The Buffalo Public Schools District Parent Coordinating Council joined the growing coalition of parents and teachers across New York that are signing a resolution joining the Student Lobbyist Association. The Student Lobbyist Association is an advocacy platform for mobilizing students and parents across the state in support Governor Cuomo’s education reform agenda of implementing teacher evaluation systems in our schools and putting students first. As Parents, when we sign up for the Student Lobbyist Association we should make specific commitments to lobby for Governor Cuomo’s Education reforms by mobilizing other parents across the state through online and grassroots activities.
On February 7th, the District Parent Coordinating Council of Buffalo (DPCC), which represents parents from the Buffalo Public Schools, held a meeting with over 100 parents and passed a resolution to join the Student Lobbyist Association and take action on the Governor’s education agenda. In the Buffalo Public Schools, less than 50% of students graduate, and only 25% of Black and Hispanic males graduate and the parents of these students are demanding change through Governor Cuomo’s education reform agenda.
The following is a copy of the resolution which UNANIMOUSLY passed is now being signed by parents in Buffalo and other school districts around the state:
STUDENT LOBBYIST ASSOCIATION RESOLUTION
We are parents, teachers, business leaders and community members that believe that a high quality education system is the foundation for a better Buffalo.
We endorse Governor Andrew Cuomo’s education reform agenda because it will improve our schools by putting students first.
Governor Andrew Cuomo is our student’s lobbyist, and we are standing behind him by joining the Student Lobbyist Association of Buffalo. Members of the Buffalo Student Lobbyist Association are committed to improving our schools by demanding new teacher evaluation systems in our schools which hold teachers and principals accountable, and to realign our spending to improve student performance.
As members of the Student Lobbyist Association, we commit to take the following actions to support the Governor’s efforts to reform our education system:
· Call on our state and local elected officials to support Governor Cuomo’s education reform agenda to put students first. We will phone bank, write letters and emails, and meet with our elected officials to gain their support.
· Talk to our friends and neighbors about the importance of Governor Cuomo’s message and agenda to improve our schools, to grow support for the NY Students First campaign.
· Talk to our teachers and principals about the need for a real teacher evaluation system.
· Sign up at NYStudentsFirst.com and pass along to friends and family to sign up as well.
· Record a video on www.youtube.com discussing why we support Governor Cuomo’s agenda to improve our schools, include the link www.NYStudentsFirst.com in the description, and tweet a link to the video @nygovcuomo
· Tweet our support using @NYGovCuomo, #NYStudentsFirst, as well as tweet for others to join the fight at www.NYStudentsFirst.com
· Show our support on the Governor’s Facebook page and voice our support for his education policy on our wall or in a message to friends. Here are two posts that can be shared on your wall: General Reform and Video from “My Governor, My Lobbyist”
· Send an email to our contact lists and friends stressing the critical importance of Governor Cuomo’s proposed reforms to improve our schools. Ask them to join the fight to put NY Students.]]>
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Trump had made the complaints in front of TV cameras as he left the courtroom after proceedings closed in his hush money trial Thursday.
"I'm not allowed to testify because of the unconstitutional gag order," he said. "We're appealing the gag order and let's see what happens."
Trump was fined $9,000 earlier this week for violating the order, which forbids him from talking about potential witnesses, jurors, court staff or their families in the case, which has hit him with 34 charges of falsifying business records involving payments to adult movie actress Stormy Daniels to cover up a sexual relationship she allegedly had with him before the 2106 election.
Judge Juan Merchan started Friday's hearing by talking directly to Trump — and putting him right.
"There may be a misunderstanding how it impacts Trump's right to testify," the judge said. "I want to say the Mr. Trump, you have an absolute right to testify. The order restricting extrajudicial statements does not restrict you from testifying in any way. As the name of the order indicates, it only applies to extrajudicial statements."
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Trump has said he intends to take the stand in his own defense in the trial, though several experts have suggested that may not be wise.
The former president began the day in court smiling as he whispered to his lawyers, but he turned on a scowl when the cameras showed up before proceedings started.
