Molinaro talks with school districts about cuts to funding

CHENANGO BRIDGE, NY (WIVT/WBGH) – Congressman Marc Molinaro met with teachers, students, and parents of local school districts to hear their thoughts on the governor’s proposed cuts to state education funding.

Molinaro hosted a roundtable discussion at Chenango Valley High School to discuss Governor Hochul’s proposed state budget that would cut millions of dollars of funding to local school districts.

The cuts would affect local districts such as Chenango Valley, Chenango Forks and Harpursville.

Over half of all schools in New York’s 19th Congressional District would see less funding.

The superintendent of Harpursville, Heath Georgia says students are still facing a loss of learning since the pandemic, and a cut to funding could make it worse.

The Superintendent of Harpursville Central School District, Heath Georgia says, “It means that we’re going to lose electives. That our pathways towards careers instead of just a Regents pathway. It means we’re going to lose mental health counseling for kids who desperately need it right now. Increase in class size, which every study has always shown is detrimental to learning.”

Georgia says Harpursville’s school district would see over $1.4 million dollars less than it did last year.

The roundtable also discussed the status of mental health and the well-being of students in schools.

Many districts are concerned that if their funding is reduced, they may have to cut essential services including mental health and extracurricular activities.

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