EdVANTAGE Blog

Council President Oliver Robinson today sent the following letter to editors of major daily newspapers around the state.  Dr. Robinson is Superintendent of the Shenendehowa Central School District in southern Saratoga county.

May 25, 2010

To the Editor:

As president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, I want to thank the voters of New York State for supporting their schools in these difficult times.

Tuesday, May 18^th was a significant day for the children of the state of New York. Over 92 percent of proposed school district budgets won voter approval and the total number of people voting to support their schools approaches an all-time high, according to figures from the State Education Department.

There were no easy choices for superintendents, school boards or voters in adopting school budgets this year.  Despite the threat of a record cut in state aid, we made the best choices we could.  But many quality educators still face losing jobs as a result, and many taxpayers still may be asked to pay more than they should.

State leaders have so far failed to do what school districts have done. There is a lot of rhetoric this year about the budget and the need for tax relief.  Our state leaders can deliver property tax relief simply by passing a state budget that restores aid to schools.

Any increase in state aid now would help reduce the tax levy districts asked their voters to support.  We hope, as well, that at least some districts could be allowed to use new aid to avoid the worst of their cuts to student services.  Additional help from the state would let them do so without adding to the costs their local taxpayers bear.

School leaders and voters have now met their duty by adopting budgets that try to responsibly balance needs and resources, matching what students need and what taxpayers can afford.

It is past time for state leaders to do the same. The best and most direct type of tax relief our legislatures can provide is a quality state budget that amply and appropriately invests in education.

Sincerely,

Dr. L. Oliver Robinson

President

New York State Council of School Superintendents