Schenectady School District

Getting the Aid it Needs

Alexandra Metcalfe

Summary
Where Schenectady Is
What the problem is with State Funding
Background on Schenectady
Schenectadys State Aid Now
What Schenectadys Aid should be
Schenectadys aid vs Other schools
Why is Schenectady not being financed
Current Purposed Funding for 2013-2014
Benefits for the school and Community
Negatives of Funding
My Position
Summary
Conclusion

Schenectady

New York State Funding

Inequities in State Aid
Problem: The distribution of available state aid is unfair.

Problem: Schenectady School District is not receiving the funding

necessary to educate the students of the community.

As lawmakers we have a constitutional and

moral obligation to provide all of New York's
children with a sound, basic education,
-Sheldon Silver, Assembly Speaker

Schenectady School District and its

Financial Aid Now
13th highest concentration of childhood
poverty in the nation
Receives 54% of aid promised
Aid Now is $72,990,701
Combined wealth ration of 0.386
6th poorest district in the state.

What Schenectadys Aid Should be

Promised Aid

$135,323,105

Aid Received

$72,990,701

Shortage

-$62,332,404

Estimated years till full

amount

58 years

Schenectadys Aid Compared to

Other Schools in the Area
On the Next two slides
1. Chart to show NYS School Districts
Percentage of Aid Before Phase-In
2. Chart that shows SCSD compared to
other districts in the Capital Region

Combine
Districts
# of
% of all d Wealth
Percentage District
Districts
Ratio
of Aid
s
Avg

100% or
more
Between
99% & 95%
Between
94% & 90%
Between
89% & 85%

Combined
Wealth Ratio
Median

Combine
Combined
d Wealth
Wealth
Ratio
Ratio Max
Minimum

Total
Value $

Average
Value $

Median $

138

20%

3.15

1.45

0.42

44.96

($124,179,390)

($899,851)

($552,123)

22

3%

0.79

0.63

0.50

2.45

$5,789,303

$263,150

$193,508

41

6%

0.73

0.71

0.48

1.35

$48,639,581

$1,186,331

$694,872

64

9%

0.74

0.62

0.36

2.29

$122,662,350

$1,916,599

$1,395,627

Between
84% & 80%

68

10%

0.73

0.62

0.19

2.33

$143,137,180

$2,104,959

$1,767,384

Between
79% & 75%

93

14%

0.64

0.57

0.28

2.02

$496,153,114

$5,334,980

$2,845,955

Between
74% & 70%

95

14%

0.75

0.60

0.32

2.37

$3,295,210,470

$34,686,42
6

$3,939,046

Between
69% & 65%

66

10%

0.68

0.51

0.22

1.90

$693,712,865

$10,510,80
1

$6,149,003

Between
64% & 60%

42

6%

1.13

1.04

0.25

2.30

$338,170,304

$8,051,674

$5,769,464

Between
59% & 55%

25

4%

1.25

1.29

0.30

2.12

$289,609,927

$11,584,39
7

$5,831,607

Between
54% & 50%

12

2%

1.44

1.50

0.39

2.19

$115,649,469

$9,637,456

$4,611,926

Below 50%

10

1%

1.23

1.19

0.44

1.84

$97,153,564

$9,715,356

$7,066,516

Schenectady, one of the poorest districts in the state, is among 22 districts

being funded below 54%. Only 3% of all districts are being funded at this level.
Meanwhile, 138 districts are funded at 100% or more. More than $120
million is being over paid to districts. Median funding level is 82%.

$5,521,708,727

Wealth
Ratio

Free/
Reduced
Lunch %
K-6, 3 Yr.

Combined

District

County

2011-12
Aid

2012-13
Aid

Aid Should
Be Receiving
before
phase in 12-13

Amount
Needed
to Promised
Full Amount

% of
Full
Amt

Yrs
to
Full

Schoharie

Schoharie

0.697

0.3972

$ 6,704,179

$ 6,744,404

$ 6,142,196

-$ 602,208

110%

Middleburgh

Schoharie

0.694

0.4113

$ 6,765,007

$ 6,805,597

$ 6,877,651

$ 72,054

99%

Berne Knox

Albany

0.903

0.3762

$ 5,841,334

$ 5,876,382

$ 6,113,814

$ 237,432

96%

Schalmont

Schenectady

1.049

0.1529

$ 6,985,847

$ 7,027,762

$ 7,389,402

$ 361,640

95%

Ravena C

Albany

0.830

0.3365

$10,419,720

$10,482,238

$11,609,770

$ 1,127,532

90%

19

Burnt Hills

Saratoga

0.830

0.0953

$12,58,566

$12,660,073

$14,302,432

$ 1,642,359

89%

22

Voorheesville

Albany

1.121

0.0606

$ 3,337,310

$ 3,357,333

$ 3,920,001

$ 562,668

86%

29

Sharon Spgs

Schoharie

0.488

0.5417

$ 3,204,241

$ 3,233,466

$ 3,776,010

$ 552,544

85%

30

Scotia Glenvil

Schenectady

0.772

0.1944

$12,510,682

$12,585,746

$14,776,838

$ 2,191,092

85%

33

Green Island

Albany

0.771

0.4981

$ 2,051,206

$ 2,062,513

$ 2,465,132

$ 401,619

84%

35

Cobleskl-Rich

Schoharie

0.583

0.3736

$13,117,724

$13,196,430

$15,891,678

$ 2,695,248

83%

46

Duanesburg

Schenectady

0.748

0.2437

$ 4,379,229

$ 4,405,504

$ 5,602,165

$ 1,196,661

79%

58

Mohonasen

Schenectady

0.704

0.2313

$12,484,751

$12,561,189

$16,981,128

$ 4,419,939

74%

58

Menands

Albany

1.774

0.2654

$ 362,125

$ 364,402

$ 496,097

$ 131,695

73%

58

Guilderland

Albany

1.048

0.0924

$13,876,047

$13,965,172

$19,118,726

$ 5,153,554

73%

58

Watervliet

Albany

0.528

0.6526

$10,896,473

$10,978,969

$15,749,191

$ 4,770,222

70%

58

Shenendehowa

Saratoga

0.967

0.1104

$26,136,353

$26,336,843

$37,929,933

$11,593,090

69%

58

Cohoes

Albany

0.547

0.62

$14,467,010

$14,578,624

$22,032,591

$ 6,453,967

69%

58

So. Colonie

Albany

0.995

0.2292

$15,089,070

$15,207,643

$22,063,985

$ 6,856,342

69%

58

Niskayuna

Schenectady

1.036

0.088

$ 9,706,915

$ 9,793,417

$14,795,277

$ 5,001,860

66%

58

Albany

Albany

0.727

0.6762

$56,687,197

$57,255,001

$90,087,476

$32,832,475

64%

58

Bethlehem

Albany

0.97

0.0525

$11,756,221

$11,875,262

$18,758,638

$ 6,883,376

63%

58

No. Colonie

Albany

1.1840

0.1099

$10,836,976

$10,954,307

$17,623,159

$ 6,668,852

62%

58

Schenectady

Schenectady

0.386

0.6781

$71,912,725

$72,990,701

$135,323,105

$62,332,404

54%

58

What is up next

Why is Schenectady not being financed

Current Purposed Funding for 2013-2014
Benefits for the school and Community
Negatives of Funding
My Position
Summary
Conclusion

Why is Schenectady not being

financed
Legislators are saying that the budget is going to stay
and slowly be increased over time
Relaying on tax payers of each district and the district
officials to make a budget that will help distribute
money through out the district
With depending on the district officials like the school
board to allocate money to increase education means
cuts of programs, cuts of teachers, and cuts to our
basic, sound education

Current Purposed Funding for 20132014

To increase money in the distirct, The School Board
plans on
Eliminate 105 positions
Middle School Schedule from 8 to 7 periods
Increase Class Size
Cut Non-Mandated Programs
Closing of a School

Areas of Reduction
Amount
Special Education Shifts
$ 1,406,938
Reduce Non-Mandated Programs $ 183,500
Increase Class Size
Middle School 7 Period Day
Reduce Instructional Supports
Reduce High School Supports
Change Management of Health
Insurance
Change to ESL Centers
Superintendent Hearings
UPK Transportation
Reduce Energy Usage
End Small Lease
Additional Non-Instructional
Savings
Transportation
Reorganize Central Office
Close One School
Athletics
Operations and Maintenance
PLATO
Copiers
Supplemental Magnet Funds
Administrative Position
TOTAL

$
$
$
$
$

1,152,000
399,600
600,000
609,000
460,000

$ 220,000
$ 30,000
$ 125,000
$ 600,000
$ 8,500
$ 39,000
$ 125,000
$ 160,000
$ 116,820
$ 12,654
$ 15,000
$ 171,500
$ 25,000
$ 48,000
$ 84,000
$6,591,512

Benefits for the school and

Community
$18 million back to tax payers
Funding for school programs
Mental Health services for Young Kids
Job Increase
Arts, Music, and Physical Education
Restored in the Elementary Schools

Negatives of funding
People want funding for the wrong
reasons
Lowering Taxes instead of Providing
Programs for Kids.

My Opinion

Its Not Fair

All Schools should be Funded
We are no longer cutting the fat, we
are down to just meat and bones..Cathy Lewis, School Board President

Summary
Schenectadys Finical Aid Summary
$135,323105

Total Aid Due SCSD, Annually

- $72,990,701

General Aid 2012-13

= $62,332,404

Annual Shortfall

54%

Percent of Aid Due Actually

Delivered

82%

Median Percentage of Aid Due for

All
NYS School Districts

0.386

Combined Wealth Ratio of SCSD

13

Rank of Schenectady, Nationwide,

for
Concentration of Childhood Poverty

138

Number of School Districts

Receiving
100% or MORE of Aid Due

Summary Cont.
$126,042,686

Excess Aid Delivered to

Districts

$137,953,497

Amount Needed to Bring

Lowest
Funded (22) Districts up to
the Median
(82%)
Additional Aid SCSD Would
Receive if
Funded at 82%

$37,974,245

$18,000,000

Amount That Could Be Refunded

to
Taxpayers, While Still Dramatically
Improving Services For Children

Conclusion
In conclusion if state aid was distributed more fairly
and Schenectady was funded at the median level of
82%, the budget conversations would change
dramatically. We would be talking about how we can
help students rather than what we will take
away. We would also refund money back to the
taxpayers

Work Cited
Benbennick, David. Map of New York highlighting Capital District. 29 01
2009. 30 04 2013.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_New_York_highlighting_Capital
_District.svg>.
District, Schenectady City School. Schenectady, one of the state's poorest
school districts, . n.d. Website. 30 04 2013.
<http://www.schenectady.k12.ny.us/20132014Budget/State_Aid_Inequities/index.htm>.
Mader, Barbara. Schenectady School District passed modified budget. 27 04
2013. News Article . 30 04 2013.
<http://www.examiner.com/article/schenectady-school-district-passedmodified-budget>.
New York School District Statistics. n.d. 30 04 2013. <http://newyork.educationbug.org/school-districts/>.
Silver, Sheldon. "Assembly Unveils Plan To Ensure "Sound, Basic Education
to all Children"." 02 06 2004. New York State Assembly. Press Release.