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Learning To Be Truly Pro-Active
ECSD Students Rally For Education In Albany

ELLENVILLE – Kassondra Little and Enrique Abalos are two Ellenville High students bent on changing the world. They, along with seventy-five other Ellenville High US History and US Government class students, stood shoulder to shoulder alongside two thousand others at the March 11 fair funding rally in Albany in support of NY public education.

And the experience, Little told board members during the board of education meeting March 24, was priceless.

It all started, she said, when rumors started circulating in school that certain teachers wouldn't be returning in the fall and there was a potential for program cuts going into this budget term.

"Students are outraged. We have a lot of turmoil going on in the hallways, a lot of hurt feelings," Little said. "People were trying to find out what was going on as names of teachers circulated and as some programs that were in jeopardy floated around; people were stunned."

So, Little continued, students like herself, Enrique Abalos and Brandon Gurney — along with others — "found a passion for something that we really felt strongly about and ran with it."

With the help of the Hudson Valley chapter of the Alliance for Quality Education, students, teachers and administrators figured out a way to get seventy-five Ellenville students and chaperones to Albany for the rally. Along the way, students were given fact sheets compiled by Little and Abalos so that, as she explained, they would be able to discuss their views and back them up with facts.

In Albany, Little met with NY assemblywomen Aileen Gunther and Claudia Tenney, sharing a video fellow student Gurney directed about Ellenville students and their reaction to the fair funding fight with them (it is now available for viewing on the district's website under the fair funding tab.)

"It was a beautiful day. It was awesome to see where it all happens, and to have us be in the moment," Little added.

And while all Ellenville students couldn't attend the rally, Little said enthusiastic text messages during the day from fellow classmates made it feel as if the entire school was standing with them.

"In this particular time, where the state has issued us such lemons — and I mean lemons — I want to thank you and the other students, teachers and parents for taking those lemons and making lemonade," board vice president Karen Osterhoudt said to Little and all in attendance.

Trustee Phil Mattracion agreed.

"It's a proud moment for Ellenville to have young people involved and stand up for what they believe in," he said. "I'm really, really proud of you guys. It's certainly a great credit to you, your parents, and to our community."

And the experience, Abalos said, has taught students a thing or two about life.

"This was a teachable moment. It was a life lesson," he said. "This was teaching a group of young people that they have voices."

It was an experience, he continued, that he didn't think any involved would ever forget, and would always be proud of.

"One day, when this war on education is over with, and they all have kids, they'll be able to tell their kids, �I was there. I was part of history,' and it's going to be an incredible thing," Abalos said.

In other news, four high school students attended a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute college trip for the STEM program, which they described as not just a typical college visit, but one that included an engineering competition.

Also, the budget process is moving along. The next workshop, superintendent Lisa Wiles said, will be April 7 and the latest date the board can approve the budget is April 21.

"It's a critical time from now until then," she said, noting that the state budget may be delayed pushing back the school budget.

Additionally, Wiles announced that spring break will be one day longer, with the addition of Monday, April 6.

Then, every agreed, maybe spring will come.



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