Public Ed Legislative Lineup
February 2021
Thank you to our State legislators who joined us to discuss public education issues in two panel presentations, and who met with small groups of Superintendents and Board trustees to hear about school issues in their legislative districts. The panels, ably moderated by superintendents Ray Blanch and Joe Ricca on behalf of the CSAs and WPSBA board members Rina Beder and Scott Levy, effectively laid out our advocacy priorities and clarified the strong support our local legislators have for public education. Panel discussions and district meetings with legislators focused primarily on issues with the Executive Budget, but also included discussions of the unique circumstances of Special Act school districts, COVID-19 guidance and funding, and the needs of students during and after the pandemic.
We appreciate the time and attention of the following State legislators who participated in one or more activities during our Public Ed Legislative Lineup:
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (Majority Leader)
Senator Shelley Mayer (Education Chair)
Senator Alessandra Biaggi
Senator Peter Harckham
Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick
Senator Susan Serino
Assemblymember Thomas Abinanti
Assemblymember Chris Burdick
Assemblymember Kevin Byrne
Assemblymember Sandra Galef
Assemblymember Steven Otis
Assemblymember Amy Paulin
Assemblymember Gary Pretlow
All of the materials made available during the Public Ed Legislative Lineup are available on the WPSBA website, including the Legislative Toolkit, Aid Analysis and Summary of State Priorities.
Highlights of the 2021 Advocacy Agenda
Ensure funding to cover the short- and long-term costs of the pandemic
- Additional aid has not been provided to WPSBA districts to cover COVID-19 costs to date.
- Recovery from the pandemic will require funding to ensure student mental health, permanently bridge the digital divide and overcome learning loss.
Maintain state funding for public education and stave off upcoming funding cliff
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Executive Budget plan to supplant state aid with federal funds could mean total school aid is reduced in the next few years, as the state struggles to fund school aid without federal dollars.
- The potential for long-term reductions in STAR payments to school districts suggests that the program intended to aid property taxpayers may result in school districts not receiving the full amount of their voter-approved tax levies.
- Reliability of state aid is compromised by creation of “combined services aid” from 11 expense-based aids, limiting transportation aid reimbursements, shifting residential placements to local districts, and refusing payment on the Prior Year Adjustment queue.
- Permit a 2% allowable growth factor for tax levy calculations during the pandemic.
Support Special Act School Districts
- Ensure the fiscal and programmatic stability of Special Act schools, which provide services to NYS’s most challenged students by setting a timely tuition rate and allowing the establishment of a reserve fund.
- Treat COVID-19 expenses as direct care costs during the pandemic.
Permit school districts additional flexibility in containing costs
- Amend current laws to increase negotiating latitude (Triborough Amendment), contain building costs (Wicks Law), lessen transportation requirements (reducing out-of-district busing limits) and reduce the special education legal burden on school districts.
Look at the WPSBA DIY Advocacy Toolkit for additional background on advocacy issues, how your Board can take action, and easy ways to get your community involved in public education advocacy.
BE VISIBLE.
BE VOCAL.
SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION!
