School boards hold forum, hear hard facts

By Nicole Davis | For Manor Ink

Livingston Manor, NY – On Wednesday May 24, the Sullivan County School Boards Association partnered with the Rural Schools Association at Livingston Manor Central School to discuss challenges facing schools after the COVID-19 pandemic.

John Evans, superintendent of Livingston Manor CSD and Roscoe CSD, as well as David Little, executive director of the state’s Rural Schools Association addressed the challenges schools face and how they can be fixed. Attendees were able to offer ideas on the issues deliberated at the meeting to support rural schools.

At the meeting, Sullivan 180 reported that the county has the highest number of obese school-age children and adolescents, and the highest rate of depressive disorders. The region also has the highest percentage of students receiving free or reduced-cost lunches. The way funding is allocated among the rural schools is a huge issue, and people urged that there be more support for nutrition programs due to the disappointing statistics. The mid-Hudson region has the highest percentage of food insecurity at a 11.5 percent. The region also has the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students at a staggering 62 percent.

Another huge issue presented was that 53 percent of third graders have untreated cavities – twice the state average. Sullivan County has the lowest level of educational attainment in the mid-Hudson region and reported the highest percentage of youth reporting mental health issues and emergency room visits involving opioid overdose. Rates of sexually transmitted infections are increasing alarmingly, and this region has the second highest suicide mortality rate. It was noted, however, that these rates were pre-pandemic data. Also discussed were chronic absences and the drop-out rate, with only 82 percent of students now graduating.

There was discussion about the inequity in Sullivan County funding for some schools. Roscoe received $62,000 in Foundation Aid, whereas other schools in the region received millions of dollars. Additionally, those at the meeting learned how the mergers-incentive aid failed. The Rural Schools Association is working on an advocacy document for the legislators in Albany to inform them about these challenges and the obstacles that rural schools are facing.

As a result of this important public forum, concerns were addressed regarding the challenges impacting schools and the community. Coming out of the pandemic, there are still issues that schools face, so it is important to discuss how officials can use their power to alleviate some of these problems. Feedback received at the forum will be reviewed by a state-wide task force of experts and will be included in a policy advocacy platform that national and NY State leaders will work on treating.