Published: January 08, 2010 08:47 am      

Merging might be the answer

Change, either good or bad, is typically not well received. However sometimes it is inevitable.

Whether communities like it or not, it seems likely there will have to be changes and sacrifices made when it comes to educating children. It was not too long ago schools across the state were hoping there would not be mid-year state aid cuts. School districts were spared from these cuts, but lawmakers cautioned that schools should prepare for less state funding next year. Almost $400 million in federal stimulus funds that were supposed to go to schools next year are being used this year to reduce the state deficit.

On top of that, school districts across the state face a potential funding gap of at least $2 billion when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding runs out in 2011-12. According to an analysis released by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, property taxpayers could face on average a 7.7 percent tax increase in 2011-12 to make up the loss in ARRA funds, assuming school budgets and state aid remain constant.

Both are very unlikely. Governor David Paterson was sued last month by educational advocates for his decision to withhold 10 percent of the state aidáfrom state school districts. It’s clear the state is hurting and it does not look like it will have a miraculous recovery any time soon.

DiNapoli is urging school districts to start to tackle the problem now because he says filling the hole left by the end of stimulus funding won’t be easy.

We agree. School officials will have a very daunting task when planning the 2010-11 budget and an even harder task the following year. It is time to start thinking outside the box and perhaps going without some of the things students and staff have come accustomed to, but really could do without. Yes, we all want the best for the children, but sacrifices such as having bigger class sizes and not offering as many programs may be necessary. It’s time for school districts to decide what is truly needed verses what they want or would like. It’s time to prepare for the worst.

Will schools be forced to merge? Perhaps.

Cooperstown Central School Board of Education President Anthony Scalici said during the district’s first public budget forum that he does not foresee local rural schools opting to merge unless the state forces them to. Schools may get squeezed more and more until they have no other choice, he said.

Scalici said he believes collaboration is needed in order for schools to stay at the quality level that they are currently. Schools do some collaborating now, but we agree with Scalici, more needs to be done to cut expenses. It may mean doing things differently, meaning change, which may take some getting used to.

We commend BOCES Superintendent Nicholas Savin for heading things in the right direction by holding a meeting on Dec. 1 to discuss the common issues confronting the component districts and to facilitate discussions among districts about how best to cooperate to maintain educational opportunities and services in extremely difficult financial conditions.

This is a step in the right direction.