The New York State Department of Education Thursday published the actual state aid reductions by school district for the 2008-09 school year as proposed in Gov. David Paterson’s budget cuts.

School leaders are reviling the cuts as a threat to the quality of education. Middletown Superintendent Ken Eastwood said yesterday that the state is just passing the burden. If the proposal is approved by legislators, Middletown would receive $2 million less than the state promised in April. He said his district planned for some reductions but is concerned about further cuts next year.

Each district in the state is slated to receive between a 3 and 10 percent reduction. The state factored in poverty indicators and taxpayer’s ability to pay when determining the percent cut for a district.

In the Hudson Valley, Chester, Goshen, Marlboro and Tuxedo school districts would see greater than 8 percent cuts under the proposal.

Statewide the proposal reduce school aid by $585 million this fiscal year and $844 million next year.

Source: Record Online