EDUCATION

Stimulus money for K-12 will go through Albany; aid to state still needed, Schumer says

Gary Stern
Rockland/Westchester Journal News

The new federal stimulus package will provide about $4 billion in aid for K-12 public schools in New York, and it will be up to the state to determine how the money will be spent, Sen. Charles Schumer said Monday.

"It’s up to Albany to figure it out," Schumer said during a Zoom media call. He expected the state to use its general formula for providing education aid.

The package also includes $313 million that Gov. Andrew Cuomo can use at his discretion to support K-12 or higher education costs related to COVID-19.

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020.

Cuomo did not indicate Monday how the state might use federal stimulus money. But he has faced criticism for the way the state used $1.1 billion in school aid that was included in the federal CARES Act passed in March.

That aid was supposed to supplement state and other federal aid, with more money going to needier districts under the federal formula for Title I programs. Instead, Cuomo and legislative leaders used the federal aid to replace state aid.

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The state budget cut aid to districts by the amount of federal aid each would get — a maneuver that Albany called a "pandemic adjustment."

The Education Law Center, which advocates for school funding equity, concluded in an April report: "The pandemic adjustment triggers a “regressive” cut in state school aid: New York’s higher poverty districts, most in need of additional resource"s and most dependent on state support, experience the largest aid cuts."

Last week, the state Board of Regents, which oversees education policy in New York but not education funding, called on the state to deliver the aid that was taken from districts, a significant request at this time.

On Tuesday morning, Regents Vice Chancellor T. Andrew Brown and state Interim Education Commissioner Betty Rosa asked for the new federal funds to be distributed progressively to assist districts that need it most, and that no further state aid payments be withheld.

"As we look ahead to how these funds will be distributed, we cannot lose sight of the fact that throughout the pandemic our educators redefined what it means to be a hero and the critical role our schools play in their communities," they said.

It's not yet clear whether the new stimulus bill will include requirements for how states can use the money, or how much they can cut their own school aid, said Bob Lowry, deputy director for the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

"We have stressed that states need fiscal relief, schools need help with their extraordinary costs, and more than a single year of federal aid is needed, at least as fiscal relief for states," Lowry said in an email.

The stimulus aid will only go so far for New York's schools. The package did not include aid to state and municipal government, which Cuomo and others have said is needed to help close New York's budget deficit and prevent state aid cuts to schools this year or next. 

"We have a $15 billion deficit caused by COVID, caused by the federal government, caused by their incompetence," Cuomo said Monday. "I can't fund schools."

Schumer said the lack of funds for states and municipalities was his greatest regret about the bill. He blamed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for blocking its inclusion.

Schumer said it doesn't make sense to put municipalities in a position where they'll have to lay off public workers like bus drivers, firefighters and teachers.

"It is not a stimulus bill; it is an emergency survival bill," he said.

Will there be more money next year?

Schumer believes there is a good chance to pass an additional bill in 2021 that includes state and municipal aid even if Republicans maintain control of the Senate.

"Donald Trump was a barrier here. He didn't want it," Schumer said. "Without him as president, we have a better chance to get Republicans to join us on state and local aid."

Last week, Cuomo said he wanted to hold off on making key decisions about spending cuts and tax increases, so that Biden would have a chance, if necessary, to deliver additional aid in early 2021. Cuomo has warned of potential 20% cuts in education and municipal aid, but said it would cause chaos if the state makes aid cuts soon that result in layoffs, only to have extra federal aid come in months later. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo reacts Monday to federal stimulus bill.

State Sen. Shelley Mayer, chair of the Senate education committee, said the new federal aid should not be used to offset cuts to state aid.

"There's more school money and that's great, but we have to be vigilant in making sure it gets to the schools," she said. "We are nervous about cuts. We will need more aid in the next bill."

Andy Pallotta, president of New York State United Teachers, said that the union welcomed the relief package but would fight in early 2021 for additional federal funds, including for state and local governments.

"Here in Albany, we also continue to support asking the ultrawealthy to pay their fair share in state taxes in the upcoming legislative session," he said in a statement. "This two-pronged approach in the new year is essential for preventing devastating cuts to the school services and restoring funding to public schools and colleges that students and families have relied on during this pandemic.”

NYSUT, with 600,000 members, sued the state in September to prevent cuts in education aid.

Schools have faced numerous costs related to the pandemic, including for PPE, updates to school facilities, and having to conduct all-by-mail elections in June. Education aid in the current state budget was frozen at last year's levels.

Twitter: @garysternNY