Senate, Assembly Announce Agreement To Pass Roosevelt Schools Bill Next Week

Legislation would close district's multi-million dollar budget deficit, provide additional academic improvement aid

The New York State Senate and Assembly today jointly announced an agreement to pass legislation next week in Albany that will close the Roosevelt School District's $8 million budget deficit and double the amount the State would provide annually for academic improvement for the district from $6 million to $12 million.

The consensus legislation (S.6549/A.9504) would provide the school district with an $8 million State grant to eliminate the district's accumulated budget deficit, allowing the district to regain fiscal stability.

State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo (R-Merrick), the sponsor of the bill in the Senate said, "Approval of this legislation finally provides the school district with financial stability so that it can focus on its most important task - giving the students of Roosevelt the quality education they deserve. I am pleased that the Assembly has agreed to act on this bill."

Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper (D-Hempstead), who authored and initiated the compromise legislation, said, "The children of Roosevelt deserve no less than the state's very best. This compromise measure addresses historic inequities in the current system and provides critical funding to ensure that the district is made whole. It is my sincere hope that the action we are taking on behalf of the district will give them a much-needed fresh start."

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said, "This agreement is another example of what we can do when we work together to protect taxpayers. Today's announcement is good news for the Roosevelt School District because it can move forward with a clean financial slate and get back to providing the best education possible for the district's students. I applaud Senator Fuschillo for his tireless efforts on behalf of the Senate Majority."

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "For far too long the Roosevelt School District has been shortchanged. This compromise measure effectively brings per pupil spending for the Roosevelt school district on par with the rest of Nassau County. Earlene's leadership and commitment have been instrumental in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion. This bipartisan agreement, which will be acted on by both houses next week, represents the importance the People's House places upon helping the Roosevelt School District."

Specifically, the legislation would:

• Provide a one-time $8 million State grant for the 2007-08 school year in order to address the accumulated deficit.

• Increase the current $6 million annual grant for Academic Improvement to $12 million to address the per pupil disparity between spending in the Roosevelt School District, and the average per pupil spending in other school districts in Nassau County.

• Extend the annual $4 million advance directly related to salary expenses and related benefits to 2010-11, with a phase out by 2014-15.