JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting the head of the Jamestown School District is not pleased with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed school funding totals for the 2018-19 school year.
On Tuesday the Jamestown School Board held its monthly meeting and received an update form Superintendent Bret Apthorpe, who questioned the fairness of state aid distribution included in the governor’s $168 billion budget.
Apthorpe said Jamestown will only see about a 1.4 percent increase in aid, which will make it difficult for the district to maintain current program levels, let alone work to expand or provide new ones. He also pointed to mandates for adopting new learning standards from the state that in the long run will cost the school more money for training, materials and general personnel costs.
The state budget still needs to be finalized by the State Legislature, so more funding could be added. But with the state facing a multi-billion dollar budget gap, the chances of a significant increase are slim. The final state budget is due by March 31. The School board must finalize its 2018-19 budget in the second half of April.
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