CHENANGO COUNTY – Several area school superintendents say they’re pleased so far with the potential increases in state aid their districts could receive next year based on figures released Tuesday in Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s executive budget.
Some admit, however, there are concerns with a few of the governor’s proposals, particularly a $31 million cut in statewide BOCES funding that could possibly force districts to pay more of their own share to be in that program.
Spitzer is calling for a $1.46 million increase in education spending for 2008-09. The increase is part of a four-year, $7 billion rise in public school spending first implemented in 2007-08.
Right now, the Norwich City School District is slated to see a $5.46 million bump, the biggest countywide, which translates into a 26.57 percent increase over last year. The majority of that funding, $4.49 million, is tied up in a building project.
“We’re very appreciative ... it’s obvious the governor is making a commitment to education, which will be the engine that drives our economy in the future,” said Norwich Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan. “We’re also cautious. We want to see all the details of the proposal. It’s a broad picture and the devil is in the details. So we now sit patiently to see and hear more.”
The school receiving the smallest boost so far is Afton, at 4.85 percent.
Taken all together, the eight districts in Chenango County are looking at an average 11.47% rise in state funding.
O’Sullivan acknowledged that the state Legislature still has to approve the budget, meaning the aid numbers could change as a result. Saturday local superintendents will be meeting with Senator Tom Libous and Assemblyman Cliff Crouch to discuss budget issues.
Referred to as “Foundation Funding,” the amount of aid a district receives mostly depends on how needy it is.
Otselic Valley Superintendent Larry Thomas said last year his school was on the low-end of their projected aid based on the Foundation formula. This year the school will see a 14.98 percent improvement. Thomas is hopeful the money will help offset costs in a district that has seen its own budget shot down by voters each of the past two years.
“There are certainly costs out there that continue to skyrocket,” said Thomas, citing fuel and insurance as two main expense factors. “This (aid) will hopefully help is with that this year.”
OV’s budget spending, spread over a small, rural tax base, raised taxes 5.77 percent last year and 8.29 percent the year before. Unsure of exactly where and how the school will focus the money, Thomas said the funding allocation will have to be sensitive to taxpayers concerns.
“We have to be sensitive to what the taxpayers have had to go through,” said Thomas. “And rightfully so.”
Spitzer’s budget would decrease BOCES funding to schools to by $31 million. Along with Thomas, Oxford Superintendent Randall Squier sees that as a counterproductive move.
“He wants to lower aid ratios when it comes to being in BOCES,” said Squier. “All we hear about is consolidation. That’s what BOCES is. It’s a way for schools to consolidate their funds and offer services they can’t provide. It just doesn’t make sense. We rely on BOCES so much for everything.”
Overall, Squier was favorable of the governor’s spending plan as it related to Oxford.
“I think it’s fair when I look at what other schools similar to us have received,” he said. “It’s a place to start.”
To offset the increase in aid, Spitzer is also asking that schools takeover preschool evaluations and preschool special education committee costs, normally handled at the county level. Several districts officials said Thursday that could saddle them with extra time and personnel costs that could temper the boosts in aid.
A significant portion of Norwich’s proposed aid would have to go toward Contract for Excellence initiatives – accountability measures for schools that rate, or within the past few years have rated, below state standards in a certain area or several areas. Norwich was placed on a “school in need of improvement” list for in middle school English and Math.
“Some considerations have to be made in light of the Contract for Excellence,” said O’Sullivan. “We have to see how we can use it. We all have to consider our taxpayers. It’s a delicate balance.”
The governor’s plan raises total education spending to $21.01 billion in 2008-09, a 7.4 percent increase from last year.
“We didn’t really know what to expect until the day of Governor Spitzer’s budget presentation,” said Greene Superintendent Gary P. Smith, whose school may tentatively see a 13.67 percent increase in state aid. “We have to see how it all plays out. But we’re pleased at first blush with aid with aid we’re getting.”