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Educational Battlelines...
ECSD Threatens Big Cuts If Cuomo Keeps Withholding Aid $$

ELLENVILLE – Ellenville Central School District superintendent confirmed rumors that local teachers and programs are facing drastic cuts for the coming school year should the state not get its aid figures in shape this budget season up in Albany.

"It's an unfortunate place where we are," Wiles said during an update presentation on the proposed 2015-2016 school budget at the February 24 board of education meeting. "It's not being done to scare anyone."

Wiles explained that at this point, the proposed cuts — which includes the loss of about 16 full time teachers, would reduce kindergarten to a half-day program, and eliminate some support staff and bus runs — are just that for now... a proposal.

"We can't finalize this until we have an idea. Our fear is that we're not going to know [state aid runs] in April, in time to adopt the budget," Wiles said, noting that the unavailability of the state figures, along with the property tax cap and the on-going GAP Elimination Adjustment (GEA), are of grave concern and leaves projected state aid figures at this year's levels, unable to keep up with mandated and legally-binding spending rises. "It's extortion... if he [Cuomo] doesn't get his reforms, he'll freeze aid."

Governor Cuomo has said that he would not release any state aid figures until the legislature okays his plans for stricter teacher evaluations based on testing and other matters. Which means that such matters are all part of the heavy negotiations taking place in Albany this year to meet the state's April 1 budget deadline.

Included in the discussion have been many calls from educators, statewide, for Cuomo to reverse past cuts to education aid set in place during the recent recession.

In 2008-2009, the district received $17.9 million in aid; in 2014-2015, state aid has reached $18 million. While the figures point to an increase, Wiles noted that the figures are deceptive and actually hide a previous drop in aid that was never restored, while simultaneously districts' ability to raise funds locally have been hamstrung and expenses have risen, from shared costs to heating and other maintenance issues. The total results, she said, were $8.9 million less than what they had been before the recession, resulting in a growing number of cuts to programs and positions.

The district, Wiles explained, started the 2014-2015 school year with an operational budget deficit of $2 million and are currently discussing cuts over the coming two school years, should the state continue down its path towards aid drops.

Board trustees shared Wiles' frustration over the situation.

"We're taking some heavy cuts in math, science and technology," trustee and village police chief Phil Mattracion said. "We need to remain competitive. How can we do that with cuts? It's counterproductive."

Likewise, trustee Wayne Storey pleaded for the public to join the board's fight... for the children, the community and the personnel.

"We really don't deserve this," he said.

The public, Wiles explained, can write letters, call or meet with legislatures, fill out the fair funding survey on the district's website, and educate themselves and each other regarding the issues at hand.

She added that residents could also attend a "Forum on the Underfunding of Ulster County Schools" at 6 p.m. next Friday, March 6 at Ulster BOCES Center on Route 32 in New Paltz, as well as a rally being held Wednesday, March 11 in Albany.

Meanwhile, other districts in the area have undertaken major petitioning and letter writing campaigns against the governor's move, while major boards and elected officials have posted their opposition to both the proposed teacher evaluations and the way the budget figures have been "held ransom." At the same time, though, the state comptroller's office has been sending out notices to school districts that their final tax cap figures are due by this Saturday

The next ECSD budget workshop will be March 3.



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