As we prepare for next year's budget, it is apparent that the school district is grossly underserved by state aid based on the governor's proposal.
Many upstate districts receive the majority of their revenue from state aid.
We believe it is long past time for the State to recognize the gross inequities in state aid funding, and to increase the amount received by districts like Hastings thus lessening the burden on the individual homeowners. We do not believe that aid should be taken from needy districts, but rather the total amount of school aid should be increased. On April 18, an open meeting will be held to discuss the implications of a recent court decision declaring New York's system for funding education unconstitutional and discriminatory. People who care about the funding future of their school system are invited to share their views with representatives of the New York State School Board Association and the lawsuit plaintiffs Campaign for Fiscal Equity. Your opinion matters as the courts and our elected officials in Albany weigh options for fixing what has long been regarded as a dysfunctional system.