Call to Action Sample Letter - Elmira Heights Central School District

October 2012: Call to Action
Sample Letter (For Use)
DATE_____________
Senator Thomas F. O’Mara
333 East Water Street
Elmira, NY 14901
Assemblyman Christopher Friend
476 Maple Street
P.O. Box 441
Big Flats, NY 14814
Dear Senator O’Mara and Assemblyman Friend,
As our elected officials, we realize the enormous responsibility you have to ensure the financial solvency
of the State of New York, by every decision that you make through legislative action. However, we
encourage you to seek alternative ways to meet your fiscal responsibilities without sacrificing aid to
local schools. We request that you introduce or support any legislation that comes before you that would
do the following:
• Implement the resources promised through the CFE court decision: Since 2009-10
Elmira Heights lost $1,464,904 in additional aid from the freeze on the Foundation Aid
formula.
• Eliminate the Gap Elimination Assessment Imposed on Local Schools: Districts across
the State have borne the responsibility to close the State spending gap, and it has taken
away $3,804,024 from Elmira Heights after factoring ARRA (Federal deficit recovery)
monies received.
• FAIR and EQUITABLE Distribution of State Aid to Average/High need school districts:
Look to reallocate monies more fairly and equitably across the State through fundamental
Foundation Aid formula changes. Our District has lost $4,795 per student in the past
three years, which is among the highest loss of revenue in our Region and in the State as
a whole
Along with the responsibility to maintain a fiscal climate in our Empire State, you also must keep in the
forefront your responsibility to ensure a sound education to all children of the State of New York. Relief
in the areas mentioned above will provide us with the best chance of maintaining financial and
educational solvency within our community school, as we continue to explore other viable solutions that
will serve the best interest of our children.
WE ARE ELMIRA HEIGHTS and WE MATTER!
Respectfully,
____________________________
Address:
Phone:

CFE Court Decision Implemented in 2007‐08
Foundation Aid
Computed using
formula
Actual Aid
Received Cumulative loss
2007‐08 6,344,846 6,344,846 $
‐
2008‐09 6,677,298 6,677,298 $
‐
2009‐10 6,877,616 6,677,298 $ (200,318)
2010‐11 7,304,434 6,677,298 $ (827,454)
2011‐12 $ 7,314,748 $ 6,677,298 $ (1,464,904) **
Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA)
Gap Elimination Adjustment GEA GEA Restoration ARRA $
Cumulative Aid
Loss
2010‐11 (1,394,911) 0 473,601 $ (921,310)
2011‐12 (1,855,739) 76,612 396,402 $ (2,304,035)
2012‐13 (1,640,614) 140,625 ‐ $ (3,804,024)
Loss per student over 3 years
Cumulative Foundation Aid loss (1,464,904)
add back 2009‐10 loss 200,318
Cumulative GEA (3,804,024)
Total loss (5,068,610)
2011‐12 enrollment 1057
Loss per student $ (4,795)
** This does not include the loss of 2012‐13 Foundation Aid as those figures are not avaiable at this time.