Lynbrook, East Rockaway: State aid figures disappoint

When Gov. Andrew Cuomo released his preliminary state aid figures for the 2014-15 school year last week, administrators from Lynbrook and East Rockaway were unhappy with what they saw.

The average increase in aid for districts across the state is 2.92 percent. The initial figures for Lynbrook give the district a .83 percent increase, or $67,000, to a total of $8.08 million, while East Rockaway stands to see its aid decreased by 4.06 percent, or $251,000, to $5.94 million.

However, East Rockaway administrators say that while they were expecting more aid, the reason for the cut is an adjustment that stems from Hurricane Sandy. Following the storm, East Rockaway High School was closed for more than five months, and students were bused to schools in Baldwin. East Rockaway’s transportation aid for the 2013-14 school year jumped because of its expenses the previous year.

Now, since students are no longer regularly bused out of the district, the money is not needed. “It’s not a reduction,” said Superintendent Lisa Ruiz. “It’s really an adjustment from last year for an unexpected expense.”

Nonetheless, Ruiz said she still would have liked to see more aid. “We were hoping for something a little more substantial,” she said.

Lynbrook Superintendent Dr. Melissa Burak said it is becoming increasingly difficult for districts to meet the state tax levy cap, which went into effect in January 2012. A school board has the option of adopting a budget that exceeds the district’s cap, but it must be passed by a supermajority of at least 60 percent of voters.

A district’s tax levy is calculated using an 11-step formula. One step factors in either the 2 percent figure or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. This year, the CPI is 1.46 percent, so tax levies across the state will be lower.

“Without more support from the state,” Burak said of trying to stay within the cap, “it is becoming more and more difficult each year. The state needs to support our children’s education at the same time they are imposing curriculum requirements.”