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Protecting Local Schools From State Budget Cuts

By Scott Atkinson

Story Published: Nov 26, 2011 at 9:55 PM EDT

Story Updated: Nov 26, 2011 at 9:55 PM EDT

North Country Assemblywoman Addie Russell is gearing up for next year's state budget battle, preparing to fight for our local schools.

Russell (D-118th Assembly District) has been meeting with superintendents across her district for the last few months to talk about what the deep cuts they've had to absorb already have meant for school districts' financial circumstances going forward.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed a salary cap for superintendents across the state, as one way of lessening the pain from state funding cuts. But, Russell says, that would not make any difference for schools around here.

"Their salaries are such a small amount of the problems that we're facing. If the superintendents gave up their salaries, it wouldn't even come close to addressing the financial problems that are school districts are in," she said.

Russell says her priority in the upcoming state budget talks will be to push for changing the formulas used to distribute school aid money, so small rural districts are not hit disproportionately hard.
Monday, May 21, 2012
, Watertown, NY

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