Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-Utica/Rome) announced that she will be joined by Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, chair of the Assembly Committee on Education, to tour schools in the Utica and Rome city school districts on Friday, Nov. 1.

The press is invited to join the tour at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, 190 Booth St., Utica, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., and Ridge Mills Elementary School, 7841 Ridge Mills Road, Rome, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Additionally, there will be a working lunch held at Vescio’s Franklin Hotel, 301 S. James St., Rome, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., attended by Buttenschon, Benedetto, Senator Joseph Griffo and superintendents and officials from several Mohawk Valley school districts. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss statewide and local education issues, including the foundation aid formula, as well as proposed legislation that would mandate comprehensive sexual education in schools (A.1904). The press is also invited to join attendees at the beginning of their lunch from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.