Superintendent Presents Testimony in Albany to Support $26.8 Million
in Education Funding for the Yonkers Public Schools
(Wed Feb 28, 2007) Superintendent of Schools Bernard P. Pierorazio provided compelling
testimony to the New York State Senate Finance and the Assembly Ways and Means
Committees on Tuesday.
As the voice of 24,000 children and 4,000 employees, Superintendent
Pierorazio thanked Governor Spitzer for his proposed $16.4 million increase
in education aid for Yonkers in the Executive Budget as, “a good start
toward closing this gap for Yonkers schools.” But, an additional $10.4
million dollars is needed for the District to be solvent next year as it faces
astronomical escalating costs for health care, retirement, transportation and
utilities. Additionally, the Superintendent, joined by Board of Education Trustee
John Pagliaroli, will testified regarding the extensive need for capital improvement
aid for the district.
The Yonkers City School District constitutes approximately 54%, $208 million,
of the combined City of Yonkers proposed budget. The City of Yonkers has increased
its contribution to the education budget more than $73 million over four years.
Over the same period, the State of New York increased its funding to the Yonkers
Public School System by $66 million the vast majority of which replaced $60
million in desegregation aid which ended in 2006.
When compared to New York State’s contribution to the other “Big
Five” cities with financially dependent school districts, Yonkers is
receiving only the minimum increase. The Governor’s Executive Budget
proposes the smallest increase in state funding to Yonkers, 8.35%, in comparison
to the “Big Five” school districts. The Foundation Formula points
out the inadequacies in the state’s funding formula for the Yonkers Public
Schools. Superintendent Pierorazio will state that, “although Yonkers
is geographically in Westchester County, it is not a wealthy suburban community.
Greater than 71% of Yonkers students live at or below the poverty level. Other
than New York City, Yonkers has the largest number of students, 17% of the
school age population, with English being their second language and 14% of
Yonkers children require special needs classes.”
Point by point:
- $460 million Projected Yonkers City School District budget for the 2007-2008
school year, an increase in spending of 5.9% over last year
- This represents - projected 8% increase in retirement benefits at a
cost of $2 million; a projected 10% increase in health care at a cost
of $5.5 million; utilities, transportation and out of district tuition
increases at a cost of $7 million; the reinstatement of pupil personnel
staff - school counselors, psychologists and social workers drastically
cut in 2003; much needed upgrades on the business side of the organization;
and monies set aside for the negotiation of labor contracts.
- Build on Yonkers successful educational practices:
- Two high schools have been removed from the NYS designation of Schools
in Need of Improvement
- Yonkers elementary schools annually lead NYS large urban districts
in both English Language Arts and mathematics assessments
- Closing the achievement gap - fourth graders in mathematics achieve
at the 77% competency level and in English Language Arts students are
at the 71% competency level
- Yonkers Prekindergarten to grade 8 schools show an overall 20% gain
in achievement levels on mathematics and English Language Arts assessments
as compared with traditional Yonkers’ grade 6 to 8 middle schools
- A twilight high school serves over 400 students from 4:00 to 8:30
p.m. allowing them to earn the additional credits they need for on time
graduation
- Annually an increasing number of Yonkers students successfully participate
in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, supporting
Yonkers’ growth
in college bound seniors
- 99.4% of Yonkers teachers are state designated “highly qualified”
- What’s on the horizon:
- A sixth high school opens in September 2007 without spending a dollar
on new construction
- A long range plan for improving the delivery of educational services
linked to a comprehensive capital improvement strategy
Possible Solutions:
Teaching and Learning
- Accelerate the Governor’s 7 billion dollar commitment to education
to fill the gaps in the Yonkers City School District budget
request for 2007-2008
- Link an aid ratio increase to a new tier of the Supplemental
Education Improvement Grant for the Yonkers City School
District which references the unique circumstances of the Yonkers desegregation
order; and allow flexibility in its use
Facilities
- Special Legislation for Capital Improvements is needed for
aging buildings that have suffered from years of benign
neglect; this requires more than $300 million in emergency repair
to bring Yonkers buildings up to standards in the areas of health, welfare
and safety; and an additional $300 to $400 million is
needed for reconstruction. The Yonkers City School District is doing
its due diligence by developing a long range plan for
capital improvements. The plan will identify approximately $600 to
$700 million in capital needs including the $300 million in emergency
facility needs identified by the State’s
required School Building Condition Survey.
- Propose Special Legislation for Yonkers school facilities
allowing the district to utilize a RFP process where it
can demonstrate cost savings in lieu of the WICKS Law requirements
- Increase the State’s Building Aid ratio to Yonkers, possibly establishing
a new tier for the Supplemental Education Improvement
Grant for the City of Yonkers
