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The purpose of this column is to inform you of the financial and educational challenges that we currently face as a school community. Dansville Central School District is in real trouble and the elected officials listed at the end of this column [in the sidebar at right] have the power to help us overcome the obstacles set before us. They will act if they hear us speak out with one voice, “Provide fair and equitable aid to schools!” Appealing to you in this manner is distasteful to me. I’m a “pick yourself up by your own boot straps” kind of person but there comes a time when you realize that the cards are stacked against the people and experiences that you care about. I’ve had enough and now is the time to stand up and fight for the futures of Dansville’s school children.
Every moment that we have with each child is precious and learning should be treasured. Every dollar we lose and every teacher and support staff person we lay off equate to fewer opportunities for the children and young people of Dansville.
State aid to education should protect the human and material resources that foster learning. However, state aid to schools is unfairly crafted and distributed. State aid to schools favors wealthy communities. We need you to join us in speaking out against discriminatory funding of education in our state. Dansville children have been victimized by discriminatory funding practices from Albany.
Over the past two years we abolished 70 staffing positions. This represents a 20 percent reduction in our workforce. These cuts included 35 teachers, 33 support staff and two administrators. Many of these individuals were our neighbors.
This year we closed our middle school and eliminated almost $700,000 from the school budget. These reductions remain painful to endure. Despite these efforts to control costs we will lose $580,000 in federal jobs money at the end of the year. The Governor’s office in Albany is promising modest state aid increases after two years of decreases. If this is true, will it be enough to offset the loss of $580,000? This year, DCS lost $1,470 per student in state aid while wealthy districts in Westchester County lost an average of only $636 per student. If the money is distributed the way that cuts were determined, then Dansville will receive less per student than wealthier school districts in affluent communities. Enough is enough.
We are using over a half million dollars from our savings accounts to offset revenue losses this year. This still resulted in a 4.46 percent average tax increase. Next year, we will use most of what remains in our reserves to pay our bills and avoid more widespread layoffs unless something is done in Albany.
The purpose of this column is to inform you of the financial and educational challenges that we currently face as a school community. Dansville Central School District is in real trouble and the elected officials listed at the end of this column [in the sidebar at right] have the power to help us overcome the obstacles set before us. They will act if they hear us speak out with one voice, “Provide fair and equitable aid to schools!” Appealing to you in this manner is distasteful to me. I’m a “pick yourself up by your own boot straps” kind of person but there comes a time when you realize that the cards are stacked against the people and experiences that you care about. I’ve had enough and now is the time to stand up and fight for the futures of Dansville’s school children.
Every moment that we have with each child is precious and learning should be treasured. Every dollar we lose and every teacher and support staff person we lay off equate to fewer opportunities for the children and young people of Dansville.
State aid to education should protect the human and material resources that foster learning. However, state aid to schools is unfairly crafted and distributed. State aid to schools favors wealthy communities. We need you to join us in speaking out against discriminatory funding of education in our state. Dansville children have been victimized by discriminatory funding practices from Albany.
Over the past two years we abolished 70 staffing positions. This represents a 20 percent reduction in our workforce. These cuts included 35 teachers, 33 support staff and two administrators. Many of these individuals were our neighbors.
This year we closed our middle school and eliminated almost $700,000 from the school budget. These reductions remain painful to endure. Despite these efforts to control costs we will lose $580,000 in federal jobs money at the end of the year. The Governor’s office in Albany is promising modest state aid increases after two years of decreases. If this is true, will it be enough to offset the loss of $580,000? This year, DCS lost $1,470 per student in state aid while wealthy districts in Westchester County lost an average of only $636 per student. If the money is distributed the way that cuts were determined, then Dansville will receive less per student than wealthier school districts in affluent communities. Enough is enough.
We are using over a half million dollars from our savings accounts to offset revenue losses this year. This still resulted in a 4.46 percent average tax increase. Next year, we will use most of what remains in our reserves to pay our bills and avoid more widespread layoffs unless something is done in Albany.
There has been much discussion and disinformation about the “2 percent tax cap.” I certainly appreciate efforts from the state to reduce the burden borne by property owners but I am very concerned about having enough money in the future to offer a sound basic education. Dansville students have a constitutional right to this.
A 2 percent tax increase in Dansville brings in an additional $140,000. In wealthy suburban districts, a 2 percent tax increase can generate millions of dollars. The 2 percent tax cap without equitable school aid favors the affluent. I support a tax cap that is accompanied by a fair and equitable school aid formula. Anything less is educational discrimination. Our community, like many underrepresented communities, is paying the price. Every child in our great State of New York should have an equal shot at the American dream.
I am worried for our school system beyond the current year’s budget. Here are more reasons:
- The increase in mandated retirement contributions that the district is required to pay to the state in 2012-13 is estimated at $272,400.
- Anticipated increases in health insurance premiums are in the 14 to 17 percent range or $497,900 to $604,600.
- The only unfunded mandate relief we have seen is permission to transport up to three high school students per seat on our buses. If you have ever been on a school bus, you know that three average-sized high school students won’t fit in one seat. This is unsafe. The savings are non-existent.
What we see are continued unfunded mandates, less state aid, discouraged parents and students, unemployed educators and angry taxpayers who cannot take it any longer.
Without additional support our school district may be financially insolvent within the next two school years. As we prepare the 2012-13 school budget, you will hear or read about a variety of measures that we are considering to help us survive as a school system. You may appreciate some of these measures and bristle at others. You will also have opportunities to voice your concerns and offer suggestions at public forums on the budget in January.
We need your help to overcome the challenges set before us and we need you now. We are asking you to advocate for equitable distribution of state aid to schools. The funding system is unfair and hurts kids and community members who need help the most. We need you to contact our representatives in state government and express your concerns. Together we will make a difference.
