Bless you! Sadly, most of the school districts have contingency budgets that allow them to eliminate 'extra-curricula' programs such as sports, music, LRA (learning resources for disabled), etc.. This past week the National Teachers Association spent 1 million $s in advertising to pass these school budgets. We loose either way.
Last week, the local news carried a story on cell phone taxes. Did you know that NY State residents pay 21% in taxes on their cell phones!! The next highest rate was only 14%!!!
I am a native New Yorker - born, raised, educated and lived in NY all my life. The taxes are killing the middle class. If this continues, there will be only 2 groups remaining - the wealthy and the poor.
Three weeks ago, an explanation for the increase in the budget came in the mail. The reason for the biggest part of the requested increase was teacher salaries, pensions, and health care. The teachers are working without an agreement and wear black on Fridays. Ironically, the superintendent has been working hard AGAINST their requests, which, of course, are coming directly from the Union. Then (get this), last week our local paper, which leans to the left, carried a front page article on per student expenditures, suggesting that it was necessary to pass the budget or else? If the teachers don't get what they want, they make the students pay.