Across the state, boards of education are working hard to help ensure their budgets are fiscally responsible to taxpayers while staying firmly rooted in their district’s priorities. It’s within this balancing act that boards are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the budget reflects the community’s core values and aligns its limited resources to optimizing student success and long-term stability.

In this episode, we dive into what school boards need to know about state aid categories, identify some of the biggest challenges we’re facing and provide practical strategies you can bring back to your board table to help ensure a successful budget vote.

Host: Mark Snyder, Leadership Development Senior Manager, NYSSBA

Guest: Brian Freeman, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Webster CSD

Resources:

On Board articles:

• Budgeting is more than an annual process: https://bit.ly/4tTNQed

• How to have a successful budget season: https://bit.ly/3OArPks

• The board's role in budget development: https://bit.ly/475vltm

NYSSBA’s Advocacy Overview: https://www.nyssba.org/advocacy-legislation/overview/

Questions about advocacy? Contact NYSSBA staff members: Brian Fessler, Chief Advocacy Officer or Caroline Bobick, Deputy Director of Governmental and External Relations

Have a question about today’s topic? NYSSBA Leadership Development Trainers are here to help! Send you your questions to [email protected].

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This month on the President’s Gavel, we’re diving into topics that are sure to pique the interest of our listeners:

Updates on the U.S. Department of Education

Federal funding

The potential for another government shutdown

How education funding is at the center of many debates

Tune in now to stay ahead of the curve.

Host:

Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Guest:

Caroline Bobick, Deputy Director of Governmental and External Relations, NYSSBA

Resources:

For more information contact Caroline Bobick, Deputy Director of Governmental and External Relations at [email protected].

Memo in support of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act: https://bit.ly/4jVwkBC

NYSSBA’s federal priorities memos: https://bit.ly/49Sdzuf

February 1-3, 2026 – NSBA National Advocacy Institute: We invite you to join us in Washington, DC for the National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) Annual Advocacy Institute. The event is focused on advocacy skills and federal priorities along with a Hill Day. Several members of the Governmental Relations Department will be on hand attending sessions, and we will be scheduling meetings with members of the New York Delegation. To join us, you can find details here: https://www.nsba.org/events/advocacy-equity-institute.

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In your role as a school board member, have you ever wondered - are we even asking the right questions? You are not alone! On today’s episode of the President’s Gavel, Leadership Development trainers Jamie McPherson and Ann Lazewski will answer some common but very important questions school board members often ask, like:

Are we aligned with our district’s mission and vision?

How can we foster strong, transparent, community relationships that allow room for all voices to be heard while still providing clear information and addressing misinformation?

How do we ensure all students are being served? It’s not just about access, it’s about impact.

Stay with us as we answer these questions and more!

Host: Ann Laszewski, Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Guest: Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA

Resources:

Have a question about a topic not covered on today’s show? Send your questions to NYSSBA’s Leadership Development Team at [email protected].

Ready to dig deeper on topic covered on today’s show? Schedule a Custom Board Retreat today! Contact Ellen Kramek at 518-7833753 or via email at [email protected].

NYSSBA’s Board Self-Evaluation: https://bit.ly/3MS175Q

SuperEval’s Board Self-Evaluation: https://bit.ly/4pHxBP2

For questions contact Zac Adams, NYSSBA’s Business Development and Member Relations Manager at 518.783.3726 or via email at [email protected]

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In today’s conversation, we’ll explore how strategic planning can serve as a catalyst for growth and improvement. We’ll look at how it engages diverse stakeholders, fosters transparency and helps school boards make more informed, aligned decisions. We’ll also discuss how setting clear priorities and long-term goals can strengthen governance and drive impactful, system-wide change.

Whether your district is just beginning the planning process or looking to revisit and refresh its goals, this episode offers valuable insights on how to turn vision into reality—and build a strong foundation for a successful future.

Host:

Ann Laszewski, Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Guests:

Dr. Lance Lohman, Superintendent, Longwood Central School District

Victoria Molloy, Board President, Longwood Central School District

Need help with your district’s strategic plan? Schedule your Custom Board Retreat today! For more information contact [email protected].

Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

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This month on The President’s Gavel, we’re revisiting a popular session from this year's Leadership in Education Event: “Critical Thinking Through Media Literacy.”

In this episode, you'll learn about media literacy and why understanding it is crucial for anyone involved in educating students today. Our guests will share why it is more important than ever to help children think critically about what they see and hear via the media they consume. We'll also discuss how we can empower students to thrive in today's media landscape.

Host:

Ann Laszewski, Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Guests:

Dr. Michael J. Doughty, Assistant Superintendent, Northeastern Regional Information Center, Capital Region BOCES

Katherine Hammill, Director, Mid-Hudson Regional Information Center, Ulster BOCES

Agendas are the roadmap for board meeting. They help the board president keep discussions focused and on track, while clearly outlining the topics to be addressed and the actions to be taken.

In this episode of the President’s Gavel Jamie, Mark and Darci answer commonly asked questions and discuss best practices for setting the agenda.

Host:

Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA

Guests:

Darci D’Ercole, Chief Governance and Leadership Development Officer, NYSSBA

Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Standard Order of Business: bit.ly/3FmOSqx

Consent Agenda: bit.ly/3hcAzgw

Sample Board Activity-Presentation Calendar: bit.ly/3VOoNYL

*Stock media provided by www.pond5.com.

School boards may seem local and low-profile, but they’re at the heart of today’s biggest battles over education, governance and democracy. In this episode, we discuss why school boards matter more than ever—and how they can help rebuild trust, strengthen schools and model civil discourse in a divided time.

Host:

Darci D’Ercole

Chief Governance and Leadership Development Officer, NYSSBA

Guest:

Scott Levy

Adjunct Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Author, Why School Boards Matter: Reclaiming the Heart of Education and Democracy

Byram Hills Central School District Board of Education Member

Former President, Westchester Putnam School Boards Association

Why School Boards Matter: Reclaiming the Heart of Education and Democracy

https://www.amazon.com/Why-School-Boards-Matter-Reclaiming/dp/0262552728

Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

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With reorganization meetings just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about electing your board president. In this episode of President’s Gavel, Mark highlights what leadership skills matter most at the board table and shares five characteristics of a successful president.

Host: Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager

Resources / Show Notes:

• To learn more about NYSSBA’s Board Officers’ Forum, contact [email protected].

• 2025 Board Officers Academy (live virtual and annual pre-convention events): http://bit.ly/3G9ZNZg

• Superintendent and Board Self-Evaluation Tools: bit.ly/3OiBBlV

• SuperEval: bit.ly/3N2vDo9

• To learn more about SuperEval contact Bob Hartz at 1-844-312-EVAL (3825).

• *Stock media provided by Jeppe Reil/Pond5

School board elections just happened. Is your board prepared to onboard new members?

An effective onboarding process benefits new members by helping them acclimate quickly while avoiding common pitfalls that can strain relations. Through a proactive plan, boards can support their new members while building trust, collaboration and unity on the governance team. This enables them to focus better on advancing positive student outcomes without unnecessary distractions.

Host:

Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA

Guest:

Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Resources:

NYSSBA’s FAQ: Onboarding New Board Members Guide: bit.ly/43uFmNT

Onboarding Checklist: bit.ly/499Z4j1

NYSSBA’s Onboarding New School Board Members microlearning course. Register here: https://nyssba.my.site.com/s/lt-event?id=a1R1Q00000LoTRrUAN#/Overview

On Board article - Developing an effective onboarding process: bit.ly/3xhTvlj

On Board article - The importance of welcoming new school board members: bit.ly/3IPwd94

NYSSBA’s FAQ: Onboarding New Board Members Guide: bit.ly/43uFmNT

Onboarding Checklist: bit.ly/499Z4j1

Need help developing your board operations handbook? Request a Custom Board Retreat here: bit.ly/30NAX7l

For more information about NYSSBA’s Custom Board Retreats contact [email protected].

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In this episode, we discuss the ex officio student board member. While about one-third of New York school boards already include student representatives, new legislation mandates that all public-school districts and BOCES include a student member on their school board.

Meeting this goal takes more than just a seat at the table – it requires good faith, mutual respect and a genuine partnership. That’s what we’re here to explore in this episode: how to fully embrace the ex officio student board member role in ways that empower students, strengthen board decisions and enrich the experience for everyone through deeper civic engagement and inclusive leadership.

Host:

Darci D’Ercole, Chief Governance and Leadership Development Officer, NYSSBA

Guests:

David Lilleck, Superintendent, Orchard Park Central School District

Luke Lippitt, Ex Officio Student Board Member, Orchard Park Central School District and Northeast Vice President of the National Student Board Member Association

Zachary Patterson, Chair of the Board of Advisors, National Student Board Member Association

Resources:

NYSSBA’s Ex Officio Student Board Member Implementation Resources webpage: https://www.nyssba.org/main/ex-officio-student-board-member-implementation-resources/

National Student Board Member Association: https://www.nsbma.net/

Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

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