VC on governor’s radar

Valley Central School District seems to be on the Gov. David Paterson’s radar lately, as evidenced by an unsolicited call from spokesman Morgan Hook Wednesday.

Hook said he called to “remind readers of the numbers out there.” He reiterated the governor’s talking points on the proposed state budget: that school aid has increased 42 percent since 2003-04, that New York’s per pupil spending is 61 percent above the national average, and that districts statewide have rainy day funds to tap into.

He questioned why the district would have to raise taxes and close a school because of a $3.6 million state aid cut. “They’re saying they have to shut down an elementary school,” Hook said. “That has nothing to do with the governor’s office.”

Superintendent Richard Hooley has spelled out several reasons why he believes consolidation is needed: the state aid cuts, a 30 percent increase in pension contributions, and additional mandates that increase the budget by 6.3 percent. Consolidating schools would allow the district to save money by cutting support paraprofessionals and administrators, in an attempt to minimize the impact on classrooms.

Valley Central business superintendent Steve Bangert said Monday that it will tap into rainy day funds as much as practical to preserve programs.

Hook said the governor doesn’t like cutting state aid but there’s no other choice.

“During an historic fiscal economic crisis the governor and the people in state government have had to make difficult choices and have to budget responsibly, it is incumbent on the school district to have to do the same thing,” Hook said.