(The following letter has been sent to the governor and legislators.)

The Glen Cove Board of Education has a number of serious concerns relating to the allocation of state aid, and its effect on our school district. Glen Cove differs in a number of ways from other school districts, and has demonstrable needs.

School District Student Demographics - Economic Need and Busing Issues

Glen Cove is a diverse district, economically, as well as ethnically. As confirmed by available State Education Department statistics, 38 percent of our student population is eligible under federal income guidelines for the free and reduced lunch program, 8 percent of our student population fall below the 1990 Poverty Index, and over 9 percent of our students are English language learners. These statistics are twice the average for Nassau County school districts. Our district puts forth its best efforts to address these needs with 13 English as a Second Language teachers, academic intervention services after school and during school hours, professional development for teachers and staff, and support programs for at risk students. Our district does not provide busing for high school students, and has tried unsuccessfully to incorporate it into past budgets which were defeated. The board recognizes the importance of transportation to many of our students and working families and is attempting to incorporate and phase in busing in the upcoming years' budgets at an estimated full cost of $800,000 per year.

Wealth-Driven Aid Formula Does Not Reflect Taxpayer Base

The Combined Wealth Ratio (CWR) for Glen Cove in the year 2000-2001 was 1.783. The CWR computation is skewed by a small minority of extremely wealthy individuals, and does not reflect the true financial resources of the local taxpayer base, and in fact is highly inconsistent with the demographics of our student population as noted above. The district has operated on an austerity budget in two of the previous five years, the 2000-2001 budget failed with a proposed tax rate increase of 6 percent.

$3.5 Million in Extraordinary School Tax Certiorari Costs

The Glen Cove School District is the only school district on Long Island responsible for paying school tax refunds. (Nassau and Suffolk counties pay these obligations for every other district.) On May 7, a proposition to allow the Glen Cove School District the same treatment as other Nassau County school districts in the payment of its tax certiorari judgments was decisively defeated by the Nassau County Legislature. The certiorari judgments are a hefty burden. During the 2000-2001 school year, Glen Cove incurred $3.5 million in tax refund obligations, 7.6 percent of total operating expenditures.

$900,000 Lost in Aid in 2001-2002

The Glen Cove School District experienced a loss in state aid of $900,000 (12 percent) from the $7,339,000 received in the 2000-2001 school year, to the $6,431,500 in 2001-2002. As a city school district, our tax levy was certified July 1, 2001, well before the state budget was finalized. We are faced with serious financial issues currently that will ripple into future years. We are vigilantly monitoring our finances during the current year, however, the impact on the tax levy going forward is a significant concern.

We are cognizant of the economic difficulties that face our state, but we implore the governor and legislature to provide adequate school funding with primary consideration to district and student needs. We need aid on a timely and consistent basis. Fluctuations, as we have experienced, hurt the stability of our district. As a board, we need assurance of the resources available to plan and budget for the future of our district. We need your efforts to enable us to ensure the education and future of our children.

Glen Cove Board of Education