Nyack Schools Receive $150K in State Aid

Nyack Schools will be able to add $148,000 to its this year without upping the tax levy any further, thanks to a recent influx of state aid.

A portion of the funds, about $48,000, comes on the heels of a resolution in Albany and in the form of foundation aid and gap elimination adjustment aid.

"The decision by the government to put money back into local school aid is a step in the right direction," said school board member Claudette Clarke.

$100,000 of the aid is a result of Rockland lawmakers jockeying at the capitol—assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski, assemblywoman Ellen Jaffe and others helped Nyack Schools secure special bullet aid.

"This budget signifies a commitment to education by the state," Zebrowski said. "I fought to make sure our schools got the support they deserved this year, reducing the tax burden on the hardworking families of Rockland County."

Superintendent James Montesano noted the money will likely be used to assist the schools' at-risk students.

"We do have group of students—whether special-need, low-income student or minority—that need help," he said.

Specifically, the funds would be allocated toward more instructional time for the needy pupils; Montesano noted time-on-task has a proven record of improving students' performance.

Currently, the proposed budget for the 2012-13 academic carries no instructional layoffs, but for a savings of about $400,000.

The current fiscal plan comes in about $273,000 shy of what governor Andrew Cuomo's tax cap allows.

Still, the high school will be seeing change at the end of this year; principal Joe Spero—an —has , along with assistant principal Rudy Arietta.

Spero will be replaced by current principal Nicole Nicole Saieva; Montesano said the school board should begin searching for Saieva's replacement.

Long-time school board member Michael Lagana last month he will not be running for re-election.