Farmingdale’s Legislative Action Committee Advocates for Community
(Photo courtesy of the Farmingdale School District)
Members of Farmingdale’s Legislative Action Committee (LAC) met with local legislators in a town hall style meeting in early March to present their 2020-21 legislative proposals and to discuss the impact of pending and future legislation on public schools. Farmingdale is fortunate to have several local representatives who listen and work together to benefit our school district and community.
“The LAC is committed to meeting with local elected representatives to bring forth the concerns our district and community have in regards to legislation,” said BOE Trustee Kathy Lively. “Our students who participate learn about the legislative process; their participation also enables the committee and elected representatives to understand the views, concerns that our future voters may have.”
The Farmingdale LAC committee—made up of students, teachers, administrators, staff, parents, and Farmingdale Board of Education Trustees Suzanne D’Amico and Kathy Lively—meet with local legislators throughout the year then typically travel to Albany to visit legislators and tour the Capitol. COVID-19 canceled the annual trip to Albany, but the LAC pivoted and organized a Google Meet Town Hall with local legislators and invited fifteen high school students to lead the conversation.
“In this new, virtual format, our students successfully articulated how they are currently feeling during these unsettled times,” BOE Vice President Suzanne D’Amico said. “Mental Health awareness, support and destigmatizing being at the top of their priorities, they had a productive dialog with our local legislators who were so willing to listen and support their feelings.”
The meeting started with a brief welcome and then quickly moved into legislative priorities. Farmingdale High School students came prepared to share their concerns and ideas for what our legislators should focus on for the Farmingdale community. During the Town Hall meeting, the topics covered spanned various issues that impact the school district: predictable funding, support for mental health, digital equity, and school safety.
“Having our students lead the conversation was particularly special and delivered a greater impact during this unprecedented time,” said LAC Committee Chair and Assistant Superintendent for Innovation & Organizational Development, William Brennan. “Our students passionately expressed the challenges they face today and raised their concerns about the future.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to speak with some of our legislators and have our voices heard,” Farmingdale High School Junior Amanda Treulich said. “Many important issues were discussed, regarding topics that hold a lot of weight, especially in today’s society. We have to keep working towards improvement, and I hope I get the chance to participate at one of these meetings again in the future.”
For more information about the Farmingdale Union Free School District and a complete list of the LAC’s Legislative Proposals and members, visit www.farmingdaleschools.org and like Facebook page @FarmingdaleSchoolDistrict.
-Submitted by the Farmingdale Union Free School District
