By MATT LINDSEY

Potsdam and Norwood-Norfolk Central school superintendents were “pleased” and “grateful” for additional funding for their schools that will help close each district’s budget gap.

North Country Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, says the 2018-19 state budget, provides "critical funding needed for local school districts to provide quality programming to their students." She voted in favor of the spending blueprint.

“We were pleased with the final numbers from Albany pertaining to the state budget,” said Norwood-Norfolk Central Superintendent Jamie Cruikshank. “While we are still understaffed as compared to pre-recession, we are able to continue the programming that we currently have.”

Potsdam will be receiving about $166,000 in additional state aid beyond what was proposed in the governor's budget, according to Potsdam Central Superintendent Joann Chambers. “We are grateful for the additional revenue and appreciate all that our legislators did to advocate for our students.

“Unfortunately, we are still projecting a gap of over $400,000 so we are anticipating some reductions in staffing and programming,” Chambers said. “Most of the staff reductions will be achieved through attrition.”

The Board of Education's finance committee will be meeting on Thursday, April 5 at 4:30 p.m. in the high school library and the BoE will adopt the final budget at their meeting Monday, April 16 at 7 p.m. in the A.A. Kingston Middle School LGIR.

With costs in all areas of NNCS budget increasing, adding back the lost positions has proven difficult. “Now that we have the state budget, the NNCS Board of Education will be finalizing the budget very soon,” Cruikshank said

There are a few small additions that will be discussed, including professional development through Model Schools, an adjustment to the pay for timekeepers, and a possible addition of a 1/2 social studies teacher, Cruikshank said.

Senator Griffo, Assemblyman Marc Butler, and Assemblywoman Addie Jenne have consistently tried to address the needs of Potsdam Central, Chambers said.

The state budget increases Foundation Aid by $618 million for a total of $17.8 billion.

The Foundation Aid increases funding for school districts in St. Lawrence County: $12,063,923 for the Canton Central School District, an increase of 2.64% over last year; $6,627,304 for the Madrid-Waddington Central School District, an increase of 4.14% over last year; $10,605,335 for the Norwood-Norfolk Central School District, an increase of 3.8% over last year; $10,089,438 for the Potsdam Central School District, an increase of 3.25% over last year.

"I've seen the challenges many of our North Country schools are facing as they work on their budgets this year, and this additional aid was critical to maintain staff and programs necessary to best meet the needs of our students," Jenne said.