Cortland United Teachers

08/27/2026

Here it is!

08/18/2026

Opportunity!

08/11/2026

Don’t mess with the school secretary!

07/31/2026

05/19/2026

Vote today!

05/12/2026

Meet the Candidates and get ready to vote!

05/07/2026

Cortland United Teachers endorses Ms Megivern and Mr Chu

Cortland deserves strong, accountable leadership.

Lori Megivern and Donald Chu are running for the Cortland Enlarged City School District Board of Education to bring transparency, accountability, and strong leadership back to our schools.

We believe in:
✔ Clear communication with the community
✔ Thoughtful, responsible decision-making
✔ Strong oversight and accountability
✔ Putting students and classrooms first

This campaign is about restoring trust and making sure decisions are made openly and with the community in mind.

We demand transparency. We expect accountability.

🗳 Vote Tuesday, May 19

The Cortland Enlarged City School District Board of Education election and budget vote is Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

City of Cortland and Cortlandville residents vote at:
Cortland Junior-Senior High School
8 Valley View Drive, Cortland

Virgil, Lapeer, Harford, and Dryden residents vote at:
Virgil Town Hall
1176 Church Street, Cortland

05/07/2026

Cortland students deserve better than 'doing more with less'
2 hrs ago

To the editor:

After a career in special education, I thought I had seen just about every challenge a school district could face. But what is happening now in Cortland is deeply troubling. We are losing eight special education teachers. That is not a small adjustment. That is a serious loss for some of our most vulnerable students.

I will support the school budget because I know what is at stake. Special education is not optional. It is not a place to cut corners. It is legally required, yes—but more importantly, it is morally essential. Behind every one of those positions is a child who needs individualized attention, consistency, and expertise to succeed.

But we also need to confront a larger unfairness. Not all districts are starting from the same place. Wealthier communities, with higher property values and stronger tax bases, can raise far more money locally with less strain on their residents. They can absorb gaps in state funding more easily. Districts like Cortland cannot. When state support falls short, we are left choosing between higher taxes and fewer services—while other districts are better positioned to maintain or even expand what they offer.

This isn’t about envy; it’s about equity. Every child, regardless of zip code, deserves access to a strong public education.

When New York State fails to collect adequate revenue—especially from large corporations that benefit from our workforce and infrastructure—the burden shifts onto communities least able to carry it. As a retired special education teacher, I can tell you: you cannot “do more with less” indefinitely. At some point, less becomes less for children.

Yes, pass the budget. But also demand a fairer system—one where responsibility is shared more equally, and where students in Cortland are not asked to make do with less.

Kathleen Elliott

Cortland

05/06/2026

Loud and proud…we LOVE our music colleagues!

05/04/2026

Vote yes to the budget—our students and staff will thank you. 💜