NYSUT and a coalition of education advocates and taxpayers recently scored a major victory — more than $580 million in delayed aid payments are on their way to schools. As New York Teacher went to press, NYSUT confirmed that $146 million in December state aid payments and $436 million in aid for the STAR program were scheduled to be released Jan. 15.
The delayed payments were made just days before the coalition that filed suit against the governor for illegally withholding aid was scheduled to deliver oral arguments in state Supreme Court in Albany County.
"The state's public education system has been hit hard during these difficult economic times, as fiscal constraints already have led to the elimination of 5,000 teacher and support-staff positions statewide," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi. "The aid release will eliminate any further threat of disruption in education to students and possible financial chaos to districts."
Shortly after signing a plan negotiated by the Legislature in December, Paterson directed state budget officials to withhold payments due to school districts Dec. 15.
"At its core, the issue surrounding release of this funding has always been about principle: The Legislature not only approved these payments, but specifically rejected education cuts proposed by the governor as part of his deficit reduction plan in November," Iannuzzi said.
Initially Paterson said he might seek to turn the delays into permanent cuts. After the suit was filed, he said the payments would be released if the funds become available.
"School districts cannot provide educational programs to students in an unpredictable and chaotic funding environment," said Tim Kremer, executive director of the state School Boards Association. "What we expect of our leaders is long-term financial planning and greater fiscal certainty, not chaos and doubt."
Kevin Casey, executive director of the School Administrators Association of New York State, said the governor's action could have deprived children of educational programming. "It also eviscerates the school district budget approval process."
Paterson defended his actions in his second State of the State speech, saying the state must take control over spending.
"As you may have observed in the past few weeks, the governor will exercise authority to prevent this state from going into default," Paterson said.
"So whether it be by vetoes or delayed spending, I will not write bad checks and we will not mortgage our children's future."
NYSUT Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta said the coalition has not made a final decision on the continuation of the lawsuit.
The coalition includes NYSUT, NYSSBA, the state Council of School Superintendents, SAANYS and several individual educators.
The Campaign for Fiscal Equity, the New York State Association of School Business Officials and the state PTA, also signaled their strong support.