Taconic Hills Community,
I wanted to personally connect with you all to provide an update on the current status of funding in New York State and its potential implications for our district. Public schools receive financial support from three sources: the federal government, state formula aides, and grants & revenues raised locally. Schools across the state receive funding from New York State through Foundation Aid, which is the primary source of state funding for public schools. Our district, like many across the state, relies heavily on Foundation Aid. In fact, it currently makes up 31% of the district’s revenue.
New York State Governor, Kathy Hochul, recently released School Aid projections for the 2024-25 school year following her Executive Budget presentation last month. Within this information were projections to reduce the allocation of Foundation Aid funding to many districts. The proposed changes in Foundation aid would have a devastating impact on our school district.
Taconic Hills is projected to receive one of the highest reductions in Foundation aid amid Columbia County and New York State. The reductions to Taconic Hills are currently proposed to be $2,766,342, which is 7% of our annual school budget. This proposed loss of Foundation Aid would profoundly impact our school district, significantly hindering our capacity to cater to the needs of our students. It could potentially lead to reductions in programming, staffing, athletics and enrichment opportunities.
Taconic Hills has a history of fiscal responsibility, and we do not take our role as the financial stewards of our community lightly. The District has already reached out to elected officials to advocate for change, but alone cannot change the decision of Governor Hochul.
Below you will find contact information for the officials who represent the constituents of Taconic Hills Central School District and our community. We are encouraging our community members to stand alongside us in advocating for change. You can do so by contacting these individuals, urging them to refrain from decreasing the Foundation Aid funding allocation. Decreasing our allocation would catastrophically impact our district during a time when growth and the broadening of opportunities for our student body are our top priority. This holds particular resonance as we navigate the transition to post-Covid-19 life. During the pandemic, numerous students, families, district employees, and community members encountered a spectrum of challenges and missed chances. We aim to break that cycle and persist our efforts to foster an atmosphere that nurtures genuine enthusiasm for learning, advancement, and a strong sense of community. While reaching out is not obligatory, we highly encourage you to consider doing so, as collective action can be immensely powerful.
Taconic Hills is committed to raising our graduation rate, while concurrently maximizing the educational prospects available to our students. Equity for all students, in our district and across the state, is imperative to providing our future leaders with the resources and skills they need to be successful citizens. Please help us in protecting our district, our staff, and our students. As always, we thank you for your continued support.
Very Truly Yours,
Lynnette Brunger
Superintendent of Schools
Governor Kathy Hochul:
Phone: (518) 474-8390, email: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form
Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado:
Phone: (518) 402-2292, email: LGNY@exec.ny.gov
Assemblywoman Didi Barrett:
Phone: (518) 828-1961, email: barrettd@nyassembly.gov
Senator Michelle Hinchey:
Phone: (845) 331-3810, email: hinchey@nysenate.gov
Dr. Gladys Cruz, Questar III BOCES District Superintendent, has also made a statement on the Governor's budget proposal. Read her article here: https://www.questar.org/2024/0...