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HOMES EVERY WEEK! Burgh/North Countryman
October 13, 2018
suncommunitynews.com
• EDITION •
Excelsior sapping students from two-year programs, says CCC Local colleges face rising costs paired with low state aid By Elizabeth Izzo STA FF W RITER
PLATTSBURGH | Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay) visited Plattsburgh last week for an education roundtable. Representatives from Clinton Community College (CCC), North Country Community College (NCCC) and SUNY Plattsburgh briefed Jones on difficulties imposed on local schools by unfunded state mandates and low state aid, which they say have forced cuts or tuition hikes as operational costs continue to rise. “Higher-ed is obviously very important to this area and important to me as well,” Jones said. “So we’re looking for any way we can help them out. We had a great, frank discus-
sion on the challenges that face our schools and how I can help them out.”
EXCELSIOR SCHOLARSHIP
According to DiPasquale, new among the hurtles facing local two-year colleges are the side effects of the Excelsior Scholarship, a state financial aid program designed to offer free tuition to qualifying students. To receive financial aid through the program, students need to obtain 30 college credits per calendar year, which CCC President Ray DiPasquale says immediately disqualifies part-time students, which constitute 60 percent of the college’s student body. “They’re immediately ineligible,” DiPasquale told Jones, noting that the school is also losing students who are graduating high school and immediately entering the workforce. “The impact on community colleges has been tremendous. “We estimate that we’ve lost 50 students to four-year colleges as a result of the Excelsior Scholarship.”
State Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay) spoke with officials from Clinton Community College, SUNY Plattsburgh and North Country Community College at an education roundtable last week. Photo by Elizabeth Izzo NCCC President Steven Tyrell agreed with his Clinton County counterpart, and said that 45 percent of its students are part-time, and only 15 people at the college are receiving aid through the Excelsior Scholarship. Meanwhile, at SUNY Plattsburgh, 220 freshmen are taking advantage of the program, according to Plattsburgh State spokesman Ken Knelly.
“Obviously, I think, helping out those students, expanding the Excelsior program to help them out, is a good possibility,” Jones told The Sun. “It’s something that should be looked at.” Though there are limitations on the Excelsior Scholarship, the state offers a variety of programs designed to help part-time students: » Education Cont. on pg. 2
Cuomo signs bill banning freestanding mausoleums Towns poised to take over properties Jan. 1 By Pete DeMola EDITOR
PLATTSBURGH | Legislation to ban the construction of freestanding mausoleums statewide has been signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay) and state Sen. Betty Little (R-Queensbury) drafted the bill banning mausoleums and columbariums following the deterioration and abandonment of two mausoleums and a crematory in Plattsburgh and Ellenburg. Following a prolonged period of decline in which the sites
fell into structural disrepair, the state declared the facilities abandoned in 2015 and placed them under temporary state receivership. The towns are scheduled to assume operations on Jan. 1. “The condition of these mausoleums was appalling,” said Little in a statement. “It was a disgrace for those interred and heartbreaking for the families of loved ones.” » Mausoleums Cont. on pg. 7
Peru ‘Octoberfest’ returns for eighth year Local businessman honored with annual half marathon By Elizabeth Izzo STA FF W RITER
PERU | When times were hard, he was always there. A local businessman known for his gracious presence in tough times, Robert Hamilton, will be remembered next weekend with the return of the
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