However,  questions remain unanswered.   How much money will this really be?  How will these funds be distributed? School Districts need the full $250 million and the distribution of that $250 million must be done equitably.

Negotiations between the leaders of the Senate and Assembly and Governor Cuomo are in progress, with the intention to pass the budget by April 1. The time to advocate is running out. Please consider taking a few minutes to contact our legislators by sending an e-mail, a letter, or making a phone call.

Ask your legislator to let school districts know exactly how much aid will be received in this budget deal. District-by-district allocations have not been made public, but both the Senate and Assembly must know in order to arrive at a formula for adoption by April 1. Without this information, Bloomfield Schools will not be able to determine if we are getting our fair share of the restored aid. We need to know before the budget is passed that the distribution of the aid will be equitable and not a continuation of the “Shares Agreement” that sends more money to wealthy districts based on politics rather than need.

The “Shares Agreement” is a political agreement that sends one-third of state aid to Long Island school districts, one-third of state aid to New York City, and sends the remaining third to the remainder of the districts in New York State. The “Shares Agreement” does not take into account the wealth of the school or the needs of the community. Wealthy districts are rewarded with aid which should be sent to school districts with greater financial needs. Our students deserve the same rigorous opportunities as students in wealthy school districts.

Please act now and contact our legislators. The main talking points to consider are moving the full $250 million targeted for grants back into state aid, distributing these funds by need and not by the “Shares Agreement”, and providing current information to each district regarding the restoration of state aid.

For your convenience, contact information for the legislators is shown below.

Senator Michael F. Nozzolio:
nozzolio@nyssenate.gov

District Office: Albany Office:

119 Fall Street 188 State Street

Seneca Falls, NY 13148 Room 413, LOB

315-568-9816 Albany, NY 12247

518-455-2366

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan:

gallivan@nysenate.gov

District Office Albany Office

4729 Transit Road Suite 7 188 State Street

Depew, NY 14043 Room 947, LOB

Phone: 716-656-8544 Albany, NY 12247

518-455-3471

Assemblyman Sean T. Hanna:

hannas@assembly.state.ny.us

District Office: Albany Office:

3045 East Henrietta Road 188 State Street

Henrietta, NY 14467 Room 543, LOB

585-334-5210 Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5662

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