Contact your representatives and demand better!
Contact your representatives and demand better!
The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Averill Park School District or Board.
The facts
ap Underfunded for years
Although our community has paid our fair share in NYS income taxes every year, the state continues to effectively REDUCE our school funding. Accounting for inflation over the past 6 years, they have reduced our Foundation aid by over 13%.
This is unfair and has to stop. It's our money and we need it for our kids. Give it back now!
NYS favors other schools over ap
Comparing Averill Park's funding with other local districts, we have had the LOWEST cumulative increase in Foundation Aid over the past 10 years. Both Niskayuna and Shaker received MORE THAN TEN TIMES the increase that AP did! Last year, when the annual rate of inflation was 2.9%, we received NO INCREASE in Foundation Aid.
Averill Park Performs well
High Graduation Rates
Our 2023 combined graduation rate was 95%, ranking highly among other local districts (only 1% below Guilderland and 8% above Ballston Spa).
Enrollment is not significantly declining
Overall enrollment
Our Governor has claimed that cost should be cut because enrollment continues to decline.
While our enrollment declined several years ago, it has been relatively flat recently. We have seen a decline of only 2% over the last 4 years.
Special needs enrollment
At the same time, our special needs student enrollment has increased by more than 13% in the same 4 year timeframe. It costs more to educate a student with special needs.
AP continues to cut costs
forced to fire teachers
Over the past 4 years, we have reduced our cost per student by over 5% (adjusted for inflation). Due to rising costs in health insurance, retirement funds, salaries, supplies, and decreases in federal funding, we are forced to cut programs, teachers, and administrators to "make ends meet". This is all because our Foundation Aid funding from the State doesn't keep up with inflation.
Property taxes compare well
Moderate Tax Rate
As of 2023, our tax rate per $1000 of full value is $17.01. (If your house is worth $100,000, you will pay $1,701 per year in school taxes). This puts our tax rate in the middle when compared to this set of other local school districts. Niskayuna is highest at $19.56 per $1000, and Saratoga (with its large and thriving business community) is lowest at $9.83.
By not giving us more Foundation Aid funding, the state forces us to either reduce expenses (cut teachers and programs) or raise taxes.