Long Island Pols Fight for ‘Fair Share’ of 2013-14 School Aid

Long Island public schools will only be receiving an average of $66 per student in new education aid from New York State under Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed 2013 budget, far less than other districts throughout the state.

In comparison, New York City schools will be getting $129 per student and the statewide average is $119 per pupil. This information is being distributed online through a video created by local Republicans in the New York State Assembly with the aim of getting Long Island schools their "fair share” of aid.

The 1 minute and 35 second video, which was posted to YouTube Monday, features Assemblymen Brian Curran, Edward Ra, Andrew Raia, Daniel Losquadro, Michael Montesano and Chad Lupinacci discussing the impact of the aid cuts on their Long Island school districts.

“The reduction in the high tax aid will result in three of my districts -- East Rockaway, Oceanside and West Hempstead – actually seeing a reduction,” states Curran, who also represents Malverne, Rockville Centre, South Hempstead, Baldwin, his hometown Lynbrook, and parts of Franklin Square, Freeport, and Hewlett.

Ra, who represents the 19th Assembly District including parts of West Hempstead, Franklin Square, Garden City, Mineola and New Hyde Park, added, “We hope that we can call on the governor and the two head chambers to help put this money back in.”

The video encourages viewers to sign a petition, which can be accessed by clicking here. The petition states that “Governor Cuomo’s budget takes $37 million away from Long Island schools and gives it to the urban schools he has deemed 'high-need.” Then, it poses the question: “Governor Cuomo, aren’t all children equal?”