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RFH 2010, Cover Stories, HCS News

As Money Woes Grow, Educators To Speak Up

Mon, Dec 05, 2011

With expenses up, temporary federal support gone and the state once again facing fiscal problems, HCS is concerned not just about formulating its 2012-2013 budget, but also for the long-term financial health of the district. And, neither looks good.

In fact, Superintendent Dr. Diana Bowers last week said she is concerned that HCS as we know it today -- a district that successfully educates its children and offers sports, music, drama, art and other enrichment programs -- faces an increasingly difficut financial future. Bowers suggested at a meeting last week that she and other superintendents worry that districts' offerings may soon be stripped to the bare educational bones simply because of a lack of funding.

Because of this, and because of the growing demands by and chaos within the state Education Department and continued threats of reduced funding, HCS and other districts in the area are going to push back. Bowers said HCS will be asking district residents to write to legislators and the governor to ask that they stabilize aid for low-wealth, rural school districts like most of those in Madison County.

"We are getting close to being at a point that we will not be able to provide education to kids as we have in the past," said Bowers.

In fact, Bowers said HCS -- as well as other school districts in the county -- is "a couple to a few years away from a structural deficiet." She explained that is the same as districts facing bankruptcy.

HCS is at the start of formulating its 2012-2013 budget against a sobering backdrop:

  • New York State recently learned it is facing a $350,000,000 budget shortfall;
  • the state could have to offset a projected $3 billion deficit in the next budget year;
  • district officials believe state aid will remain flat over last year;
  • the $235,000 HCS has received from the federal government in the past to offset state cuts has expired;
  • the state legislature passed a bill limiting municipalities and school districts from raising their annual budgets beyond 2 percent.

The district's budget outlook  "... is preliminary, preliminary, preliminary," said Bowers, but still it appears the district, at first blush, the district may have to reduce its spending by about $250,000 from the current spending plan. Bowers said it is difficult to tell exactly what this year's budget will be because the governor has yet to release his budget estimate. 

"We cannot stress enough that there are so many unknowns," said district Business Manager Matt Crumb.

However, HCS and other districts are more certain of something else.

"Albany is no longer listening to us," said Bowers.

Bowers and other Central New York educators are going on the offensive. She said she and other superintendents within the Oneida-Madison BOCES are working on a collaborative lobbying effort. They plan to appeal to legislators and the governor to better understand the problems -- including and especially funding -- school districts face. 

Bowers said they will be asking district residents to do the same. Districts are formulating plans to have their residents write to state officials explaining the need to ensure schools receive proper funding.

In addition, school district officials from around the reason will take turns traveling to and making their cases in Albany.

The Merger and Beyond

At the same meeting, Bowers explained that while there is no word of when the district might receive state funds to study a possible merger with the Morrisville-Eaton district, HCS is looking for assistance to consider finding ways to share money-saving services with other entities.

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