BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- Despite a proposal to increase foundation aid across the state by $1.3 billion, Governor Kathy Hochul's plan would negatively impact Massena Central School District along with a number of school districts in the county.

Board of Education President Paul Haggett told board members during the Feb. 15 meeting that discussions were ongoing concerning the potential cuts to the aid that helps pay for salaries, advanced education opportunities and emergency projects.

Haggett told board members that Massena would "fare relatively well by comparison" to other districts, however other, smaller schools would be dealt "a death blow" with aid being cut up to 40% in some cases.

“We actually fare relatively well by comparison but we actually get a little bit less than we would if we were being fully funded for the foundation aid formula that was fully put into effect last year," he said.

Massena school officials attend legislative breakfast

The topic of foundation aid was also a big talking point at a recent legislative breakfast in Lake Placid, which Haggett, Superintendent Ron Burke and Board Member Patricia Murphy attended.

Many school officials from the area along with Senator Dan Stec discussed the potential removal of a hold harmless provision as well, which would allow the state to cut foundation aid as it sees fit as opposed to at least maintaining the same level of aid a school received the year before.

Haggett said that all elected officials who attended the breakfast agreed that the foundation aid formula needs correction and should be used as a means to calculate what each district should get.

“They agree that a study needs to be done to figure out how best to fix the funding, the foundation aid formula,” Haggett said.

As budget negotiations gain momentum and state legislators return to Albany on Feb. 26, school officials say the clock is ticking to get the word out.

Burke said it was good to see that the lawmakers are "in tune with the very issues" and share the same concerns as school leaders but cautioned that people should not be complacent about the foundation aid issue.

"The reason I’m asking not to be complacent is if it can happen this year, wait until you see what might happen next year. If we don’t stand united on this as 700-plus school districts across the state of New York, any one of us could see that kind of devastating effect in two years," Burke said.

Burke said it's a matter of standing up not just for the district but neighbors as well.

"It is a minimal hit to the Massena Central School District. We are still growing our foundation aid. I had anticipated approximately $1.3 million or just slightly over $1 million. That’s better than some of our neighboring districts. There’s a small school that gets $4 million foundation aid and they are going to lose $1 million of that. That has a devastating effect," Burke said.

Proposed cuts to Clifton-Fine

The school district Burke referred to that is losing nearly $1 million in foundation aid is Clifton-Fine Central School.

Superintendent Matthew Southwick recently detailed the proposed 24% cut to foundation aid in a letter to families in the district.

Southwick was critical of the proposal, saying it "lacks care and concern for small rural communities such as ours and the ability for all students in the state to have the same opportunities regardless of where they live."

If the cut were to remain, members of the district would be on the hook for the difference to keep the school operational. A 21% increase in the tax levy would be necessary as well, he said.

"We acknowledge that our enrollment numbers may have decreased compared to when Save-Harmless was enacted, largely in part due to factors such as local families leaving the North Country and the ease of home-schooling requirements. Yet, the needs of our students we serve have continued to increase significantly," Southwick wrote.

School officials say the district helps families with clothing needs, while also providing food with an internal food pantry and mental health services for students and families alike.

"We are grappling with rising expenses due to growing rates of students with disabilities, closing the academic achievement gap from the pandemic, and providing mental health services. Fewer students does not necessarily equal less need," Southwick wrote.

Assemblyman Scott Gray has also advocated for retention of school foundation aid levels in recent weeks, raising the issue numerous in meetings and public hearings.

State reps weigh in

In a "Gray Area" address on Jan. 22, Gray detailed the effects the proposal would have on area school districts and which districts in particular would be affected the most.

Districts that would be affected include Canton, Hammond, Madrid-Waddington, Morristown and Ogdensburg.

"The majority of those districts have waterfront property, that's where the significant shift has been made," Gray said.

Gray said under the proposed budget, funds typically earmarked for the county would also be intercepted.

"This is a property tax shift and places the burden on the taxpayers," Gray said.

Gray suggested that the model is one that is not sustainable for the taxpayer.

"A budget is a set of priorities and this is a misaligned priority," Gray said.

Critics of the budget proposal also point to budget cuts for rural and smaller suburban school districts, while aid will be increased for city districts as well as larger suburban districts.

That move, critics say, could hurt smaller and rural districts with low student populations.

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush was equally critical of the proposal, saying that over half of  individual school districts in predominantly rural and suburban areas are expected to experience a $168 million decrease in aid.

Budget prep begins

While this all plays out in Albany, Massena Central School and other districts will begin budget preparations despite not knowing how foundation aid will be impacted under the state budget.

Massena Central is expected to adopt the 2024-25 budget during the April 22 board of education meeting.

A budget hearing will be held May 9 with the annual budget vote to be held May 21 at the Massena Community Center.