Future Of Education In Rural Schools; State Officials Weigh In
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: February 27, 2013
In his 2013 State of the State Address, Governor Cuomo said that he
wants "more and better" education for New York students. But some rural
upstate schools are concerned they won't get enough school aid for the
low-wealth school districts they represent. Eyewitness News reporter
Rachel Polansky spent time at Franklin Central School to visit with the
Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and other officials today as
they the discuss the future of education in rural schools.
"Our region of the state is made up primarily of low-wealth and average-wealth school districts and we need to make sure we get our fair share of the state aid package," says Senator James Seward, (R/C/I-Oneonta).
While rural schools may be more reliant on state aid, Franklin Superintendent Gordon Daniels says it doesn't make the quality of their education any less.
"Kids don't fall through the cracks in small districts like mine. Small schools have better attendance rates, better graduation success, and we don't lose kids," says Gordon Daniels, Superintendent of Franklin Central Schools.
Gordon says his whole district K through 12 is about 300 students. He worries that the Governor's plans won't consider the smaller districts.
"Regional schools, consolidations, what I am ultimately opposed to his forced consolidation where they're basically going to tell us we have to join one district or another," says Daniels.
While the Franklin Superintendent has concerns for the future of rural schools, the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee says rural or urban, the people come first.
"We have to properly fund education in the state of New York, for all the kids across the state. Everybody wants the same things. They want a good quality education for their kids. Give me access, give me opportunities," says Senator John Flanagan, (R/C/I-East Northport) and Chairman of the Senate Education Committee
And while region consolidations and mergers are becoming more frequent, Senator Flanagan says they are not the only option.
"You don't want to take away identity of the community. And some of the school board members are very proud of their community, and we have to recognize that even though somebody may come up with an idea like that, it doesn't always work," says Senator Flanagan.
"We've just seen with Mohawk and Ilion school districts coming together with a full merger. Another concept is regional high schools and so there's a whole menu of options that I believe should be available to local school districts," says Senator Seward.
The officials we spoke with agree that most schools just want a voice in their future.
"Our region of the state is made up primarily of low-wealth and average-wealth school districts and we need to make sure we get our fair share of the state aid package," says Senator James Seward, (R/C/I-Oneonta).
While rural schools may be more reliant on state aid, Franklin Superintendent Gordon Daniels says it doesn't make the quality of their education any less.
"Kids don't fall through the cracks in small districts like mine. Small schools have better attendance rates, better graduation success, and we don't lose kids," says Gordon Daniels, Superintendent of Franklin Central Schools.
Gordon says his whole district K through 12 is about 300 students. He worries that the Governor's plans won't consider the smaller districts.
"Regional schools, consolidations, what I am ultimately opposed to his forced consolidation where they're basically going to tell us we have to join one district or another," says Daniels.
While the Franklin Superintendent has concerns for the future of rural schools, the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee says rural or urban, the people come first.
"We have to properly fund education in the state of New York, for all the kids across the state. Everybody wants the same things. They want a good quality education for their kids. Give me access, give me opportunities," says Senator John Flanagan, (R/C/I-East Northport) and Chairman of the Senate Education Committee
And while region consolidations and mergers are becoming more frequent, Senator Flanagan says they are not the only option.
"You don't want to take away identity of the community. And some of the school board members are very proud of their community, and we have to recognize that even though somebody may come up with an idea like that, it doesn't always work," says Senator Flanagan.
"We've just seen with Mohawk and Ilion school districts coming together with a full merger. Another concept is regional high schools and so there's a whole menu of options that I believe should be available to local school districts," says Senator Seward.
The officials we spoke with agree that most schools just want a voice in their future.
