Local school districts get big bump in state aid

EAST SYRACUSE – School districts across New York will see a record amount of state aid in the coming year. That’s the message state Senator John Mannion brought on a visit to Park Hill School in East Syracuse last week.
“This year in Albany we did deliver, and I’m proud to be a part of that change,” Mannion said. “Budgets are about prioritizing, and we prioritized our students’ future.”
District administrators have long complained that so-called foundation aid – aid the state provides to the districts for traditional programming – has not been fully funded. This year’s state budget requires that the state fully fund foundation aid within three years.
Across the 50th Senate district, school districts will receive a total of more than $1.1 billion in state aid in the 2020-21 state budget, an increase of more than 9 percent. For local districts, the increase in state aid is even greater. East Syracuse-Minoa will see an increase of 11.47 percent, Jamesville-DeWitt will receive an increase of 16.46 percent and Fayetteville-Manlius will see an increase of 22.77 percent.
“The foundation aid really goes into the overall instructional programming and operation of the district,” said ESM Superintendent Dr. Donna Desiato. She said over the past several years, the reduction in foundation aid has totaled more than $18 million.
“When you put the whole package together it’s a win-win-win,” DeSiato said. “It’s a win for our children and their education, it’s a win for the wholeness of our programs and how they’re truly funded in a more balanced and equitable manner, and it’s a win for the fact that it will give some relief. If nothing else our taxpayers won’t be continuing to increase their share of this.”
In addition to increasing foundation aid, the budget will make funds available for additional pre-kindergarten programs. Districts that do not currently offer pre-k programs can now offer fully funded programs if they choose. There is enough revenue for more than 800 additional pre-k slots for 4-year-olds across the 50th Senate District, Mannion said.
“Some may choose to opt out, but I encourage them all to take advantage of the state dollars and start up their pre-k programs in the fall,” Mannion said. “This is a major accomplishment that will improve lives and academic outcomes for years to come.”
The East Syracuse Minoa district already offers pre-k programming at the Park Hill School, where the youngest students from all over the district come for early childhood education.