All of St. Lawrence County’s state representatives say they are in favor of a 2015-2016 state budget proposal to pump about $3 billion into public schools, which would increase aid and get rid of the Gap Elimination Adjustment.

Meanwhile, Norwood-Norfolk Central School District officials are asking community members to advocate for the school by contacting Governor Cuomo and six other North County politicians asking them to eliminate the budget Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) that has lowered state education funding.

On the school's website, http://www.nncsk12.org/, there are prepared letters with a space for a signature to support the school. Community members can print, sign and mail letters to local and state officials in an effort to push for what the letters describe as more equitable funding for rural schools.

The eliminating the GEA, is something Canton, Potsdam and many other schools district’s throughout the North Country have been calling for since it was enacted in 2010.

The GEA was established as part of the 2010 budget to help close New York’s then-$10 billion budget deficit. Under the legislation, a portion of the state’s revenue shortfall is split among all school districts throughout the state and subtracted from school district aid. The GEA has been heavily criticized by local school districts which have struggled to make ends meet in recent years.

Letters detail staff cuts, shared services, reduction in expenditures and other cost-saving measure that the school has done for the last five years to maintain budget.

Both the Assembly and Senate passed budget proposals. The two houses and the governor’s office will now negotiate a final spending blueprint.

The proposal provides a $1.8 billion increase in education funding for a statewide total of $23.95 billion for the 2015-16 school year. It increases Foundation Aid by over $1 billion and provides $456 million in restoration to the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA). GEA restoration is targeted in part based on district and student need, growth in enrollment and the disproportionate impact of GEA reductions, said Assemblywomen Addie Russell, D-Theresa.

Additionally, the Assembly’s budget rejects the governor’s attempt to tie school aid to his proposed changes to the teacher evaluation system recently put in place, as well as changes to teacher preparation, certification, dismissal and tenure, according to Russell.

The Assembly budget also increases the maximum Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award by $150, bringing the total award to $5,315 per full-time equivalent (FTE) student. It would also increase SUNY community college base aid funding by $50 for a total of $2,547 per FTE student, Russell said.

The Assembly budget provides a 20 percent increase over last year for higher education opportunity programs to help poor students, including those from the North Country. It would also restore funding to SUNY childcare centers, and provide an increase of $445,000 so that parents would have the opportunity to earn a degree with an affordable childcare option, according to Russell.

Assemblyman Marc Butler, R-Newport, says he voted against the Assembly’s proposal, despite being in favor of spending more on education.

“I am encouraged by elements of the majority’s one-house budget resolution – particularly in the area of education. Their proposal called for meaningful restorations and additions in to public education funding,” Butler said. “The plan spends too much money on downstate infrastructure while upstate bridges and roads are crumbling, and it continues to leave our students without the education funding they need and deserve. There is still a lot of work ahead of us, and I am ready to join my colleagues to ensure better support for upstate priorities.”

“Increasing state funding for North Country schools is fair and long overdue,” Russell said. “The governor blocked school aid numbers from being released to districts and it’s put many of our schools in a difficult financial situation. It’s time now to put families first, and by boosting education aid we would support our schools, lessen the tax burden on residents and keep the state on track with a balanced budget.”

The Senate proposed budget completely also eliminates the remains of the Gap Elimination Adjustment and increases state school aid over what the governor proposed in his executive budget, according to Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury.

The Senate’s proposed budget would increase community college base aid by $100 and double the tuition tax credit from $400 to $800, which has not been increased in 15 years, and also double the allowable deduction from $10,000 to $20,000. It also permits recent graduates to deduct 100 percent of the interest on their student loans for residents maintaining full compliance with the terms of their loan repayment plan, Little said.

The proposal also has “no strings attached to the Governor’s controversial school reform proposals,” said Sen. Joe Griffo, R-Rome.

“Our students deserve a quality education so they are prepared for the future,” said Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton. “That’s why the Senate is working to increase funds for local schools, eliminate the GEA, and give teachers and students the support they need to succeed.”

“We’ve already drained enough from our schools, and the high-need, low-income districts have suffered the most,” Griffo said. “This aid would be a vital step toward restoring the resources, programs and confidence needed to reinvigorate the education system and better prepare our children for the future.”

Russell represents the 116th Assembly District. Is includes all St. Lawrence County communities along the St. Lawrence River from Massena to Hammond, plus Canton and Potsdam. It extends into parts of Jefferson County, including Watertown.

Butler’s 118th Assembly District includes some of central and much south St. Lawrence County, from Norfolk to Fine. It also includes Hamilton, Herkimer and Fulton counties, plus part of Oneida County.

Little represents the 45th Senate District. It includes much of southeast St. Lawrence County from Parishville to Piercefield. It also covers Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Warren and Washington counties.

Griffo’s 47th Senate District includes a north-south swathe roughly through the middle of St. Lawrence County from Massena to the Clifton-Fine area, including Potsdam. It extends into Lewis and Oneida counties.

Ritchie represents the 48th Senate District. It includes northern and western St. Lawrence County from Waddington to Hammond and down to Edwards, including Ogdensburg, Canton and Gouverneur. It includes Jefferson and Oswego counties.