School Funding

Chesterfield Elementary School has been one of the state leaders in advocating for common sense school funding reform. As the members of our community know, Chesterfield should receive approximately $4.4 million in state aid, under a fully funded SFRA. However, because of arbitrary growth caps and hold harmless aid that redistributes our fair share to other districts, for several years, we have only been allocated approximately $400K. Through the collective efforts of our community, and under the leadership of Senate President Steve Sweeney, Chesterfield was awarded an additional $400K in state funding this year. While this is an achievement to be celebrated, it is not an excuse to rest on our laurels.

We are still underfunded by over $3 million! We need to keep fighting for our children by continuing to petition the state legislature to fully fund the SFRA, phase out hold harmless aid going to other districts, and eliminate the growth cap. As Senate President Sweeney said when he met with us this summer, "keep doing what you're doing."

That said, for too long the members of our school board have passively accepted our state aid shortfalls, quietly cutting programs until 3 years ago, when now Committeewoman Andrea Katz got involved and made it her mission to get this addressed. Meanwhile, other members of the board, many of whom have served for the duration of Chesterfield's school funding crisis, have done little. In fact, not a single member of the Board of Education volunteered to act as BOE liaison to the Joint Committee for School Funding Fairness. We need our board, in conjunction with Mr. Heino and the community, to LEAD THIS FIGHT.

If the last year has taught us nothing, it is that the people of Chesterfield, when given clear steps to take, and a goal in mind, can accomplish anything! Our board needs a leader to step up and take charge of this crisis. Those currently seated have shown that they have neither the interest, nor the capacity to do so. If elected, I will happily take the lead in this regard. I can't promise that I can solve this problem. Frankly, no one person can; We have to do it together. What I can promise is that you will have clearer action steps coming from me as an elected school board member.

Our children deserve nothing less than OUR FAIR SHARE!