New Yorkers for Equality in School Busing New Yorkers for Equality in School Busing seek: • Fairness: Publicly funded school busing for New York parents who live in cities (excluding New York City) and send their children to parochial or private school on the same basis as the majority of other New York parents who live in other types of municipalities. • Strong public schools: We support Amy Paulin’s bill (A02402) that would reimburse school districts at 90% for busing. We believe this is a crucial first step. • Recognition of the support private and parochial school parents provide to public school through significant tax payments If you agree that it is unfair to arbitrarily deny a benefit to a small group of hardworking New York parents that is available to everyone else, show you support by Liking us. Fairness for for private and parochial school parents We are New Yorkers for Equality in School Busing. We seek to highlight and to end an injustice against hardworking, taxpaying residents of New York, who live in “cities” and send their children to private or parochial schools. After spending thousands of dollars per child per year on school tuition and thousands more on property taxes, some New York parents, those who live in small cities, must also pay thousands more for busing. Most private and parochial school parents do not live in areas designated as cities and do receive publicly funded busing. Our goal is to change the law so that all parents sending their children to private school will qualify for busing in a 15 mile radius as do parents who do not live in cities. See below for more detail Private and parochial parents benefit public schools Private and parochial school parents provide a big benefit to the public schools. We analyzed the taxes paid by all families all White Plains families that send their children to Jewish schools. Our analysis indicates that the average property tax bill for these families was $14,700 (as of 2010). The total tax bill paid was $1.8 million. We estimate the cost of busing of all these children would be approximately $400 thousand, or about $2,000 per child.. In comparison, the average cost to educate a public school student is approximately $26 thousand. We note that the White Plains school budget for 2013-14 is $193 million. Support for public schools – backing bill for 90% state busing reimbursement. We are aware, that our petition for equality in busing could impact public school budgets. We want to make clear, unequivocally, that we support our public schools. Excellent public schools are crucial to maintaining strong communities. More importantly, public schools remain a key element in providing access to opportunity and the American dream. So it’s clear that private and parochial school parents provide a significant benefit to the public schools. If these students were all enrolled in the public schools the burden on the school district would be much greater. However, we know that for public school districts that are strapped for cash, every dollar is important. That’s why we support a bill by Amy Paulin in the State Assembly (A02402) that would restore the 90% reimbursement rate to school districts for transporting children to non-public schools. Assemblywoman Paulin’s bill is a win-win for school districts and private and parochial school parents. Additional Background Under current law, cities such as White Plains and New Rochelle in Westchester are not required to pay for busing of private school children beyond the city line. Other municipalities, however, are required to bus these children within a radius of 15 miles. Excluding New York City, there are 58 cities in New York State comprising 2.2 million people according to the 2010 census. This amounts to 19% of the state population (ex. NYC). There is no compelling reason why parents in these cities, New York taxpayers, should be arbitrarily excluded from a service that they pay for and is available to all public school children and 81% of the parents who send their children to private or parochial school. New Yorkers for Equality in School Busing New Yorkers for Equality in School Busing seek: • Fairness: Publicly funded school busing for New York parents who live in cities (excluding New York City) and send their children to parochial or private school on the same basis as the majority of other New York parents who live in other types of municipalities. • Strong public schools: We support Amy Paulin’s bill (A02402) that would reimburse school districts at 90% for busing. We believe this is a crucial first step. • Recognition of the support private and parochial school parents provide to public school through significant tax payments If you agree that it is unfair to arbitrarily deny a benefit to a small group of hardworking New York parents that is available to everyone else, show you support by Liking us. Fairness for for private and parochial school parents We are New Yorkers for Equality in School Busing. We seek to highlight and to end an injustice against hardworking, taxpaying residents of New York, who live in “cities” and send their children to private or parochial schools. After spending thousands of dollars per child per year on school tuition and thousands more on property taxes, some New York parents, those who live in small cities, must also pay thousands more for busing. Most private and parochial school parents do not live in areas designated as cities and do receive publicly funded busing. Our goal is to change the law so that all parents sending their children to private school will qualify for busing in a 15 mile radius as do parents who do not live in cities. See below for more detail Private and parochial parents benefit public schools Private and parochial school parents provide a big benefit to the public schools. We analyzed the taxes paid by all families all White Plains families that send their children to Jewish schools. Our analysis indicates that the average property tax bill for these families was $14,700 (as of 2010). The total tax bill paid was $1.8 million. We estimate the cost of busing of all these children would be approximately $400 thousand, or about $2,000 per child.. In comparison, the average cost to educate a public school student is approximately $26 thousand. We note that the White Plains school budget for 2013-14 is $193 million. Support for public schools – backing bill for 90% state busing reimbursement. We are aware, that our petition for equality in busing could impact public school budgets. We want to make clear, unequivocally, that we support our public schools. Excellent public schools are crucial to maintaining strong communities. More importantly, public schools remain a key element in providing access to opportunity and the American dream. So it’s clear that private and parochial school parents provide a significant benefit to the public schools. If these students were all enrolled in the public schools the burden on the school district would be much greater. However, we know that for public school districts that are strapped for cash, every dollar is important. That’s why we support a bill by Amy Paulin in the State Assembly (A02402) that would restore the 90% reimbursement rate to school districts for transporting children to non-public schools. Assemblywoman Paulin’s bill is a win-win for school districts and private and parochial school parents. Additional Background Under current law, cities such as White Plains and New Rochelle in Westchester are not required to pay for busing of private school children beyond the city line. Other municipalities, however, are required to bus these children within a radius of 15 miles. Excluding New York City, there are 58 cities in New York State comprising 2.2 million people according to the 2010 census. This amounts to 19% of the state population (ex. NYC). There is no compelling reason why parents in these cities, New York taxpayers, should be arbitrarily excluded from a service that they pay for and is available to all public school children and 81% of the parents who send their children to private or parochial school.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 00:18:36 +0000
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