Paterson restores aid to schools
By JOEL DiTATA, The Leader-HeraldGov. David Paterson announced Thursday the state will send school districts the remainder of their state aid and STAR reimbursement money today, welcome news to local school officials.
In December, the state withheld 10 percent of school districts' final state aid payments for 2009. Shortly after, the state also withheld approximately 20 percent of the money it reimburses districts as part of its School Tax Relief program, commonly known as STAR.
The lower-than-expected funds left area school districts scrambling to figure out how to continue operating with less revenue than expected.
Northville Central School District Superintendent Kathy Dougherty said she received word via e-mail Thursday afternoon that the governor will send the money today. In the e-mail, Paterson said January revenues and a balance of $883 million on Dec. 31 makes this action possible.
"We're very pleased to see the revenue come in to the state and that it will be used for the schools," said Dougherty, whose district also is dealing with decreased revenue because of the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District's inability to pay its school tax bill.
Northville Central School District had $98,997 deferred between the state aid and STAR reimbursement delays.
"It's certainly a relief, $100,000 is a huge chunk of money," Dougherty said.
State Sen. Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna, said reimbursement of funds will allow schools to get through their budget year.
"It's tremendous. The governor said he would, and he has," Farley said. "Changing the state aid midbudget can be devastating to a school budget."
Farley said that although the districts will receive the payments, it still may take them some time to get back on pace.
"I don't think it will be a great budget, but it'll eventually help the schools moving forward," Farley said.
Greater Amsterdam School District Superintendent Thomas Perillo said for his district the amount deferred wasn't a "complete devastation." The district was deferred $11,000, according to Perillo.
"Our amount wasn't much compared to other school districts," Perillo said. "It is always good, though, to get money that you're promised"
Perillo said that since the amount was so low the district didn't need to make any drastic changes in the short-term budget.
"We had word that this would be a temporary issue, so we didn't make any kind of changes," Perillo said.
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lizzie
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01-17-10 2:01 PM
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Yes, the current syllabus may be different due to AP clases, but let's not leave out the fact that those who teach those classes get extra money for doing so, an extra planning period, and paid training to teach them. How much do they honestly help those who have taken them? That depends on who is teaching them, and whether or not course content is again "dumbed down." I can name about 25 terribly bright students who did not benefit from AP calculus when they went on to college. The were placed in college level Calc II and ended up dropping it and re-enrolling in either Calc I or in some cases Pre-Calc. I do agree though, GoGreen, there are no sacred cows, and even though both of mine have taken these classes, I wouldn't have an issue cutting them if it came to that.
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GoGreen
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01-16-10 4:34 PM
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Hilltopper - Don't get me wrong. I'm not against the advanced classes, in fact, my child has been taking college in the classroom classes for 2 years now, and I've paid for all the classes. I guess during these difficult times we all need to make sacrafices. Each program needs to be re-evaluated and cuts need to made everywhere. If this means cutting some AP classes, making some cut backs in remedial classes, freezing raises for a year, re-evaluating benefits so be it. I am fortunate that my child is a high achiever and is able to earn college credit while in high school, but if cuts need to be made in that area (and other areas) so the district can still operate and afford what IS manadated that is what needs to be done.
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Hilltopper
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01-16-10 12:24 PM
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AP classes are for the brightest students. Don't you think that if we are spending loads of money on remedial classes for those in need who can't or won't do the work, a small portion of that total should be spent on kids who have been held back by standardized learning ? When, do you propose, should we start letting these kids become all they are capable of being ?
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GoGreen
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01-16-10 11:30 AM
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You mentioned AP classes - well AP classes are not Mandated by the state. When the districts were "scrambling" to find revenue during the state aid delay, I wonder if they re-evaluted those classes.
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JoePhillip
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01-16-10 7:43 AM
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ALL politicians are the wrong politicians. Thanks for reinforcing that the system is the problem.
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Hilltopper
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01-16-10 6:39 AM
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True, one size does not fit all in education. But if the Regents exam is watered down enough so that even the poor students can pass, you can throw your advanced syllabus out the window. Teachers spend too much time trying to get the stragglers to pass, leaving the bright students unchallenged. So much for the kids to learn, why are the school days and calender so short ? "If you study hard you can become anything you want to," is the greatest myth perpetuated by our society. Since you feel that there is not enough of input from teachers, might be your union is sending buckets of money to the wrong politicians. I would look into that if I were you.
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JoePhillip
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01-15-10 11:08 PM
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Also, have you seen what's being delivered educationally these days compared to 50 years ago....heck, 10 years ago? My kids are doing things in 5th grade I was taught in 7th; things in 8th grade I was taught in 11th; AP courses in 12th that were undergraduate courses 25 years ago. Not to mention the other things (behavioral, etc.) their classes have to deal with while learning these advanced things. When is the last time you compared the current syllabus with what you went through years ago? It has evolved as much as the things you state, however the education schools have not evolved along with it.
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JoePhillip
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01-15-10 10:53 PM
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Yes, until the model of education is changed, not much is going to improve. When is the last time a teacher was involved in high-level decisions regarding standards, testing, etc.? Now that the charter school cap will be raised, perhaps we'll see some improvement. Let's see what those folks are able to produce (you get what you pay for?). I see the New Covenant Charter School in Albany is a dismal failure, but the originators of the charter school movement (the evil TEACHERS union) have had much success in NYC. Of course, if success is determined by only test scores, we're in trouble. I hope you hold your own kids to a higher standard than the one-size-fits-all manufactured products you compare their education to. They are, after all, people...much more complex than something to push through an assembly line.
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lizzie
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01-15-10 9:06 PM
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well said hilltopper.
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Hilltopper
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01-15-10 8:46 PM
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The teaching community is full of well trained, competent teachers. We all know that the poor results are the fault of the students and their parents. In what other profession can poor results ( in this case low test scores ) not be held against a probationary employee ? The world has undergone enormous change in the last 50 years. Technology, manufacturing techniques, and medicine are light years ahead of where they were back then. How much, other than a salary spike, has changed in the delivery of educational services in the last 50 years ?
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GoGreen
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01-15-10 8:36 PM
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Bottom line - 90% is way too much to spend on salaries/benefits - it is unrealistic not to mention ridiculous. So now Mr. Mine, Mine, Mine go blow that whistle.
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JoePhillip
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01-15-10 8:29 PM
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But "myself" includes MY car payment, MY fuel, MY electricity, MY food, MY supplies, MY children. Poor analogy....a textbook couldn't teach you that, but a well-trained teacher could glean that from a textbook and possibly deliver that to you by his/her WORK as a teacher.
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GoGreen
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01-15-10 8:27 PM
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Also Joe take away the so called "unnecessary supplies" (as you would say) and you would have alot of teachers complaining that they don't have the proper tools to teach their students.
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JoePhillip
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01-15-10 8:23 PM
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I guess I failed to make the point that you must pay WORKERS, and that should be the bulk of expenses. Why is everyone surprised/upset that so high a percentage of any organization's cost goes to the people WORKING?! As far as the private sector, don't forget all the public subsidies that go to support them (remember the bailout, price controls in manufacturing, oil, milk, grain, corn prices, etc. etc.?) I've got a whistle to go blow.
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GoGreen
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01-15-10 8:14 PM
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"If supplies could instruct"? In regard to supplies I am also referring to school books. So should we eliminate them and give more to the teachers? I'm sorry - when my child tells me she can't bring home her text book because there's not enough to go around too much money is being spent elsewhere. Why don't you try spending 90% of your household income on yourself and leave 10% for your car payment, fuel, electricity, food, SUPPLIES, your children (if you have any) and let me know how you make out - because hey aren't YOU the one who does 90% of the work (to earn it)?
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Hilltopper
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01-15-10 8:11 PM
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JoePhillips should take his talent to the private sector where he will be justly compensated for his brilliance. Don't forget the whistle and sneakers.
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GoGreen
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01-15-10 7:58 PM
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JoePhillip - Please enlighten me - how do you operating a school on 10%? 10% is not going to buy a bus to drive, or an ELABORATE office for an administrator to sit in.
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JoePhillip
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01-15-10 7:56 PM
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My apologies. I unfortunately left out the custodians, grounds crews, maintenance staff, etc. (probably along with a bunch of others). Last time I checked, these people were also paid salary and benefits, so they would be included in the overall figure. If supplies could instruct, there would be no need for the infrastructure, personnel included! Let's just all go to Google and be educated. I still have yet to meet a worker in an educational institution that does it ALL "for the children." A little bit of self-interest and being able to live a life is what most people strive for (unless you're one of those million $ executives).
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GoGreen
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01-15-10 7:41 PM
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90%!?! Let's not forget that the students are there too doing school work!! Let's leave 10% for building upkeep, books, supplies, electricity, fuel etc. I think the pie should be split down the middle 50% salaries/benefits the other 50% for the upkeep of the CHILDREN's school and THEIR programs and supplies because "IT's all about the CHILDREN - Remember?"
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JoePhillip
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01-15-10 7:19 PM
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Simple arithmetic also illustrates that 100% of the work is done by those who use only 60% of the budget. I'm not sure how well a building delivers instruction, a driverless bus delivers students, a kitchen full of utensils and food but no one to prepare and serve it, or an administrative office with files, rules, and mandates carries out day-to-day operations. I think it's a shame that 90% or more of a budget doesn't go for these things!
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GoGreen
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01-15-10 6:49 PM
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Well, yes this is great news for the school districts. But this is not a huge amount of funds for them to "run wild with". From the article "The lower-than-expected funds left area school districts scrambling to figure out how to continue operating with less revenue than expected". I ask them, "during all that 'scrambling' what ideas did you (school districts) come up with to continue operating with less revenue? How about putting some of those ideas into place"? Will they do that? I'm sure they won't because hey they got their aid. Back to operating as normal - spend, spend, spend. I wouldn't be surprised if they create some new positions or programs or better - give everyone a raise. Districts - count your blessings, learn to conserve and put what you can away for a "rainy day" because this delay wasn't the that day - there are bigger storms on the way.
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IKnooow
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01-15-10 3:39 PM
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Simple arithmatic illustrates the problem. 60% or more of a school budget is in compensation and benefits. The costs of insurance and retirement go up every year. Aid from the state will be flat or, more likely, cut for the coming year and possibly beyond. In order to save communities from a large tax increase, serious cuts will have to be made, more than eliminating the late bus run and holding off on buying new library books. It's not enough to simply tighten your belt these days. Districts may need to cut off a limb to survive.
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westielover
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01-15-10 1:20 PM
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Maybe Northville can buy a couple of window pains.
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Discobulous
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01-15-10 1:11 PM
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These not so super-intendents and skool boreds must now read the dollar signs on the walls and CUT BACK for next year's budgets, but it sure isn't likely, is it.
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