School Districts are keeping their fingers crossed that the new State Budget being negotiated by lawmakers in Albany, includes a promised third straight year of significant funding increases for schools, which they say, is critical, especially for rural schools across Northern New York. School administrators, board members, and community leaders from the North Country gathered this week to hear how the legislature may, beginning next year, consider a new funding formula for schools. David Little, who is the Executive Director of the Rural Schools Association of New York State, hosted a forum at Champlain Valley Educational Services in Plattsburgh, where he discussed some of the biggest issues and challenges facing rural schools. He also sat down with us for an in-depth interview.