schools district to “opt-out” of the Regionalization Plan. The question remains, what would be the “opt-out” option according to our tyrannical state? Click HERE to read the proposed amendment.
Regionalization Plan – “Elusive and Sneaky”
Sash Silvera, a parent/concerned New Yorker, said the following about the Regionalization Plan, “The language and gaslighting used by NYSED is not simple for the layperson to decipher.” She stated that, “NYSED’s elusive and sneaky nature offered no real or intentional effort to inform, offer transparency or engage in meaningful discourse with the key stakeholders who are the families, taxpayers, and community members that stand to be most impacted by the implementation of this plan.” Silvera said, “instead of engaging with the people, who pay for the education of children, NYSED created a non-existent “emergency” during the throes of the election season, a revision during the Thanksgiving holiday, and proposed an amendment to be conveyed on Christmas Eve.” Her point is NYSED picked busy times to push this plan forward.
Unanswered Question: What would be the consequences of choosing to “opt-out”.
Since nothing is simple with the state of New York, we are concerned that there will be consequences for the districts that choose to “opt-out”.
We still recommend your district opt out of this socialist education system. Better yet, if you can, pull your kid out of public school immediately. We do not believe the intentions of the plan are good, especially for future generations and their basic understanding of freedoms.
If you can convince your school district to “opt-out”, expect opposition from supporters of this plan. Here is a comment from a supporter of the Regionalization Plan:
Deuterman is criticizing board members who oppose the Regionalization Plan and for parents to put the blame on them. She is known for being a big supporter of the Democrat party and NYSED. Meanwhile, we have actual board members from Locust Valley School District boldly speaking out against the plan and explaining why they oppose it HERE.
Specific consequences of opting out are unclear but we guess that it could lead to loss of state support, limited access to resources such as advanced course offerings, teacher recruitment programs, and other collaborative opportunities. It could affect long-term sustainability. Such as making it difficult to maintain an independent administrative system without regional support and could increase costs.
Nothing about the Regionalization Plan is good! A Notice of Adoption for the Regionalization Plan will be published in the State Register on December 24, 2024. We cannot stop the Regionalization Plan from happening, but we can make noise and get individual school districts to opt-out. It will not be easy if your district opts out, but you will be protecting a generation of children from socialism.
In the meantime, we suggest the following “take action”:
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- Contact your school board and school superintendent -tell them to “opt-out” of the Regionalization Plan by January 15, 2025.
- Encourage as many parents as possible in your district to do the same.
- Spread the word far and wide to other parents. Share this post on social media.
- Write letters to the editor about the Regionalization Plan to educate the public.
- Contact your county and state legislators -let them know you do not want your public school to participate in the Regionalization Plan- ask them to help you fight it.
- Convince your school district to file an Article 78 lawsuit to abolish the Regionalization Plan.
Our children’s future depends on our actions today!
