E.M. gets increase in state aid

After a deal between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislators late on March 30 resulted in a final state budget, schools statewide were set to receive $26.7 billion in education aid — a nearly $1 billion increase — for the 2018-19 academic year.

The East Meadow School District will receive $44,025,726, or a $10,63,161 increase from last year. This amounts to a 3.83 percent increase, not including building aid.

Patrick Pizzo, the superintendant and business and finance, said that this usually remains at 2.78 each year. “I definitely think this is beneficial. This keeps us viable for more years going forward,” Pizzo said, adding, however that it is less of a “game-changer” than it seems.

“We’re state aid dependent,” he said. “If you look at the amount of funding we get from the state and the amount of challenges that the district has . . . it still doesn’t change [much].”

Nassau County schools will receive approximately $1.2 billion in state aid, including building aid — $51.3 million more than the prior year — according to state budget documents. The state’s numbers are estimates, which may be slightly higher or lower when individual districts’ budgets are finalized.