School districts across New York state are in the midst of their budget process right now, with many facing dwindling state aid and more state mandates. A weekend legislative conference in Syracuse focused on the story that doesn't seem to change.
Democratic Assemblywoman Addie Russell, of Theresa, thinks the current state school aid formula is broken, benefiting wealthier districts at the expense of poorer ones. She says legislation she's introduced would make the formula more equitable.
The Syracuse City School District now has a blue print for the next five years, that administrators hope will take it from being one of the poorest performing districts to one of the most improved urban school districts in America. The plan calls for changes across the board.
Voters across New York state will go to the polls today to vote for or against their local school budgets. This is the first vote since the state imposed a cap on how much local districts can raise the tax levy.
The Syracuse school district is asking for more staff layoffs. The district will make the request for more layoffs at a special school board meeting later this week.
The decision for the Syracuse City School District Board of Education Wednesday night was between borrowing millions or cutting hundreds of jobs. Board members chose to balance a $366 million budget by whipping out the credit card.
