Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today called on Gov. Cuomo to release school aid runs across the state. Hawley said that school districts are up against the clock to present a workable budget plan to their faculty and residents, and the governor’s budget tactics rob school districts of their budgeting abilities.

“The release of school aid runs is supposed to be a routine part of the budget process each year,” Hawley said. “The governor’s tactics rob students, faculty and parents of the ability to plan things such as availability of classes, extracurricular programs, faculty size and school tax burden. Without this information, school districts are forced to build contingency budgets that could likely include many layoffs and program eliminations. I am calling on Gov. Cuomo to do what is right for our school districts and release the required funding information.”

Hawley’s comments come after a press conference was held this morning by Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) urging Gov. Cuomo to release school aid runs. Superintendent Christopher J. Dailey of the Batavia City School District also commented on the lack of information.

“The governor holding back state aid runs has hindered the process of formulating our budget for the 2015-16 school year,” said Dailey. “To plan for flat state aid is the only choice we currently have. Playing games with the school system helps no one. If the governor truly wants to help the students of New York, he needs to end the GEA immediately, stay out of the APPR process completely, and recognize that our students are blessed with outstanding teachers, administrators and staff. He needs to treat the outstanding teachers and administrators of Batavia and New York State like the professionals that they are. Education is not broken in Batavia. Education is flourishing in Batavia.”