$600K "High Tax Aid" Cut for Wantagh

[Chris_Wendt]

Read all about it! (hyperlink to Patch article) (Broken Link Fixed)

This is insane.

The proposed cut is actually $610,000. I doubt seriously if the Wantagh BoE was planning to make cuts on that order of magnitude from our school budget.

What do you think?

Chris Wendt

[Chris_Wendt]

There was a question about the proposed High Tax Aid cut and Full-day Kindergarten. My answer, posted on Patch was as follows:

Someone asked me about how this may effect the possibility of Wantagh starting Full-day Kindergarten. By the numbers:

1. This High Tax Aid Cut has not happened; it is only a proposal from the Governor. It may not happen at all, or, if it does, it may not be as severe as has been proposed.

2. Full-day Kindergarten is expected to be 100% funded in its first year by Transition Aid that can only be used to start up Full-day Kindergarten. So even if the High Tax Aid cuts go through as proposed, it would not directly effect the start up of Full-day Kindergarten.

3. As far as sustaining Full-day Kindergarten after the first year, that would still be a function of subsequent year's budgets, changes in laws, and state aid revenue. If there was a big cut in high tax aid this year, but little or no cut the following year, then this year's (proposed) high tax aid cut could be no problem for continuing full-day K the year after.

Summary: the launch of full-day K in Wantagh is covered by special aid that can only be used to start full-day K, or lost. Sustaining full-day K, which 93% of school districts in NY State are doing, is a discussion for another day, and a different set of circumstances at that time.

Follow or join the discussion on Patch: Hyperlink to article, comment thread.

Regards

Chris Wendt