Districts await funds owed by state

The New York State Education Department released its proposed budget on Jan. 13, which provided Valley Stream’s four school district administrations with a general idea of how much they’ll each receive in state aid, but schools are still waiting for borrowed money to be restored.

“The proposed budget is just a starting point,” said Central High School District Superintendent Bill Heidenreich. “While we’re happy that the governor has proposed an increase [for the high school district], it’s still not enough to build a budget.”

The Gap Elimination Adjustment was created in 2010 as a way to close the state’s budget deficit by reducing state aid to school districts, and has since come under fire for straining school districts’ ability to provide for students.

“We did our part when the state had its budget deficit — now its up to the state to do their part,” said Heidenreich.

The Central High School District is expected to have $568,716 restored for the 2016-17 school year. That is of nearly $2 million owed to the district.

District 24 is expected to receive $142,477, about a third of what is owed to the district.

“The state aid numbers as they are listed under the governor’s proposal are disappointing,” said Ed Fale, superintendent of District 24.

Because the tax cap on school districts is nearly zero, he said it is impossible to raise money locally to offset the money still owed to the district. “We need the full GEA back this year, and we need a modest increase in state aid,” he said.

The disparity between what is owed to school districts is far-ranging across the state, but also within Valley Stream. District 30 is expected to receive the least amount of the three elementary school districts, at $45,262, which Assistant Superintendent for Business Lisa Rutkoske said indicates that they’ve already been paid much of what is owed.

“We were very fortunate,” she said, adding that in the past two years the school rcovered about $600,000.

District 13 is expected to receive $174,943 of more than $500,000 owed by the state. Constance Evelyn, superintendent of District 13, said, “For many districts, these numbers represent a minimal restoration,” but said that this is just the beginning of the process.

“Initially, we recognize this as a baseline — the story hasn’t been told yet,” she said. District 13 Assistant Superintendent for Business Gerard Antoine added, “It’s good that we have something.”

Both Heidenreich and Fale said they intended to voice their opposition to the GEA to local legislators in the coming weeks.