I am thrilled to report the following news.  I received a phone call from my great friends at Citizen Action (very much an active member) and I was asked to video footage of our rally at the State Education Building in Albany. 

The protest was organized by the Alliance for Quality Education from a wonderful advocate and friend named Billy Easton. 

After a brief protest march (which also included the call to the police – City of Albany showed up with horses and all, members of the state Board of Regents on Monday pledged to hold off approving their Contracts for Excellence in targeted school districts until those districts make allowances for public input. 

Here is a bit of inside information.  The City of Albany Police was called to the scene, all in an effort to suppress the noise.  As you can see in the video, the protest was filled with seniors, youth, those with disabilities.  Take a look yourself and you will conclude we are far from criminals.  Imagine!  What happened here was that Regents didn't expect us to show up.

"We do hear you. We want to continue to hear from you. You represent the most important group in the whole enterprise, and that's your kids," Regents Chancellor Robert Bennett said after members of a school funding group.

Oh yea!  They heard us alright.  And that's how you get things done!

My major complaint echoed by tremendous advocates: Too many Contracts for Excellence schools were forging ahead with state-funded improvement plans without adequate public hearings or other outreach to parents.

Here’s the bottom line.  If we don’t provide information regarding state-funded improvements and programs, what type of comments would be generated?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=od9LfmIltd0