Pine Bush Central School District residents are asking what they can do to help with the efforts to encourage the State of NY to provide our 
District with a fair share of the pie. The State has cut back on state aid to School Districts throughout the state but Pine Bush is one of seven or eight Districts that face severe cuts in aid. Governor Paterson is proposing targeted school aid reductions based on wealth and student need. In figuring the aid cuts to Pine Bush the state is using data regarding reduced and free lunch participation from several years ago. There has been a huge increase in students who are using this program in our schools in the past year and although the state has those current numbers they are using the old statistics. Although it would not make up for all of the funds needed to maintain current programing it would certainly help if the aid was increased to a level based on our current increased number of area households that have fallen on hard times.
We are being encouraged to send letters and emails to the governor and state legislators. I hope each of us will take the time this holiday weekend to send something off to their representatives and would encourage you to send a copy to the board of education secretary and the superintendents secretary so they can keep an ongoing total number of letters/emails sent. There is power in numbers in the political game.
The superintendent has posted this sample letter to send to legislators or you may wish to focus on the proposed unfair distribution of State Aid by sending this simple email format to the governor and your legislators:
I am writing to ask for justice for the Pine Bush Central School District. While I am aware that the state is facing severe budget shortfall we need to ensure that funds that are available are equitably distributed to all Districts. It is my understanding that the number of students in the Pine Bush Central School District who are receiving the Free and Reduced Lunch Program has increased significantly in the past year. The statistics that the state is using in the proposed distribution of school aid are from reported data that is several years old. The State has up to date reports from our District on the 2009/2010 Free and Reduced Lunch Program participants in the District. I urge the reevaluation of the proposed School Aid Distribution to be based on these current numbers.
Pine Bush area residents are facing difficult times. There are many who have experienced job loss, reduced income, and all have been hit hard by reduced home values. Our home values will drop further if the reputation of the Pine Bush Central School District is diminished due to the severe cuts that may have to be made in programing and staff due to decreased state aid and decreased tax local revenue.
Please consider this plea for equality throughout the State of New York.
Thank You,
_____________________________________________
The School District Web Site provides a list of people to send your letters and emails to, click here to see that list of Local Legislators. If you are unsure of your District here's a map to help you figure out who your representatives are based on your address.
Please come out to the upcoming Budget Forums and/or Regular Board of Education Meetings to learn more about the proposed budget and to give your ideas and input to the board as they work on the 2010/2011 school budget.
Circle ville Middle School Auditorium 7:30 PM
Upcoming Budget Forums
Thursday February 25th-Circleville Middle School Auditorium
PTA Parent Forum - 5:30pm
Budget Forum - Approximately 6:00pm
Monday, March 1, 2010 Pine Bush Elementary School Cafeteria - 6:00pm
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Crispell Middle School Cafeteria
Crispell PTA - General Meeting at 7:00pm
Budget Forum - Approximately 7:30pm
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Hi Paddy! Best of luck getting the help that you need for the Pine Bush Central School District. It's so sad that the first cuts generally go to the schools. Somehow, I think government seems to believe that the parents will 'chip in' anyway and in most instances, they are already--and considerably so!
Happy Valentine's Day...