By Nicole Falco
School districts had already printed legal notices, set the date for public hearings and, in many cases, printed and mailed literature to the community as a reminder to vote on May 20. But Democrats and Republicans alike in the state Legislature voted to increase state aid to schools by $1 billion and to push the vote date back two weeks to allow districts additional time to present a more accurate budget picture to the community.
"[Changing the date] may be inconvenient, but it may be an advantage in the long run," said Margaret Daugherty, superintendent of schools in District 13.
Since the change was announced last week, officials in Valley Stream's four school districts and in districts throughout the state have had to shuffle schedules to come up with new dates for public hearings, which were originally planned for this week; send letters home with students to alert parents of the change, and mail new information to the community, all at the districts' expense. Despite the scramble, the inconvenience is expected to pay off.
"If state aid can be brought back up or enhanced in any way, shape or form, districts can benefit from this," said Lawrence McGoldrick, superintendent of schools in District 30. "If the extra few weeks means getting more revenue to the districts, it definitely helps. We'll just deal with the logistics."
On May 2, both houses of the state Legislature voted to increase income taxes on high-income wage earners and increase the state sales tax to restore more than $1 billion in proposed school aid reductions that had been outlined in Governor George Pataki's executive budget. Valley Stream school districts are expected to see $3 million of that restoration. The governor has until May 11 to decide whether to veto the Legislature's budget. If he does, the Legislature is expected to override the veto with the required two-thirds vote in both houses.
"The restoration of school aid funding represents my commitment to our children," said Assemblyman Robert Barra. "This is the largest bring-back in state aid to our community in history."
Previously allotted approximately $5.58 million by the executive budget in January, District 13 would see a restoration of $1.27 million, which would be a decrease of slightly more than 1 percent from last year's aid. In District 24, $2.08 million was allocated by the initial proposal, and the Legislature has proposed a $253,054 restoration, which is a negligible difference from last year. District 30 could expect $244,009 more than the $2.59 million initially planned, which is only a half percent less than last year. Finally, the Central High School District would get a 3.25 percent increase over last year's state aid. The Legislature has allocated a restoration of $1.22 million to the high school's original $9.7 million.
"The unprecedented fiscal challenges facing both New York state and local governments required the Legislature to work together and make vital restorations to the executive budget," said Senate Deputy Majority Leader Dean Skelos. "By restoring over $1 billion in school aid ... we have made prudent and responsible choices that will benefit our community."
School districts will present their budgets, taking into account the additional revenue proposed from the state, which will reduce the property tax increases originally estimated, in three joint public hearings. The high school district will present its budget at each of the elementary district hearings. District 13 will hold its public hearing on May 20 at 8 p.m. at the James A. Dever School, on North Corona Avenue; District 30's public hearing will also take place on May 20 at 8 p.m. at the Shaw Avenue School; and District 24's hearing is scheduled for May 22 at 8:15 p.m. at the William L. Buck School, on Horton Avenue.
"For us, our challenge right now is to make sure that our parents and residents of the district are aware of the change, and that we are able to encourage as many of our residents to come out and vote," said Dr. Edward Fale, superintendent of schools in District 24.
While all districts are more than happy to accept the additional proposed revenues, which will reduce property-tax increases and help districts maintain any educational progress they have made, Dr. Ronald D. Valenti, superintendent of schools for the high school district, worries that treating dates like "movable feasts" is a "dangerous precedent."
"In effect, they're saying we no longer have timelines and dates people are responsible for ... I think that's a very dangerous practice that could put us on a slippery slope we don't want to be on," Valenti said. "One thing we could always be proud of in public education is we've always come up with a budget by a specific date."
