State Education Plans Continue to Stir Local Debate

During his State of the State address earlier this month, New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo continued his push for sweeping reform in key areas from commerce to local government to education.

Included in his plans on the educational front is a movement from block to competitive grants, meaning in same cases school districts would receive state funding based on performance in test scores or administrative savings. There have also been talks of making teacher evaluations public, meaning interested parties could search for test scores in each classroom by teacher. 

Cuomo says the plans will increase competition and accountability. Harrison School Superintendent Louis Wool sees things differently.

"Unfortunately, I think the state education department's attempt at implementing greater accountability actually not only doesn't provide great accountability, it's a substantial waste of resources," Wool said.

The problem, according to Wool, is that for districts like some additional programs place an added burden, creating more legwork and draining resources that would be better spent in the classroom. Wool contends that Harrison already has an exhaustive teacher evaluation system and that the strengths and weaknesses of each building, subject area and even individual teacher are already worked out and tracked internally.

"We have a comprehensive evaluation system that exceeds and is far more useful than what is being proposed," said Wool, who noted the New York State School Board Association recognized the district’s teacher evaluation system as a best practice in 2006.

Although Wool said he supports the obvious need for teachers and school districts to be held accountable, he said there are better, more cost effective, methods. For example, he would like a system that gives him the ability to effectively move out employees that are not high quality and appropriately support those who are working hard.

"Those are the kinds of reforms that don't cost a lot of money, but would provide a lot of benefit," Wool said.

While current proposals at the state level might make sense in some districts, it's difficult to find solutions that fit everywhere. In Cuomo's address he introduced a Manhattan school principal who improved the student pass rate in his school from 31 percent to 89 percent in two years. These, Cuomo says, are the results he hopes to offer an incentive for.

But is it fair to compare the needs of a district where most students failed classes only two years ago with higher achieving schools in Westchester County? Wool says no.

"When you approach this from a one-size-fits-all you often times are unable to address the complexities of local communities," said Wool.

Superintendents in this area contend there are better solutions. Wool also serves as president of the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents (LHCSS), a non-profit group that advocates for educational interests. Unfunded mandates from the state level are one of the biggest issues the group is fighting.

According to the LHCSS, unfunded state mandates make up between 17 and 20 percent of the average school district's overall budget. Some programs that incentivize results would be considered one of these mandates by the LHCSS because they would require district funds without state help.

One of the many proposals the group has put forward is a review of any new mandates, including a comprehensive cost analysis and a definitive funding source. The group would also like to freeze and review all currently proposed and pending mandates.

With the first budgets that include the 2 percent tax levy cap scheduled to go to vote this spring, Wool said these issues need to be considered because state mandates alone will likely exceed the cap.

"No one has yet explained to us how we can manage within a 2 percent cap when the mandated costs put upon us by the state exceed that 2 percent," Wool said. "It puts all school districts in the same dilemma."

While the debate over how to handle education on a state and local level is sure to continue, Wool said he understands the need for limiting taxes and watching spending, he's just concerned about the approach.

"We all want to reduce taxes," he said. "But we certainly do not want to end up short-changing kids."