March 13, 2008

The new governor and the state legislature have an April 1 deadline to approve a state budget. Critical decisions that will affect our schools, including how much state aid we will receive in 2008-09, will be made in the next few weeks. Residents are urged to make their voices heard NOW by demanding that a proposed 8.45% cut in aid to Roslyn schools in the executive budget be restored. You may send the following letter as is, or edit it as you choose, by cutting and pasting the text into the email links for our state elected officials at the bottom of this page.

I am writing to you at this time to ask you to restore the proposed 8.45% cut in state aid to the Roslyn Public School District. This is the largest cut in state aid in Nassau County, and comes at a time when Roslyn is still recovering from the mismanagement and neglect of nearly a decade of criminal activity and is trying to restore both service and confidence in the public school system.

Taxes in Nassau County are among the highest in the nation, and our residents contribute more than the share they receive back in income and sales tax. It costs more to live and work in Nassau County than in other places in our state and nation. A regional cost factor and fair share of state aid are reasonable requests in the wake of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit.

The recently created Real Property Tax Commission headed by Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi is studying the issues relating to the burden of high property taxes. The Executive Order that empowered the Commission enumerates various factors-to-be-considered, including lack of sufficient state aid and unfunded mandates which so burden our schools and the local taxpayer. There is no "quick fix" for these problems, which arose over decades and can only be repaired in time. Any changes must be long term, systemic and targeted if they are to be meaningful and if we are to enhance and not destroy public education in New York State.

To substantially cut funds to Roslyn at this crucial time in our recovery will only further burden the local taxpayer and move us further from New York's stated goal of reducing property taxes. Roslyn has been a beacon in the educational world for a century. If the light goes dim in a lighthouse district like Roslyn, who shall lead the way in New York's quest for "world class education"?

We are counting on your support for Roslyn and for all of public education as we approach an important crossroads. We are counting on your leadership in the RIGHT direction.

The Board of Education has requested that primary and general elections no longer be held in Roslyn's elementary schools while school is in session because of serious safety and security concerns. Roslyn school district residents are asked to write and/or petition the Board of Elections to support this important change and insist that only Roslyn High School be used as a site for elections in the future. Please click on the links below for either a letter that can be personalized or a petition that can be signed by multiple residents. Please send them to the following address and to email addresses of federal, county and state elected officials listed below:

Nassau County Board of Elections
Administration Building
400 County Seat Drive
Mineola, NY 11501

Board of Elections letter
Board of Elections petition

This is an unresolved issue of ongoing concern for Roslyn and its children. Please take a few moments and add your voice to those who have already written and petitioned officials on this vital matter of safety and security.

EMAIL LINKS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS

United States

Senator Charles Schumer

Senator Hillary Clinton

Congressman Gary Ackerman

New York State

Gov. David Paterson

Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli

Senator Joseph Bruno, Majority Leader

Senator Craig Johnson (represents Roslyn school community)

Senator Stephen M. Saland, Education Committee Chair

Long Island Senate Delegation:
Senator Carl Marcellino
Senator John Flanagan
Senator Kenneth LaValle
Senator Caesar Trunzo
Senator Owen Johnson
Senator Charles Fuschillo, Jr.
Senator Kemp Hannon
Senator Dean Skelos, Deputy Majority Leader

Assemblyman Sheldon Silver, Speaker

Assemblyman Charles Lavine (represents Roslyn school community)

Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (represents Roslyn school community)

Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Education Committee Chair

Nassau County

County Executive Thomas Suozzi

County Legislator Wayne Wink

Legislative Action is a Year-Round Effort

Working with our elected representatives for the benefit of New York's students and schools is a year-round effort. The fair allocation of state aid to education is an issue that will continue to have major ramifications in the years to come. We urge residents and taxpayers to familiarize themselves with this and other important legislative issues and continue their efforts to communicate with state officials.