Figures are based on Russell's bill A. 4609 which would greatly impact North Country Schools
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell has obtained more detailed
data on how North Country Schools will be impacted by the provisions of her
School Funding Equity Act (A.4609). The
bill will have a dramatic impact on the local share of state foundation aid,
benefiting both Jefferson and St. Lawrence County
schools an average of 18% to 20% in additional foundation aid.
Assemblywoman Russell has been working with the New York
State Association of Small City School Districts on the School Funding Equity
Act. The association is currently suing
the state because of its discriminatory funding policies. The data has been calculated using the
assumption that the state fully funds foundation aid. But the data provides insight into how
Russell’s bill would impact schools based on current funding levels.
The association provided the percentage increases to schools
in both counties as follows:
The amounts are an approximate estimation of the amount of
funding our schools are being short-changed in basic school aid. When the economy recovers and the school aid
formula is fully funded, districts will continue to benefit by the same
percentage unless the district’s wealth changes considerably.
Some state lawmakers have rejected the formula as too costly
in an effort to discredit the reforms, even though it just changes distribution
of whatever money is provided to fund education. They have also made assertions that the North
Country will not benefit under the reforms according to their
data. Assemblywoman Russell believes the funding increases
submitted by the New York State Association of Small City School Districts
speaks the truth, that this bill can begin to stabilize our school districts
and position them for sustainability moving forward.
Because there have been some minor adjustments since the
data was compiled, the percentage change can only provide a ballpark figure of what
local schools could expect if the reforms were enacted. Multiplying each school districts foundation
aid from last years budget by the percentage change anticipated with the School
Funding Equity Act would yield roughly the following increases for area
schools:
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