Connect with us

Government

Senator Weber Announces Record State Aide For Rockland County Schools

Published

1 month ago

on

Rockland County schools are poised to receive a record amount of state aid, thanks partly to the Rockefeller Institute’s groundbreaking report on education funding disparities. While the Institute held five public hearings across New York State, the Hudson Valley was notably excluded. In response, Senator Bill Weber hosted his own bipartisan foundation aid forum on July 29, 2024, bringing together school superintendents from Rockland County and beyond to ensure their voices were heard.
The testimony from Senator Weber’s forum was submitted to the Rockefeller Institute and incorporated into their final report, highlighting the urgent need for increased funding for Rockland County schools. As a result, the Governor’s proposed executive budget includes an additional $42.2 million in base state education aid for Rockland County schools over last year, including: 
⦁ $19.75 million more than last year for the East Ramapo School District
⦁ $13 million more than last year for the North Rockland School District
⦁ $4.2 million more than last year for the Clarkstown School District
⦁ $1.98 million more than last year for the Nyack School District
⦁ $1.81 million more than last year for the Suffern Central School District
“I’m grateful to the Rockefeller Institute for acknowledging and addressing this long-standing funding imbalance,” said Senator Bill Weber. “For years, Rockland County schools have been short changed due to an outdated funding formula. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure these crucial funding increases, at a minimum, are adopted in the final New York State budget for 2025-2026. I am also looking forward to the implementation of some of the other good recommendations in the Rockefeller report, which will ensure even more base state education aid for all our schools.”

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Government

Harckham’s $50,000 Grant Helps Stony Point FD Enhance Firefighter Safety

Published

2 days ago

on

March 15, 2025

By

New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced today that the Stony Point Fire District has been awarded a $50,000 state grant for the purchase and maintenance of critical firefighter turnout gear, including specialized equipment designed for combating wildfires, all of which will help ensure the safety and effectiveness of the town’s first responders.

Harckham has so far secured a total of $3.1 million in grant funding for the Town of Stony Point, North Rockland schools, libraries and non-profit organizations serving the community since the town became part of the 40th Senate District in 2022.

The grant will enable the Fire District to equip its firefighters with modern, high-quality turnout gear, which includes protective clothing such as jackets, pants, helmets, and boots. A portion of the funding is earmarked specifically for specialized wildfire gear, designed to withstand the intense heat and rugged conditions of wildland firefighting. This investment ensures that firefighters are prepared to respond to a wide range of emergencies, from structure fires to the growing threat of wildfires in the region.

“On behalf of the Stony Point Fire District, we extend our gratitude to Senator Harckham for securing this critical funding,” said Kevin Huslinger, chair of the Stony Point Fire District Board of Commissioners. “This grant will allow us to outfit our firefighters with the latest protective gear, including specialized equipment for wildfires, which is essential as we work to keep our community safe in an ever-changing environment. Senator Harckham’s support strengthens our ability to serve and protect.”

Stony Point Fire Chief Kurt Mulligan added, “With this new gear, our firefighters can face both structure fires and wildfires with the appropriate safety equipment, each of which is designed for the specific nature of those calls. It’s not just about equipment—it’s about bringing our team home safely after every call. We’re incredibly thankful for this investment in our district and fire company members.”

[Attached photo: State Sen. Pete Harckham with Robert Sullivan, vice chair of the Stony Point Fire District Board of Commissioners. Credit: Office of State Sen. Pete Harckham / James Persons]

 

Continue Reading

Government

The NY Conference Of Italian-American State Legislators Scholarship Applications Due March 30th

Published

2 days ago

on

March 15, 2025

By

Applicants must be current high school seniors or currently enrolled in a higher education program in order to qualify. Winners are announced in April and will be contacted directly.​ Winners should plan on being in Albany on Monday, May 19th to receive their award at our Italian-American Day Celebration.

                              Visit www.nyiacsl.org to apply

Continue Reading

Trending