Local education leaders, government officials and school community members will have the opportunity to share their thoughts on the challenges and issues faced by rural communities during a forum on Wednesday, May 31, at Herkimer College.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES and Herkimer College have partnered with the Rural Schools Association of New York State and the New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal to bring one of the association’s public forums on regional rural issues to the area.
“Rural communities face many challenges and also have many opportunities for the future,” Herkimer BOCES District Superintendent Sandra Sherwood said. “This forum is a venue for our Mohawk Valley community members to share their opinions, concerns and ideas to make sure their voices are heard as the future of rural communities is shaped.”
The free Regional Rural Issues Forum takes place from 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, in the Herkimer College Amphitheater in the Robert McLaughlin College Center at Herkimer College, 100 Reservoir Road in Herkimer. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Rural Schools Association of New York State Executive Director David Little will kick off the forum by sharing the current state of rural schools and communities. Attendees will then have an opportunity to offer their thoughts.
Examples of topics to be discussed include new challenges coming out of the pandemic and what the challenges and opportunities are for making schools, communities and businesses thrive in a rural setting. The feedback received via this public forum will be reviewed by a statewide task force of experts and will be included in a policy brief/advocacy platform to be presented to national and state leaders.
