Supervisors highlight Speak Sobriety program after schools send letters of support

Saratoga County supervisors on Aug. 19 highlighted local support for the Speak Sobriety program after receiving thank-you letters from multiple school districts, the board said at the meeting.

Clerk-read correspondence listed letters from Shenendehowa, Galloway, Schuylerville, South Glens Falls, Waterford-Halfmoon and the Saratoga Springs City School District thanking the county for providing Speak Sobriety programming. A supervisor noted the program began as a pilot, expanded countywide and connects speakers with students in many county schools.

“We met with family members of loved ones, who had lost their lives due to addiction or maybe were struggling with addiction a few years ago,” a supervisor said, summarizing the county’s rationale for supporting the program. The supervisor said the board has been supportive of the program as part of a broader set of services aimed at helping families across the county and that they expected continued school participation in the coming year.

The agenda lists Resolution 211 as authorizing an agreement with Speaks Sobriety LLC for substance-abuse prevention programming and amending the 2025 county budget in relation thereto; the resolution’s budget impact statement indicated the budget will be amended to accept funds and authorize related expenses.