Cornell says local economic impact topped billions through jobs, student spending and education investments
Cornell University says its economic footprint across Tompkins County and the surrounding region continued expanding in 2025, fueled by payroll, student spending, startup investment and millions directed toward local education initiatives. A new Local Economic ... more
Penn Yan, Dundee school leaders ask voters to weigh stability, taxes and planning
Yates County voters will decide two school budgets Tuesday that reflect very different financial pictures, but a similar balancing act: maintaining educational opportunities while navigating inflation, rising operational costs and uncertain long-term funding conditions. Penn ... more
New York opens applications for nursing faculty scholarship program
New York state has opened applications for a scholarship program aimed at addressing nursing educator shortages by helping registered nurses pursue graduate degrees and transition into teaching roles. The New York State Higher Education Services ... more
Wayne County schools ask voters to balance rising costs with stable classrooms
Wayne County voters will head to the polls Tuesday to decide the future of school spending across nine districts, with most proposals staying within New York’s tax cap while districts grapple with rising health insurance ... more
Schools across the Finger Lakes prepare for difficult budget votes
School districts across New York are heading into next week’s budget votes under growing financial pressure, according to Spectrum News, as rising personnel costs collide with tax cap limits and uncertain state aid. District leaders ... more
Auburn school board fight ends with resignation
A tense fight over Auburn Superintendent Dr. Misty Slavic’s contract extension spilled into public view Tuesday night, according to The Citizen, with the school board’s vice president resigning from his leadership role during the debate ... more
Geneva school district proposes $76.7 million budget with 3.1% tax levy increase
Voters in the Geneva City School District will decide May 19 on a proposed $76.7 million budget for the 2026-27 school year that district officials say closes a $2.9 million budget gap while staying within ... more
Watkins Glen school district proposes $33.3 million budget with tax increase below cap
Voters in the Watkins Glen Central School District will decide May 19 on a proposed $33.3 million budget for the 2026-27 school year that district officials say preserves existing programs while keeping the tax levy ... more
New York says financial aid campaign helped more than 163,000 students pursue college support
New York officials say a statewide financial aid awareness campaign helped more than 163,000 students complete federal financial aid applications in April as the state pushes to expand college access and reduce barriers to higher ... more
Cornell renovation project uncovers hidden pieces of university history inside McGraw Hall
Construction crews rebuilding one of Cornell University’s oldest academic buildings are uncovering hidden remnants of the university’s past as a major renovation project transforms historic McGraw Hall from the inside out. Workers renovating McGraw Hall ... more
Cornell launches AI fellows initiative backed by $1.25 million donor gift
A $1.25 million gift from longtime Cornell donors James and Rebecca Morgan will fund a new artificial intelligence fellows program aimed at transforming how Cornell University approaches administration, operations and workforce development. University officials announced ... more
New York’s electric bus mandate faces delay
New York lawmakers appear ready to slam the brakes on the state’s electric school bus mandate, according to Spectrum News 1. A proposal gaining traction in budget negotiations would delay the controversial requirement by five ... more
Auburn school board vote sparks resignation and sharp debate
A tense Auburn school board meeting erupted Tuesday after members approved a contract extension and raise for Superintendent Dr. Misty Slavic, according to The Citizen. The debate became so heated that Vice President Matteo Bartolotta ... more
Canandaigua school district proposes $97.8 million budget with bus purchase, library funding on ballot
Voters in the Canandaigua City School District will decide next week on a proposed $97.8 million budget for the 2026-27 school year, along with separate propositions tied to school bus purchases and continued funding for ... more
Cornell researchers say winery waste could reduce antibiotic use in chicken farming
Cornell researchers say a waste product from the wine industry could help poultry farms reduce reliance on antibiotics while improving chicken growth and gut health. A new Cornell study published this month found that grape ... more
Auburn school district proposes $112 million budget with staffing cuts, special education expansion
Voters in the Auburn Enlarged City School District will decide May 19 on a proposed $111.98 million budget for the 2026-27 school year that district officials say attempts to balance rising operational costs with continued ... more
Odessa-Montour proposes $23.4 million budget that would exceed state tax cap for first time
Voters in the Odessa-Montour Central School District will decide next Tuesday on a proposed $23.39 million budget for the 2026-27 school year that would exceed the state tax cap for the first time in district ... more
CAPITOL PRESSROOM: Where does the electric school bus debate stand now? (podcast)
New York is still pushing toward its mandate requiring all school districts to transition to zero-emission buses by 2035, but the debate over cost, infrastructure, and feasibility isn’t going away anytime soon. In a new ... more
Auburn school board candidates spar over spending, growth questions
A looming multi-million-dollar budget gap, disagreement over board leadership and concerns about Auburn’s long-term future dominated a wide-ranging forum featuring candidates for the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education ahead of this month’s ... more
