Public Service Annoucement: Yeshiva U's School Affordability Team
Upcoming Event on Energy Solutions

A press release I received from YU via email detailing an upcoming program this Thursday, April 30, at Yeshiva Ketana Long Island follows below. I will be watching what the YU School Affordability Team works in the future. In the meantime, I have a deadline hanging over my head, so my posts on what is going on in Teaneck will be held off until this project is finished.


YESHIVA UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE HELPS LONG ISLAND
DAY SCHOOLS FIGHT RECESSION

New York, NY, April 23, 2009—Yeshiva University’s Institute for University-School Partnership has undertaken a bold initiative to make day school education more affordable for Jewish families in this time of economic crisis. The Institute formed the YU School Affordability Team to develop research-based methods and programs to ensure the long term viability and vitality of day schools and yeshivot in Jewish communities around the nation. The Team includes a wide variety of experts from YU and other organizations.

Dr. Scott Goldberg, director of the Institute at YU’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, is spearheading this effort. “We need to ensure that providing our children with a quality Jewish education remains a priority for our community.”

In addition to work nationally with schools, support of schools in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway in Long Island was launched with a December conference attended by 10 local schools representing the spectrum of Orthodox Judaism, as well as rabbis of three major synagogues. The Institute’s Regional Coordinator for this community, Eli Shapiro, has continued to provide guidance and information since that time as a liaison to the School Affordability Team.

The next program will be Thursday, April 30th when the Institute will hold a conference at Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island at 8pm focusing on energy and utility usage. Presentations will be made by the Long Island Power Authority, National Grid and other energy consultants on incentives for energy efficiency, renewable energy and rate classification and analysis. Schools will also learn about a grant opportunity where up to three Long Island schools will receive in-depth consultations involving detailed financial analysis, operational reviews and scenario modeling by experienced consultants to help identify affordability enhancement strategies.

In March, a grassroots campaign organized by Teach NYS, with support from YU’s School Affordability Team, led over 50 yeshiva administrators and board members from across New York State to Albany in an effort to restore CAP (Comprehensive Attendance Program) funding. CAP is a mandated program for all schools. Governor Paterson and Democratic legislative leaders Sheldon Silver and Malcolm Smith agreed to reinstate funding of $30 million to yeshivot in this year’s budget. This successful effort resulted in real money for day schools and yeshivot in New York State.

“Our experiences on Long Island and in other communities are informing our recommendations for schools and communities nationally,” added Goldberg.

Schools desiring to learn more about the April 30th program or desiring to apply for the grant program should contact Eli Shapiro at shapiro4@yu.edu.