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From my first exposure to politics, I was advised that the job of our representatives was to bring home the bacon or dollars to their districts. So, let’s acknowledge it is at least one measure of success. But should that still be considered a valid objective?

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer has announced an $825 million funding package for NY CREATES for a high-tech computer chip research cente at the Albany NanoTech campus. This is part of the 2022 bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act that authorized $52 billion to fortify the domestic base for semiconductor research and production, a valid national security issue. The Senate vote was 64-43 with 24 Republicans voting in favor from the states that have already or will become beneficiaries of the funding authorized by this bill.

Over the last several months, the National Institute of Standards and Technology has accelerated the award of similar contracts to many commercial companies, likely concerned about actions the new administration might take to slow spending. A fair tactic as long as the due diligence of the corporate beneficiaries was not short-changed.

Ultimately, will these actions become known as corporate welfare or effective measures to fortify the domestic semiconductor capabilities? Let’s hope it’s the latter given the size of our national debt, which itself may soon become a national security risk.

Published Jan. 27, 2025

The article “Algebra now tool to keep kids in school," Jan. 17, suggests that discipline of mathematics will solve the state’s school attendance problems, but the new formula doesn’t add up despite what the Wizards of Oz at the state Department of Education would want the public to believe.

A portion of school funding is attributed to student attendance, often based on a 180-day school year. "Perfect” attendance, and full funding, would be based on the product of total student enrollment times 180. Let’s call these “earning days." As an example, a school with 1,000 students would have 180,000 available earning days.

A far simpler approach to assess attendance would be to consider actual attendance, resulting from a simple percentage of earned days and a truer measure of participation. The new formula does not consider students attending less than 85% of school days and further credits all students who are enrolled 30 days per school year, irrespective of actually going to school, and attending just one school day per year.

The state education department does not want the public to look behind the curtain of their new formula. It masks the true measure of earned days, and the relationship to funding, based on student attendance while substituting a meaningless index subject to their own interpretation that they want substantiated under the aura of algebra and arbitrary levels.

Published Jan. 27, 2025

High school is an incredibly formative time. A teen’s identity is strengthened and knowledge expanded as they prepare for their future. Schools need to be a safe place where students can focus on education and development. Yet, in recent years, the prevalence of vapes and e-cigarettes in schools has threatened students' abilities to learn in a safe environment.

As a high school senior, I have seen firsthand the effects of e-cigarettes on students. For World No Tobacco Day last May, I interviewed staff and students at my school. Teachers, administrators, and coaches were concerned by a notable decrease in academic and athletic performance in students who used vape products. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to developing nicotine addictions, which can lead to learning and health difficulties. Worsened focus, behavior, and attendance of students was also a concern school officials expressed.

Schools are struggling to combat the use of e-cigarettes, especially as vape products don disguises as school supplies such as highlighters or USB drives. These products not only attract younger demographics but also make it easier for teens to use drugs at school. However, the Albany County Legislature has taken action against this, unanimously passing a law that bans the sale of such products made to look like school supplies. I believe this will be greatly beneficial for students, and I am thrilled that lawmakers are noticing this important issue and taking action to protect our youth. I am hopeful for further action to come regarding the regulation of e-cigarettes.

The writer is a Burnt........

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