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GOP sets March 1 rally to blast school aid plan

Times of Middle Country Newspapers
By Jennifer Choi
02/22/08

Unhappy about school aid cuts? You're not alone.

Plenty of like-minded educators and taxpayers are expected to attend the latest rally aimed at lambasting Gov. Eliot Spitzer's proposed spending plan, this beginning at noon March 1 at Ellsworth W. Allen Park in Farmingdale.

Representatives of various school districts are expected to be on hand for an event that promises to be as much about politics as education: The rally is being organized by members of the state Senate's Republican majority.

"We want to have a unified consistency and very strong message," said Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport). "The governor has disproportionately decided to hurt Long Island in his proposal."

Flanagan said he will be the first to thank Spitzer when Long Island gets what the senator considers to be its fair share in state education aid, but until then will pull no punches in a fight he says benefits his constituents.

"I think that Gov. Spitzer has perhaps forgotten that Long Island exists," seconded Roberta Gerold, superintendent of the Middle Country School District. Gerold said she was "taken aback" by the governor's spending proposal, which among other things disqualified the MCSD from certain high-tax relief funds.

Middle Country Teachers Association President Nadia Resnikoff noted that all of Long Island is negatively effected by Spitzer's proposed budget, but "Middle Country is even deeper in that hole" because the district would lose over $2 million in high tax aid. The teachers association, Resnikoff said, will provide bus service to those interested in participating in the March 1 rally.

Three Village School District Superintendent of Schools Frank Carasiti said he's expecting a large district contingency to attend the rally. The governor's proposed spending plan "borders on disastrous" for his district, Carasiti noted.

"With the outlook of no increase in state aid, the entire burden will fall on the backs of the taxpayers," he said. "It just seems to me there's a complete disregard for the quality of education for most districts on Long Island."

Miller Place School District Superintendent Grace Brindley said representatives of her district will absolutely participate in the rally, including members of the Miller Place Board of Education and parent-teacher organizations.

Flanagan's office noted that rally attendees will be given postcards to send to the governor to "voice their opinion on the budget directly."

For more information, on the March 1 event, visit senatorflanagan.com and click on the "Education and Taxpayer Rally" link.