Statement of New York State Council of School Superintendents on Uvalde, Texas School Shooting Horror

May 25, 2022

Questions? Contact:

Robert Lowry, Deputy Director
Greg Berck, Esq., Assistant Director
E:  advocacy@nyscoss.org

ALBANY, NY — New York State Council of School Superintendents President Phyllis Harrington and Executive Director Charles Dedrick issued the following statement today:

Never Again

When will we as a nation say never again to children going off to school, not to come home again? Now has to be the time. We urge our nation’s leaders to come together and enact common sense measures supported by the majority of Americans that will help put an end to the horrific murders we are witnessing. 
  
Every superintendent goes to bed at night asking themselves, are we doing enough to protect our students tomorrow? We ask for the same from our elected leaders. Have we all done enough to ensure the safety of the children, teachers and staff as they set foot in our schools? Families deserve to know they are a priority and that each person’s safety is an actual birthright. 
  
According to our Declaration of Independence, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are the unalienable rights that government has been created to protect. It is time for our elected leaders to take that historical phrase more seriously. 
  
According to AASA, the School Superintendents Association, there have been 27 school shootings in 2022. That is 27 school shootings too many. Obviously yesterday’s murders in Uvalde, Texas are an unimaginable event among the many. We at NYSCOSS stand in support of our colleagues across the state and nation and call on our elected leaders to pursue bipartisan solutions to ensure life and liberty for all. Let’s not have one more child or one more teacher not return home. 

Please write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.  

Statement of New York State Council of School Superintendents on Buffalo Supermarket Shooting

May 16, 2022

Questions? Contact:

Robert Lowry, Deputy Director
Greg Berck, Esq., Assistant Director
E:  advocacy@nyscoss.org

ALBANY, NY — New York State Council of School Superintendents President Phyllis Harrington and Executive Director Charles Dedrick issued the following statement today:

“We grieve for the people lost in the horrific shootings in Buffalo on Saturday, and for their loved ones, and for the whole community. No one, ever, should have to bear what has been thrust upon them. This tragedy was incited by mindless hate, a spirit that will not be vanquished by any one action or program. But every one of us can work harder to impart lessons of respect, understanding, and empathy for other people. Schools have a role to play in that effort. We will do all that we can to support that work, in part with the hope of sparing more families from heartache and to honor the memory of those so tragically lost this weekend in Buffalo.” 

Please write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.  

2022-23 School Aid Runs for the New State Budget

April 13, 2022

Questions? Contact:

Robert Lowry, Deputy Director
Greg Berck, Esq., Assistant Director
E:  advocacy@nyscoss.org

Albany, NY - The state budget passed by the Legislature includes a $2.07 billion increase in School Aid. For a better sense of how the new state budget affects any district check out our spreadsheet to produce an easier to read School Aid run. 

The spreadsheet will produce three reports for any district: 

• “All Aids” shows aid results by category with 2021-22 and 2022-23 amounts presented side-by-side, with year-to-year dollar and percentage change. This makes it easier to identify which formulas are driving changes in total aid.
  
  
• “Foundation Aid Analysis” shows where each district’s new Foundation Aid amount would place it in relation to full funding. It also presents key aid factors for 2022-23 and 2007-08 –the year the formula first became law. This can help illuminate why a district is projected to receive a large boost in aid or the proposed 3% minimum increase.
  
  
• “Change in Estimates Over Time” shows how estimates for each aid category for the 2021-22 school year have changed between April, when the current state budget was enacted, in January when the Governor’s budget was issued, and in the just passed state budget for the year ahead.
  
  
• The change in estimates report also compares aid estimates for 2022-23 under the Governor’s budget and the enacted budget. The enacted budget adds $100 million for expansion of full-day prekindergarten. Data updates result in a further net increase of $64 million statewide, but individual districts may experience either increases or decreases in their estimated aid due compared to the Governor’s budget.

Here is a link to access and use the spreadsheet. It may take a while to load. Once it does, enter a district’s six digit BEDS Code to create a report. To look up a code for any district, click on the tab named “CODE LIST” at the bottom of the screen.

Please call or write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.