SSFC applauds Board of Regents proposal to establish state aid equity
EAST SYRACUSE – The Statewide School Finance Consortium on Wednesday voiced its support of a Board of Regents proposal – released this week – that addresses inequities in school district state aid distribution, including low wealth districts across Chenango County.
According to a Dec.14 press release issued by the SSFC, the 2012-2013 proposal recommends channeling 73 percent of new state aid to low wealth, high need school districts.
Those recommendations include:
• Elimination of the Gap Elimination Adjustment, which unfairly favors wealthy districts by funneling them higher percentage increases in state aid than low wealth districts.
• Changes to building aid formulas, starting in 2013-2014, including the elimination of provisions that shortchange low wealth, high need districts.
• Reform school transportation aid to help districts contain costs and continue to provide service, through the formation of regional transportation models and systems.
• Ramp up the role of BOCES as a regional leader and provider of educational and other key services.
“Everyone who has studied state aid knows there are gross inequities in aid cuts and in the distribution of aid to school districts,” said SSFC Executive Director Dr. Rick Timbs. “We applaud the Regents for saying that ‘this is wrong,’ and for developing a foundation of valid opening thoughts on addressing equity.”
In November, Timbs – a former administrator, educator and union president – met with members of the Chenango County School Boards Association to discuss long-standing disparities in state aid across the state.
Norwich City School District Deputy Superintendent Rob Wightman called the proposal a move in the right direction and a decision that will take some of the pressure off low wealth school districts such as Norwich and others in Chenango County.
“People are understanding the stress that districts like Norwich are under and are responding to that,” stated Wightman.
“Unfortunately, while this is a great first step in the right direction, it does not make up for the hundreds of millions of dollars in lost state support to schools over the last few years,” added Timbs. “The Regents proposal sets the stage for the governor and legislature to also come up with further ideas and solutions, which we eagerly encourage and look forward to seeing.”
The detailed state aid proposal will come before the Board of Regents subcommittee at its December meeting and the group will then make a recommendation to the full board whether to approve it.
For more information on the Statewide School Finance Consortium or to read the complete 2012-2013 Board of Regents proposal on state aid visit statewideonline.org.
According to a Dec.14 press release issued by the SSFC, the 2012-2013 proposal recommends channeling 73 percent of new state aid to low wealth, high need school districts.
Those recommendations include:
• Elimination of the Gap Elimination Adjustment, which unfairly favors wealthy districts by funneling them higher percentage increases in state aid than low wealth districts.
• Changes to building aid formulas, starting in 2013-2014, including the elimination of provisions that shortchange low wealth, high need districts.
• Reform school transportation aid to help districts contain costs and continue to provide service, through the formation of regional transportation models and systems.
• Ramp up the role of BOCES as a regional leader and provider of educational and other key services.
“Everyone who has studied state aid knows there are gross inequities in aid cuts and in the distribution of aid to school districts,” said SSFC Executive Director Dr. Rick Timbs. “We applaud the Regents for saying that ‘this is wrong,’ and for developing a foundation of valid opening thoughts on addressing equity.”
In November, Timbs – a former administrator, educator and union president – met with members of the Chenango County School Boards Association to discuss long-standing disparities in state aid across the state.
Norwich City School District Deputy Superintendent Rob Wightman called the proposal a move in the right direction and a decision that will take some of the pressure off low wealth school districts such as Norwich and others in Chenango County.
“People are understanding the stress that districts like Norwich are under and are responding to that,” stated Wightman.
“Unfortunately, while this is a great first step in the right direction, it does not make up for the hundreds of millions of dollars in lost state support to schools over the last few years,” added Timbs. “The Regents proposal sets the stage for the governor and legislature to also come up with further ideas and solutions, which we eagerly encourage and look forward to seeing.”
The detailed state aid proposal will come before the Board of Regents subcommittee at its December meeting and the group will then make a recommendation to the full board whether to approve it.
For more information on the Statewide School Finance Consortium or to read the complete 2012-2013 Board of Regents proposal on state aid visit statewideonline.org.
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