Once again it appears that the best school districts on Long Island may be punished for their success.
Nassau County superintendents say Gov. Cuomo’s latest education budget, which divides $682 million in new statewide aid for the 2014-15 academic year, unfairly favors New York City and upstate school districts.
It is hard not to conclude that the governor shortchanged Long Island.
Allotments for K-12 classrooms will be driven this year largely through changes in a funding provision known as the Gap Elimination Adjustment or GEA.
The largest payments from the state will go to districts that the state deems to be the neediest. But, as we have made clear in our reports over the past year, the school districts in even the wealthier parts of Nassau County are facing very difficult budget decisions. As costs rise, these districts face property tax caps.
There is no denying that many of our public schools have been very successful. Graduation rates are high and a large percentage of the students move on to college.
At the same time superintendents are faced with the choice of cutting music and other enrichment programs and consolidating sports or significantly increasing class sizes.
Ironically the value of the homes in Nassau County is directly affected by the public’s perception of the quality of the public school system.
We are happy to hear that Cuomo has restored some funding that had been cut in the 2013-14 budget, and that the new budget would do so again next year. And we understand that the most challenged districts will get a larger share of these funds.
Nevertheless we urge the governor and legislators to realize that are also real needs in our school districts.
