Stephen Hampe

03/08/2025

I want YOUR autograph!
(If you live in Rome Wards 3-1, 3-2, 3-5, all of 4 & 5; aka Oneida Ctu Legislature, District 12)
TODAY @ Jervis Library in the Dillon Room..

Help power the blue wave of two OC Leg and four Rome City Council candidates.

We may not flip the balance, but we are going to make sure they hear our voices and know our concerns!

12/09/2024

Guess I was ahead of the times when I got this done for the RCSD!
(The only piece of my board legacy still intact!)
- - - - -
Governor signs bill requiring student board members
From: NY State School Board Association https://www.nyssba.org/news/2024/09/23/on-board-online-september-23-2024/governor-signs-bill-requiring-student-board-members/

On Board Online • September 23, 2024
By Eric D. Randall - Editor-in-Chief

On Sept. 12, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law a bill that will require every school district and BOCES board in the state to have at least one ex-officio student representative.

The law will take effect on July 1, 2025.
Under the new law, student school board members would not be empowered to vote or attend executive sessions. Nor would they be able to attend any meeting or hearing that is not open to the public (e.g., appeals to the board of education related to contests over student suspensions and district special education classifications and placement determinations).

Currently, about a third of school districts and BOCES have non-voting student board members, according to a NYSSBA poll of district clerks conducted earlier this year in March. Voters approved the creation of each of those student positions in accordance with current law, which requires a public referendum to create a student board position. The new law repeals the voter approval requirement.

"Our governmental relations department staff interacted with the sponsors over a period of months to share our views about whether this legislation was necessary," said NYSSBA Executive Director Robert Schneider. "We shared survey data and anecdotal stories that showed the majority of school districts already use a variety of methods to include students in their governance and decision-making processes. After numerous amendments were made that addressed specific concerns that NYSSBA raised, the association took 'no position' on the final version of the legislation."

"In the months to come, we will provide our members with detailed information to help them understand the law and its requirement, and provide guidance on how to best implement it," said Sandra Ruffo, president of the NYSSBA Board of Directors.

For more information please visit the following link.
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S9018/amendment/A

Allows for the designation of students as ex officio members of school boards; clarifies what such ex officio members are permitted to do.

08/22/2024

As many of you know, post-BoE, I was asked to join NYSSBA's team of board retreat facilitators.

They're called "retreats," but before you get visions of beaches and spas, the event is more accurately a half- or full-day professional development seminar where board members and district administrators are provided information about how best to be stewards for their districts and have an opportunity to engage in frank discussions concerning the challenges - and accomplishments - they share.

Been a busy summer!

07/01 Lyme CSD
07/18 - 21 NYSSBA Leadership in Education Event, Albany
07/22 Alfred-Almond CSD
07/23 Oneida CSD (second visit)
08/12 Union-Endicott CSD
08/20 Groton CSD
08/26 Campbell-Savona CSD

Coming up
10/08 Addison CSD (requested by name!)

While I still contemplate (and have been asked by a few people about) making another run for the Rome BoE, it certain is nice being paid to share one's time and expertise!

06/13/2024

Been awhile, but back on the air talking about education (this time as "College professor, father of 3")

(For context - the interview was about 15 - 20" ... used about 30 - 45 SECONDS! :) )

Regents exams could become optional

10/28/2022

Return for 4th (maybe last) NYSSBA Convention

10/28/2022

A return to NYSSBA convention, perhaps my last.

07/30/2022

Ugh, and so it begins?

07/06/2022

A new year and completely new leadership on the BoE. Looking forward to good things!

2022-2023 MEMBER DIRECTORY

Joseph Mellace - President
Elena Reddick - Vice President
Danielle Lubecki - Clerk

06/29/2022

How telling ...

"“I hold the same position as when I first joined the board,” said Davis, who wanted to see more community input into the disposition of that property."

She almost blew up the sale soon after taking office, trying to wrest control of the sale by disparaging a local agent.

Now, at her last meeting, she shows she's learned nothing as the seller of a property has NO legal right trying to dictate what the seller will do with it. (Zoning laws are the controls.)

https://romesentinel.com/stories/district-extends-broker-agreement-on-former-fort-stanwix-school,136961?fbclid=IwAR08mnBuVydxfktB7VEjbaMb68z1sQGye2sTIa40vDFUdu1TaYki_TbQLSk

ROME  — The former Fort Stanwix Elementary School building, 110 W. Linden St., remains on the market — and will continue to be offered for sale by the Pyramid Brokerage Company, following an extension of an agreement between the Rome City School District and the real estate firm.

05/16/2022

REMEMBER TO VOTE TOMORROW (9:00 AM - 8:00 PM)!

Balloting for FOUR BoE candidates and next year's budget is tomorrow.

I will be voting FOR the budget and

Kelly Carinci
Cassie Knutti
Danielle Lubecki
Jon Maggiolino

(I was impressed by their responses in the NAACP Q&A and had extended conversations with Kelly and Danielle.)

The budget newsletter with voting locations is available here:
https://www.romecsd.org/district/business___finance/budget/r_c_s_d_2022-23_budget_newsletter/

04/07/2022

UPDATE: At the 04/07 board meeting, it was announced that Ms. Davis has agreed "to be trained."

Who in their right mind needs "training" they aren't supposed to yell at students ... or staff (twice!)

------
Sadly, NYS does education law does not provide any provision for recall or removal of a BoE member, except for revealing confidential information or three consecutive unexcused absences from board meetings.

Additionally, as censure is little more than a formal statement of condemnation with no practical consequences, the fact that there is no legal provision for it is immaterial.

HOWEVER, as the board elects its officers and the president appoints committee chairs, they ABSOLUTELY can strip those from her.

If the board fails to take even those minimal actions in response, they are complict in condoning her inappropriate actions, essentially saying board members are exempt from the expectations for ALL other community members.

Davis feels no pressure as she registered her candidacy for re-election.

ROME — An investigation by the Rome City School District’s legal firm has found that Board of Education Vice President Tanya Davis, violated the district’s codes of conduct during an incident at a varsity boys basketball game. However, the district cannot remove Davis for the incident at the R...

03/31/2022

Your Board of Education continues to capitulate to a handful of people who do not like the most viable option to reduce class sizes and provide elementary students with the best educational experience possible with current realities.