A group of Auburn students and staff took a trip to Albany on March 29 to meet with legislators and show their appreciation for the proposed state budget that fully funds Foundation Aid. This year’s proposed budget is the first to incorporate the formula outlined in the NYSER v. New York State settlement.
For the past two decades, Auburn has been one of the lowest-funded school districts in New York state. This has resulted in the district having to operate on the bottom 1% per pupil spending in the state.
“We are thrilled that our legislators have committed to fixing the foundation aid formula,” stated Jeffrey Pirozzolo, Superintendent of Schools. “Our students have had to go without for way too long.”
Auburn has been one of the leading advocates for equitable and predictable funding from the state. They have been lobbying for this funding for years, and with the proposed budget, their efforts are finally paying off.
The students and staff of Auburn delivered thank you cards to the legislators, expressing their gratitude for their commitment to education funding. The group hopes that this is just the beginning of a long-term solution to funding issues in their district and across the state.
The Foundation Aid formula is designed to ensure that schools with the greatest need receive adequate funding from the state. This year’s proposed budget is a step in the right direction for Auburn and other districts that have been struggling to provide students with the resources they need to succeed.
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