12:00: Who’s on your school board — and why it matters now more than ever
1:00: The right to recess
School boards decide what your kids learn, which books they can read, and how safe their schools are. Newly elected school board members are stepping into one of the most high-pressure roles in local government and facing political fights, public backlash, and deeply personal debates over what kids should learn and how schools should run. This hour, guest host Noelle Evans pulls back the curtain on your local school board and explores more about the ins and outs of one of the most powerful — and overlooked — elected offices in the community. Our guests:
- Annamaria Falzarano, member-elect of the Greece Central School Board and retired coordinator of world languages at the Greece Central School District
- Amy Thomas, executive director of the Monroe County School Boards Association
Then in our second hour, local advocates with the Healthi Kids Coalition and Common Ground Health recently traveled to Albany to support a state bill that would study and expand access to daily recess. While Rochester schools require 20 minutes of recess for K–6 students, enforcement varies — and access to play is often shaped by race, income, and neighborhood. Experts and families say 20 minutes isn't enough, and that playful learning should extend from pre-K through 12th grade. With the pandemic underscoring the need for movement and connection, guest host Noelle Evans asks: why is recess essential, and how can schools make it more equitable and effective? Our guests:
- Mike Bulger, director of Whole Child Health Advocacy with the Healthi Kids Coalition
- Sharon Peck, parent advocate and associate professor of literacy at SUNY Geneseo
