GREENE – The Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES and the Chenango County School Boards Association held their annual legislative breakfast Saturday at the Silo Restaurant in Greene.

The breakfast gave school officials a chance to voice district concerns to members of the legislature and listen to feedback.

Mandate reform, state funding and representation were all detailed by speakers as being important to Chenango County school systems.

In regards to mandate reform, DCMO BOCES Board Member Judith Breese stated that “nothing has substantially changed” and that it’s “not just a matter of money, it’s a matter of time.”

“Nearly one third of all schools are under extreme financial distress,” she said. “There’s no way for our children to achieve academic prosperity.”

Breese stated that excessive and underfunded mandates, such as minimum time required in the classroom, are often antiquated and “stifle innovation.”

“They don’t give us the freedom ... to develop philosophies and goals to improve learning,” she said.

According to Linda DeAndrea, Franklin Central School board member, a lack of state funding also puts undue stress on school boards. She expressed concern that the disparity between wealthy districts down-state and less financially solvent districts, such as in Chenango County, resulted in fewer opportunities for students.