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BOCES back budgets
November 18, 2004 Using rebates from VOTE-COPE, three area BOCES helped the Oneida County Presidents' Council fund pro-school-budget billboards like this one. Unlike the school districts they serve, the state's Boards of Cooperative Educational Services don't elect school board members or vote on their budgets. But some of them have found a way to assist districts that do. In the Mohawk Valley, three area BOCES helped the Oneida County Presidents' Council mount a billboard campaign in May urging residents of all districts in the county to get out and vote for their school budgets. "It's how we use VOTE-COPE funds to support the schools in our component districts," said Diana Giffune, president of Oneida County BOCES Teachers Association. Her local, in addition to Madison-Oneida BOCES TA and Herkimer BOCES TA, tapped their rebates from New York State United Teachers' voluntary political action fund to help pay for pro-budget messages on a dozen billboards throughout the county. VOTE-COPE supports grass-roots lobbying and political action on behalf of education, health care and labor issues. Up to 40 percent of donations is rebated to locals to help with their own political action needs. "There isn't much we can do, so it's a way for us to participate and support our component districts," said David Hagadorn, president of Madison-Oneida BOCES TA. "If the budgets are passed, they can continue to take advantage of BOCES services." The May campaign was the second one that BOCES locals took part in with the Utica presidents' group. - John Strachan |
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