Port Washington School District Nearing Change.Org Goal

PORT WASHINGTON, NY—The Port Washington Union Free School District (PWUFSD) is close to reaching the signatures needed for its Change.org petition launched earlier this month. With less than 20 signatures needed, the petition is calling for state leaders to provide the district with its "fair share of state aid."

“For years, the Port Washington Union Free School District has received far less state aid than is required to accommodate for the academic needs of our student body,” said Dr. Michael Hynes, superintendent of Port Washington Union Free School District. "That lack of funding has had a profoundly negative impact on our students and students throughout New York. It cannot be ignored any longer. It is time to take a stand.”

According to the petition, Port Washington taxpayers currently fund almost 90 percent of the costs of public education through real estate property taxes and assessments, while the district receives less than seven percent in state aid.

"Compare this to districts statewide that receive, on average, over 30 percent in state aid. This is patently unfair, especially as our needs become greater and our options to further reduce expenditures diminish," the online petition reads.

In addition to the lack of state funding, district officials say it also needs to accommodate its growing student body. While statewide student enrollment continues to decline, Port Washington’s enrollment has grown to 5,518 students, an increase of approximately 24 percent over the course of 20 years.

"While the district has been able to maintain a high level of education in spite of the state’s delinquency in addressing this issue, the situation is not sustainable. The formula must be changed to more accurately represent the district’s needs and the district’s rightful share of state funding," the school district wrote in a recent news release.

School district officials say state leaders should reexamine the Foundation Aid Formula, which they say does not take into consideration Port Washington’s economic diversity.

"Due to our combined wealth ratio and other factors used to distribute additional aid, Port Washington does not fit into the pre-existing slots and therefore falls through the financial cracks. The current formula used to distribute state aid does not have the flexibility to encompass the exceptional nature of our community," the petition reads.

As part of the district’s ongoing fight for state aid it considers fair, the Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Hynes; State Senator Anna Kaplan; members of the Board of Education, Parent Council, and Port Washington Teachers Association; and district employees recently convened with members of NYSUT and other state legislators for an hour-long round-table discussion at Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School.

Once the school district reaches it signature goal, the petition will be sent to state lawmakers such as Representative Carl Heastie.

To view the petition, click here.