New York state Sen. Jack M. Martins and Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel spoke on a panel before 300 multi-faith families and students to discuss the affordability of faith-based schools at a recent forum at Solomon Schecter in Williston Park.
Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran and Muslim parents and children affiliated with 30 faith-based schools in the Long Island region also heard from NYS state. Sen. Martins and John J. Flanagan, assembly members Brian Curran, Michael Montesano, and Edward Ra. The legislators recognized that if faith-based and independent day school children statewide were to enroll in public schools, it would cost New York State taxpayers more than $9 billion, establishing the importance of day school affordability to taxpayers at large and the public school system.
Specific measures discussed included passage of the Education Investment Incentives Act, which would benefit all schools – public and private – by encouraging private donations to individual schools, districts and organizations that serve schools and would provide a tax credit for school teachers who purchase school supplies with personal funds.
Another measure discussed was the reimbursement of state-mandated expenses and reimbursement of more than $50 million in overdue payments due to schools on Long Island, as well as restoration of 90 percent reimbursement to public school systems for the transportation of day school students.
