Survey: Most Long Island schools optimistic about finances ahead of votes
A Newsday survey of Long Island school districts holding budget votes Tuesday found a majority at least somewhat optimistic over their financial prospects for the next several years, with a smaller number pessimistic.
One unanswered question, some responders indicated, was whether Albany lawmakers might ultimately make major changes in the way state funds are distributed.
Across Long Island, residents of 124 school districts are going to polls Tuesday to vote on school budget proposals totaling nearly $16 billion. Most polls are scheduled to close between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
In recent weeks, Newsday conducted its survey as part of a questionnaire sent to all districts to gather information on budgets, school board candidates and other issues. Of 104 districts responding to Newsday's poll, 56% expressed optimism over their future, while only about 16% were pessimistic. Others were undecided, or indicated they were unable to answer for other reasons.
Oceanside, which enrolls about 5,500 students on Nassau County's South Shore, identified itself as “very optimistic.” One reason for confidence is the district's success over the past five years, winning voter permission to draw money from reserve funds to renovate school buildings and make other improvements.
Last year, a $13.5 million referendum for constructing an addition to Oceanside High School passed by 1,219 votes in favor to 688 opposed. This year, the district is seeking another $11.4 million to upgrade sports facilities, including full turf fields and two pickleball courts.
“I continue to believe that our community believes in us and supports us,” said Phyllis Harrington, the district’s superintendent. “It’s not that we don’t have our share of challenges. But at the end of the day, all we have is our school system. So we have to remain optimistic. People have joked about me being a Pollyanna for years, but I can’t help it. I love the work we do.”
Harrington has served 20 years as a schools chief in two districts, and is a past president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, a professional association.
Newsday's survey posed the question: “Thinking ahead three years or so, how optimistic or pessimistic are you that your district will be able to fund programs and services adequate to the needs of your students?”
Districts were invited to check one of these responses: very optimistic, very pessimistic, somewhat optimistic or somewhat pessimistic. Districts also were allowed to indicate that they were not able to answer due to a lack of information or other factors, or that they had differing views not included on the survey form.
Among respondents, 31 districts or about 30% reported they were very optimistic. Another 27 or 26% were somewhat optimistic.
On the other side, four district were very pessimistic, while 12 districts were somewhat pessimistic. A large group of 30, or 29%, said they were unable to forecast their future with any degree of certainty.
The most common reason offered for inability to forecast was uncertainty over state funding. Following a dispute over the issue this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders agreed to sponsor a review of the state's funding system next year by the Rockefeller Institute, a think tank headquartered in Albany.
Hochul and others have expressed dissatisfaction with the state's current formula for distributing foundation aid, on grounds that it uses outdated enrollment figures and other factors.
Whatever the outcome of that review, it could have an impact on distribution of nearly $25 billion in foundation aid, the state's largest school-aid program. That includes $3.5 billion distributed on Long Island alone. Other types of state aid reimburse districts for expenses such as bus transportation.
The prospect of change leaves some districts uncertain or worried. The Three Village district in northern Suffolk County is among those listing themselves as “very pessimistic.”
Three Village is one of only 10 districts in Nassau and Suffolk counties that experienced overall losses in state aid for next year, after state lawmakers worked out a final package. Three Village's foundation aid was frozen at the current year's level.
At a May 8 budget hearing, Jeffrey Carlson, the district's deputy superintendent, said chances of receiving any state aid increase in the near future did not seem promising.
“It's not going to be easy for the next couple years,” Carlson said.
A Newsday survey of Long Island school districts holding budget votes Tuesday found a majority at least somewhat optimistic over their financial prospects for the next several years, with a smaller number pessimistic.
One unanswered question, some responders indicated, was whether Albany lawmakers might ultimately make major changes in the way state funds are distributed.
Across Long Island, residents of 124 school districts are going to polls Tuesday to vote on school budget proposals totaling nearly $16 billion. Most polls are scheduled to close between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
In recent weeks, Newsday conducted its survey as part of a questionnaire sent to all districts to gather information on budgets, school board candidates and other issues. Of 104 districts responding to Newsday's poll, 56% expressed optimism over their future, while only about 16% were pessimistic. Others were undecided, or indicated they were unable to answer for other reasons.
Oceanside, which enrolls about 5,500 students on Nassau County's South Shore, identified itself as “very optimistic.” One reason for confidence is the district's success over the past five years, winning voter permission to draw money from reserve funds to renovate school buildings and make other improvements.
Last year, a $13.5 million referendum for constructing an addition to Oceanside High School passed by 1,219 votes in favor to 688 opposed. This year, the district is seeking another $11.4 million to upgrade sports facilities, including full turf fields and two pickleball courts.
“I continue to believe that our community believes in us and supports us,” said Phyllis Harrington, the district’s superintendent. “It’s not that we don’t have our share of challenges. But at the end of the day, all we have is our school system. So we have to remain optimistic. People have joked about me being a Pollyanna for years, but I can’t help it. I love the work we do.”
Harrington has served 20 years as a schools chief in two districts, and is a past president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, a professional association.
Newsday's survey posed the question: “Thinking ahead three years or so, how optimistic or pessimistic are you that your district will be able to fund programs and services adequate to the needs of your students?”
Districts were invited to check one of these responses: very optimistic, very pessimistic, somewhat optimistic or somewhat pessimistic. Districts also were allowed to indicate that they were not able to answer due to a lack of information or other factors, or that they had differing views not included on the survey form.
Among respondents, 31 districts or about 30% reported they were very optimistic. Another 27 or 26% were somewhat optimistic.
On the other side, four district were very pessimistic, while 12 districts were somewhat pessimistic. A large group of 30, or 29%, said they were unable to forecast their future with any degree of certainty.
The most common reason offered for inability to forecast was uncertainty over state funding. Following a dispute over the issue this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders agreed to sponsor a review of the state's funding system next year by the Rockefeller Institute, a think tank headquartered in Albany.
Hochul and others have expressed dissatisfaction with the state's current formula for distributing foundation aid, on grounds that it uses outdated enrollment figures and other factors.
Whatever the outcome of that review, it could have an impact on distribution of nearly $25 billion in foundation aid, the state's largest school-aid program. That includes $3.5 billion distributed on Long Island alone. Other types of state aid reimburse districts for expenses such as bus transportation.
The prospect of change leaves some districts uncertain or worried. The Three Village district in northern Suffolk County is among those listing themselves as “very pessimistic.”
Three Village is one of only 10 districts in Nassau and Suffolk counties that experienced overall losses in state aid for next year, after state lawmakers worked out a final package. Three Village's foundation aid was frozen at the current year's level.
At a May 8 budget hearing, Jeffrey Carlson, the district's deputy superintendent, said chances of receiving any state aid increase in the near future did not seem promising.
“It's not going to be easy for the next couple years,” Carlson said.