Education

Van Duyn Elementary Students have been getting some extra support with their subjects when seven special visitors show up daily.

The Foster Grandparent Program provides an opportunity for youngsters to learn from their elders and to gain social skills. Grandparent Ellen Kace says she looks forward to seeing the kids at school every day.

“Just being with these kids here makes me feel happy, alive,” Kace said. I look forward every morning just to come here to be with these kids. It makes me feel wonderful.”

A gap of $24 million in the Syracuse City School district budget might not sound good.  But Chief Financial Officer Suzanne Slack says it’s actually smaller than past years. 

"We usually have between a $30 and $40 million gap each year that we work to close through the budget process. When we came in under 30 we were a little bit excited about that. It's still a problem, but to know that it's going in the right direction was a bit of a surprise." 

The graduation rates at three community colleges in Central New York are going up, according to a new study.  However it also finds that only one-in-four students are graduating in three years.

Syracuse City Schools 8th graders are getting to explore what future careers might be for them.  The Career and Technical Education Expo was held Wednesday at the Public Service leadership Academy at Fowler.

Twenty-six programs covering professions such as the expanding drone industry, cosmetology and becoming an electrician or a welder were on display. 

8th graders will soon choose if a C-T-E track of study is right for them as they enter 9th grade.  All it takes is a fulfilling experience that leads to a spark of interest.

An international conference on character education in Washington included a Central New Yorker spreading his word on how story-telling can work at schools, in business and in our communities.  The idea might not just build character; it could also be a remedy to our current divisive politics.

Some from the education sector and form the corporate world believe building character is important for good students and good employees.