Local Students Reaching Out To Albany Lawmakers Through "Love Your Schools"
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: January 31, 2013
The Canandaigua City School District is reaching out to lawmakers in Albany through the organization "Love Your Schools."
"We love our schools..Albany lawmakers, do you?" That is what Canandaigua students are calling their new campaign. For the next week, students and community members can sign hearts that explain what they want done for students in New York state. Those cards will then be sent to state lawmakers. There are three goals on the cards. Students are urging lawmakers to fund mandates that the state gives them, provide sufficient aid across the state and make sure that the state education aid formula is fair. Students hope to deliver them on Valentine's Day right before lawmakers make final decisions on the state budget.
"Another great side effect, if you will, of this project is that students see that their voice matters. that there is strength in numbers and that they can become involved in the political process and create change," student council member Tyler Fisher said.
"It's giving them an opportunity to look at what advocacy is and also these students ultimately are the end result of budget cuts. They are the ones that suffer when things get cut out or things can't be done," organizer Laurie Riedman said.
In just the past two days, more than 1,000 hearts have been signed at Canandaigua Academy. Now the middle school plans to take on the project, along with other local districts.
"We love our schools..Albany lawmakers, do you?" That is what Canandaigua students are calling their new campaign. For the next week, students and community members can sign hearts that explain what they want done for students in New York state. Those cards will then be sent to state lawmakers. There are three goals on the cards. Students are urging lawmakers to fund mandates that the state gives them, provide sufficient aid across the state and make sure that the state education aid formula is fair. Students hope to deliver them on Valentine's Day right before lawmakers make final decisions on the state budget.
"Another great side effect, if you will, of this project is that students see that their voice matters. that there is strength in numbers and that they can become involved in the political process and create change," student council member Tyler Fisher said.
"It's giving them an opportunity to look at what advocacy is and also these students ultimately are the end result of budget cuts. They are the ones that suffer when things get cut out or things can't be done," organizer Laurie Riedman said.
In just the past two days, more than 1,000 hearts have been signed at Canandaigua Academy. Now the middle school plans to take on the project, along with other local districts.
