By Jacky Gerzema
With the Roosevelt School District broke and facing potential dissolution, Baldwin parents and administrators have repeatedly voiced concerns that Roosevelt students would be diverted to neighboring districts, including Baldwin.
Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper Hill (D-18th District) tried to calm these fears, saying that she believes it is the fiscal and judicial responsibility of the area in which students live, and that the problems in Roosevelt should be solved in Roosevelt.
"First of all, education is paramount to the success of any society," she said. "It would be a disservice to take on the responsibility of taking on children of a school district that has been irresponsible."
Hooper Hill added that surrounding school districts should be exempt from taking on additional students, and said it is unfair to the Baldwin School District, which already faces its own budget problems, and unfair to the children of Roosevelt, who have a right to be schooled in their home district.
Hooper Hill announced her newest legislative proposal (A-09756) which is currently at the Assembly level. The bill calls for removing Roosevelt's current board of education and appointing an interim board. It would also provide Roosevelt with new elementary, middle school and high schools and appropriate $6 million a year for special academic improvement grants. Hooper said that the state needs to conduct building assessments, which could be completed by June 2002.
"Sen. Fuschillo and I have agreed on this legislation and are in the process of meeting with the governor, and this is where we are at this point in time," Hooper Hill said.
"Over $100 million has been appropriated for those buildings at no cost to that poor school district," said Hooper Hill.
An Assembly spokesperson said that A-09756 is an updated and more comprehensive version of last year's Assembly bill A-09072 proposed by Hooper which called for similar changes such as breaking down Roosevelt's Board of Education and allocating up to $100 million for construction of three new school buildings.
Ellen, a citizen in the audience, asked Hooper Hill if it was true that her bill allows money for an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
"I'm hoping the bill will have an Olympic-sized swimming pool," Hooper Hill replied. "I'm asking for a lighted football field."
In addition, Hooper Hill said she wants tennis courts and a theater in the high school that is equipped to host Broadway-style productions.
When asked how these amenities would be paid for, Hooper Hill replied that it would come from different sources and general funds, not from the taxpayers.
"The legislation includes $10 million for computers, books and any and all other necessary items for necessary education," she said.
She added that these funds are separate from the money used for the pool, theater and tennis courts.
"Would you prefer that I pursue this legislation to prevent the
dissolution of the Roosevelt School District?" Hooper Hill asked.
Many audience members reacted negatively, saying that they would not want Hooper to pursue the legislation if these amenities
would take precedence over money for educational needs such as academic and social programs and textbooks.
"I do have letters indicating the feelings... that you do not want the children to come [to your school district]," Hooper Hill responded.
Sarah Holly, legislative advisor for Sen. Charles Fuschillo, spoke on behalf of both Sen. Fuschillo and Sen. Dean Skelos, and discussed Fuschillo's recent allocation of $1.4 million to the Roosevelt School District to avoid the elimination of 30 employee positions.
Fifteen custodians, four nurses, two psychologists, six aides and three social workers were expected to be laid off on Jan. 28. Fuschillo's bill provided half of the $2.8 million in cuts Education Commissioner Richard Mills ordered and the senator is calling upon the Assembly to help provide the other $1.4 million for Roosevelt programs.
"[Charles Fuschillo] deals with Roosevelt," Holly said. "He feels very
strongly that the children, parents and taxpayers of Roosevelt have a right to have their own school district...There has to be a [building] needs assessment before money is spent."
Holly added that negotiations will hopefully go on "as positively as they are now."
Board of Education member Jim Scannell said there needs to be a solution to Roosevelt sooner than later, and compared Fuschillo's "band-aid" support of $1.4 million to a "Dutch boy with his finger in the dike."
"You call it [$1.4 million aid by Fuschillo] a Dutch boy with his finger
in the dike, I call it thank God we got $1.4 million so we can stave off disaster," Holly replied.
sub: Budget gap means more taxes
Gov. George Pataki's proposed state aid figures, which called for a one percent increase over last year, was also high on the list of concerns for parents.
While education expenses increase, and the state aid stays flat, property taxes will go up, said Board of Education member Mary Jo O'Hagan. O'Hagan, Baldwin Superintendent Kathy Weiss, and Baldwin Parent Teacher Association President Anne Hannon, among others, asked legislators to make education and the governor's budget a top priority.
"It's a question of priorities not to make children of New York State collateral damage," O'Hagan said.
Weiss said that while the state's new "flexible aid" sounds great, it
includes programs that have been frozen, such as BOCES and special education, which ultimately costs the school district extra money.
"We need an on-time budget, additional state aid, fair school funding and relief from state mandates," Weiss said to legislators. "We need your help so Baldwin can get its fair share of state aid."
Many legislators agreed with Weiss and others calling for a change in state aid and increased educational priorities.
"We're on the same team with this," said Assemblyman Robert Barra (R-21st District). "Surveys say this generation will take a step back than the preceding generation. I have two daughters, and it's very important that they receive a better chance."
Holly said that Baldwin should not be losing $325,000 in building aid and said she will discuss the matter with Sens. Fuschillo and Skelos.
"Charles Fuschillo and Dean Skelos flatly reject the governor's
proposal," she said.
sub: On the brighter side
Outside of school district issues, residents also grilled the legislators on Baldwin's general state of affairs.
Resident Harry Truman asked what can be done to attract more businesses to Baldwin, and Legis. Michael Zapson (D-4th District) replied that it would be easier if Baldwin was an incorporated village.
On a brighter note, he added that the Town of Hempstead's beautification and facade improvement efforts could be the needed boost to attract more businesses to the area.
One local citizen complained that media coverage of Baldwin was generally negative and inquired how to spread the good news.
"There are so many good things in Baldwin," she said. "I'm coming as a parent, what can we do to accentuate the positive as well as the negative?"
Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino replied that local coverage is more accessible and accommodating than the larger daily newspaper and that local papers should be contacted.
Legis. Joe Scannell (D- 5th District) thanked Inspector Joseph Kennedy of the First Precinct for the precinct's professionalism in the wake of the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center and bomb threats made at the middle school and high school.
Santino added that the Town of Hempstead was in great financial
shape, and that a significant amount of money was being invested in Baldwin. While phase one of the facade improvement project and a new skate park in Baldwin Park have recently been completed, the Town's future projects include a complete renovation of Coes Neck Park, a new parking lot at the Long Island Rail Road, a state-of-the-art water games park at Baldwin Park and another possible facade improvement on Merrick Road, east of Grand Avenue.
