Continuing down the slippery education funding slope, which saw its grade steepened by initiatives that set hazardous precedents like the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, the 2007-08 Enacted Budget works further to take the issue out of the hands of localities and centralize the power to disburse funding in Albany - not a recipe for success in my book.
The passing of Maintenance of Effort legislation in the state budget requires the City of Rochester to give the City School District the same amount of aid as last year with no ties to accountability or performance standards.
Puzzling for a district which, despite receiving considerably more in aid than districts in other Upstate cities, has produced one of the most dismal graduation rates in the nation. According to statements from Monroe County District Attorney Mike Green on the Brother Wease program last week, he possesses data which indicates that only 25%-35% of RCSD students eventually graduate.
Why, in the midst of a conversational storm about reform and accountability standards, would this Maintenance of Effort legislation be passed? Some local leaders are questioning the role Manny Rivera, currently in a dual role as Superintendent and gubernatorial Education chief, played in its passage:
“I question why it was put in place with absolutely no language for accountability whatsoever,” [Rochester Mayor Bob] Duffy said.
Duffy has been highly critical of the district’s dismal four-year graduation rate, and wanted the option to pull funding. The city is facing a $17 million budget gap.
A month ago, the mayor sent a letter to the school district demanding information relating to spending and academic performance. In his State of the City address last week, he proposed tying school aid to results. He has not received a response from school officials.
Morelle says he was the only lawmaker to take the floor to oppose the maintenance of effort legislation. He said the law is unprecedented, and has the effect of taking away local control and accountability of school funds.
Morelle suspects Rochester’s superintendent, Dr. Manuel Rivera, played a role in getting the bill passed. Rivera has been serving as the governor’s deputy education secretary, a job he will assume full time next month.
“I certainly think there may have been undue influence by Manny as a superintendent, and while there is disclosure about that, I just think it's something we need to think about,” Morelle said. “I think he needs to question whether or not he can serve both masters at the same time.” 13WHAM asked Mayor Duffy if he believed Rivera played any role in getting the legislation passed.
“In terms of the role of the superintendent, I would say this, that's a very good ethical question and I'm going to decline comment at this time,” Duffy said.
Rivera had already counted the full $119 million in the budget he submitted to the school board last month.
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