SYRACUSE --
The idea sounds good on paper. The Syracuse School Superintendent gets together with parents to talk about issues important to them, parents get answers to their questions and overall communication improves between the schools and parents. There was one problem with that plan Monday night. Only two parents showed up to the meeting.
The public meeting with Syracuse School Superintendent Dan Lowengard was held in Fowler High School's cafeteria - but it probably would have fit in a small conference room. Other than the Superintendent, people associated with the school district and journalists - there were only two parents.
"We're not going to get what we want for our kids if we don't make ourselves heard," said Cynthia Lazore.
Lazore was one of the two parents at the meeting. She was able to get all her questions answered but said it was an opportunity more people need to take advantage of.
"I just hope that more parents realize that it's not the name of the school - it's what you and your child puts into the school and the education," said Lazore after the meeting.
Steve Swift was the other parent at the meeting. He is putting together a group to protest school budget cuts at a common council meeting. Swift signed up Cynthia Lazore but knows he needs a lot more people to get the message across.
"I think people will listen," said Swift. "If we show up in mass and get a lot of people there - people will listen."
The small crowd was disappointing for Superintendent Lowengard as well. After the meeting ended he said he hopes local families aren't giving up - especially when there is still a chance to get more money out of Albany.
"People tend to be a little deflated," said Lowengard. They've heard nothing but bad news about the budget and I think they figure there's nothing they can do about it and that's really not so. They have to let their legislators locally, state and federal know what's going on."
There is another chance for parents who missed tonight's meeting to chat with Superintendent Lowengard. He has scheduled another meeting for Wednesday night at Henninger High School. It starts at 6:00 p.m.
