NY schools innovating, cooperating to ease cuts

Associated Press:

From labor concessions by teachers and administrators to changing bus routes, many school districts in New York are finding ways to handle Gov. Andrew Cuomo's historic cut in state aid without massive layoffs or drastic increases in property taxes.

Some schools that have already presented budget proposals are also tapping deeper into reserves to avoid layoffs and cuts to programs and sports. The result in many of the first batch of districts to formally propose budgets to voters is savings that cover much of the cut while protecting academic programs, yet resulting in tax levy increases near or below inflation.

"A lot of that is happening right now," said David Albert of the state School Boards Association. He said the Legislature's restoration of $230 million in operating aid in the state budget adopted March 31 has helped, along with labor concessions.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at April 9, 2011 2:15 AM
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