If it were up to educators, Gov. Andrew Cuomo probably wouldn’t be making the honor roll.
In his State of the State address on Thursday, Jan. 10, Cuomo linked education to the economic recovery of the state and laid out several proposals to enhance the quality of the state’s public schools. But many of Cuomo’s initiatives will require additional funds to be spent in schools that administrators claim are already tapped out through declining state and federal aid and strangled by the very property tax cap championed by Cuomo. Mandate relief, a common cry from educators, was notably absent from Cuomo’s speech.
Cuomo outlined two initiatives for local school districts, both of which include offering more learning time for students and creating better teachers and principals. The proposals followed recommendations from the New NY Education Reform Commission.
His proposition is to extend learning time by 25 percent, either by lengthening the school day or year. Cuomo also announced a state initiative to fund full-day kindergarten.
“When it comes to education, I say two words: more and better. We need more learning time in this country, not just in this state,” Cuomo said. “The advantages of more education are clear. When you look internationally, countries that are beating us educated their children more.”
Billy Easton, executive director of the advocacy group Alliance for Quality Education, applauded the governor’s proposals. The group previously hosted a forum locally featuring area school district employees speaking about how cuts to education have affected learning opportunities.
“Governor Cuomo’s State of the State contains positive educational initiatives including a proposal for full-day pre-K, longer school days and school year and community schools,” Easton said in a statement. “We look to the state budget to see how the proposals can move from ideas to reality.”
The resounding response from area educators is much the same: Let’s see what’s in the budget. Shenendehowa Superintendent L. Oliver Robinson said Cuomo’s ideas weren’t particularly radical and also wondered what might come to fruition lacking mandate relief.
“These aren’t new ideas, but the reason why they keep coming about is there hasn’t been a true commitment to change laws,” Robinson said. “Politicians often say the right things, but the question is if those things can come to a head.”
Robinson said extending the school day is a “good idea,” but in reality it won’t happen without increased state aid.
“If we were to extend the school day merely half-an-hour for each teacher, with the same compensation formula, we would have to increase our teacher compensation by 7 percent, which is almost $3.75 million,” Robinson said.
South Colonie Superintendent Jonathan Buhner echoed Robinson and said funding is integral to expanding learning opportunities.
“The problem I have with some of the suggestions he has is unless the gap elimination reduction is addressed, districts are going to be cutting many of the programs he is recommending,” Buhner said.
The state’s gap elimination adjustment has cut $3 billion from public schools, according to Buhner, and South Colonie schools have seen a reduction of around $9 million in state aid.
“A lot of those concepts he presented were sound … but unless we find a way in New York state to address the loss in state aid, I’m not sure how to get there,” Buhner said.
Bethlehem Central Superintendent Thomas Douglas was of the same mind.
“I feel the proposal is made with the best intentions, but needs to be carefully thought out in regard to cost and implementation,” Douglas said in an email. “We at Bethlehem Central School District would like nothing more than to accelerate our students’ learning and maximize time in classrooms, but I’m unsure of how this could be funded considering the current economic climate in New York state and beyond.”
Cuomo might have two words to describe his feelings on education, but Douglas had two words for Cuomo – mandate relief. Douglas said he is reaching out to local lawmakers for their support.
“I’ve reached out to Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb who has been a true leader on mandate relief with his Taxpayer Protection and Mandate Relief Act and other legislation, to help Bethlehem and other districts rally for mandate relief,” Douglas said.
As far as how school administrators would grade Cuomo, Douglas said he’d give him “a passing grade,” with Robinson and Buhner giving him a “C-“ and “C,” respectively.
“Right now, when you look at the inequity in funding it is hard to offer a higher grade,” Robinson said. “What has transpired with mandate relief is a huge F.”