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North Country Assemblyman slams governor for withholding school aid runs

Posted 2/5/15

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush has slammed the governor for withholding school aid runs, which help districts prepare their annual budgets. “It is beyond comprehension as to why school aid runs have …

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North Country Assemblyman slams governor for withholding school aid runs

Posted

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush has slammed the governor for withholding school aid runs, which help districts prepare their annual budgets.

“It is beyond comprehension as to why school aid runs have yet to be released to the public; it seems like a foolish attempt by the governor to throw his weight around so he can get his way,” said Blankenbush. “To tie school aid – which is very much needed by rural schools – to a set of so-called education reforms is just short of bullying. Where has the governor been? My Republican colleagues and I have been pushing for reform for years. These are the types of games that need to stop.”

It is customary for school aid runs to be released when the governor issues his budget proposal.

In a release Blankenbush said he hosted one of 11 local hearings organized by the Assembly Minority Conference on education and Common Core. From these hearings the Achieving Pupil Preparedness and Launching Excellence (APPLE) Plan was developed.

One of the tenets of the APPLE Plan, according to Blankenbush, is fair funding of public schools, which Blankenbush cites as a primary problem facing rural schools in his district. Additionally, the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) funds that were taken from schools by the state in the 2011-12 budget have yet to be fully restored.

“School aid should never be used as a political tool; our children’s education is just too important,” Blankenbush said.

Blankenbush represents the 117th assembly district, which includes the St. Lawrence County towns of DeKalb, Gouverneur, Hermon, Russell, Edwards, Fowler and Pitcairn.