The New York State Board of Regents was to vote Monday on changes to school aid funding formulas, and Assemblywoman Addie Russell said the recommended school aid reforms are a good first step.

“I have called publicly for changes to the way our schools are being funded by the state,” Russell said.

“I have introduced a bill in the state assembly to adjust the school aid formula so that a community’s wealth is more accurately reflected when precious resources are divided among school districts,” said Russell, a Democrat from Theresa representing the 118th Assembly District, which includes Potsdam, Canton, Ogdensburg and townships along the St. Lawrence River in the county.

“The bill also aims to stop providing unnecessary aid to wealthy school districts,” Russell said.

“We must also stop the use of the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) to reduce school aid expenditures by the state. The GEA is a regressive way to adjust school aid funding and is damaging our neediest schools while having very little impact on wealthy schools. It is imperative that we address these funding issues and provide a plan for the future that provides for equity in how we fund public education.”

As for the recommendation before the regents, “I am encouraged that there appears to be an acknowledgment that recent cuts have eroded reforms made to the school aid funding formula in response to the campaign for fiscal equity and that the board must act to address the problem. The Campaign for Fiscal Equity reforms drove more education dollars to North Country high needs rural districts, in addition to New York City schools.

"We must use state school aid funding to ensure that all of New York’s children receive a sound basic education. The cuts resulting from the GEA are jeopardizing our school districts’ ability to ensure our children receive even the most basic education,” Russell said.

“Adjustments can be made immediately to address funding inequities. I can fully support the Board of Regents recommendations to move away from the regressive tools used to balance the states budget and move toward make funding more progressive in the upcoming school year,” the assemblywoman said.