25 students, adults visited state capitol
It was called ‘Lobby Day’, and that’s just what 25 representatives of the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District did at the New York State capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
Trekking all around the building, the group met first and last with Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, who invited the district and set the schedule up. Four members of his staff spent the day with the HF-FMCSD representatives, getting four small groups in to see 19 different members of the Assembly, and four members of the Senate, of both parties. In addition, the group met with Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, and just before hopping on the bus to head home, Senator James Skoufis.
“Today’s dialogue was an important step in achieving appropriate funding for the school district,” Schmitt said. “I have pledged to fight for my district every single day that I serve as your Assemblyman, and I am thrilled that today you stand with me, as I stand up for you.”
Funding — namely what district officials see as a flawed ‘Foundation Aid’ (general operating aid) system in the state, coupled with the fact that the HF-FMCSD gets no aid toward its full-day pre-kindergarten program — were main topics of the day.
But first, in most every meeting, the local representatives educated the legislators about how 93 percent of the land in the Town of Highlands is not on the tax rolls, due to being owned by either the state or federal government. They explained how the community sits outside the gates of West Point, and while that is a huge “plus” in many cases, it’s also a burden to have so little taxable land.
“Seven percent of the landowners in our town foot the bill for 100 percent of the tax burden,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Sheboy said. “Our taxpayers are overburdened.”
“Today’s dialogue was an important step in achieving appropriate funding for the school district.”
Assemblyman Colin Schmitt
In addition, he noted that the land values in Highland Falls and Fort Montgomery have not risen in comparison to neighboring communities, and said that about seven percent of the total tax levy has gone uncollected in the past three school years.
“God bless your taxpayers,” was the response of a staffer in one of the Assembly offices.
In each meeting, the HF-FMCSD representatives presented printed materials with two “asks”: for fully funded foundation aid, which would provide about two more million dollars in aid to the district each year; and funding for pre-kindergarten.
It was explained that the district had a half-day, state-funded pre-kindergarten program for several years, but was forced to cut it during a financial crisis in 2010 (when the Highland Falls Elementary School was closed). A full-day program was returned several years ago, but it receives absolutely no state aid, so is fully funded by taxpayers.
“Two classrooms are totally full, with a waiting list,” pre-k teacher Alli Lennon said. It was noted that since pre-k was returned to the district, the teachers of older level students are seeing increases in student success.
The school representatives also filled the ears of all who would listen with stories of the good happening in the school district. Student Paul Podias, in his JROTC uniform, spoke about how that program shines in competitions, as well as is teaching leadership skills to not only high school students but intermediate school students. Student Michaela Reinertsen spoke about the success of the music and drama programs, noting as a high school senior she’s already performed with her O’Neill peers at Carnegie Hall and will fly to Chicago with them to perform in April.
Freshman Grace Suchanyc spoke about programs important in the district, special education and English as a New Language. “Twenty-eight percent of our students have exceptional needs,” she said. Sheboy also noted that the school district’s poverty level (measured by free and reduced price lunch participation) has risen from 25 percent in 2007-08 to 49 percent in 2018-19.
As the meeting with Assemblyman Kolb wrapped up, Board of Education President Anne Lawless said: “Look at these kids. Aren’t they amazing? They deserve everything we can give them as we send them out into the world, ready to succeed.”
She told him that district officials have “spent hours” on their own, with State Education officials, with elected officials, and other school districts trying to figure out how to improve the formula, but haven’t been able to do so. And as for the pre-k problem, Sheboy told Kolb, “we can’t be the only school district that had to eliminate the program but now have it back again.”
Kolb told the group that he served on a Board of Education of a small school district prior to the state Assembly, and understood the concerns. He said: “We’ll see what we can do to help. You have an avid advocate in Assemblyman Schmitt, I can tell you that. He absolutely insisted I meet with you today.”
Attending the event were: Sheboy and Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Cedeira; Board of Education members Lawless and Gus Koutsourades; O’Neill Principal Debbie Brand, and faculty members Mike Mallon, Tom Breitfeller, Marie Michaud, Heather Evangelista and Lennon; community resident (Cha-mber of Commerce member) Jim Modlin, and students Carl Tyce, Victor Cadet, Amaan Fruitwala, Podias, Guy Cervone, Jedin Truong, Kaitlyn Hilley, Reinertsen, Miriam Rice, Nicoletta Koutsourades, Anna Thomas, Suchanyc and Harper Ray.
