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What is a "Union Free" School District?
Contrary to what the current definition of what the wording implies, East Aurora has labor unions, just as any other Public School District does.
The "union free" designation comes form a much older -- and very different -- understandings of the words:
Prior to the current iteration of "School Districts" in NYS, East Aurora served as the 'unified' high school for a number of rural school houses.
During this time in our state's educational history "high school" was more akin to college, with many high schools charging tuition to its pupils. However, emphasizing the importance the residents of East Aurora have always placed on education, they provided this high school education to students with no expectation of tuition, hence being "free".
In short, in today's language, a more proper title would be: East Aurora's "Unified and Free" School District
Learn more through the informative links below.
Why is East Aurora Union Free by Rob Goller
Robert Goller
Town Historian Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/HistorianRLG
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