Coffee Hour/Letter Writing Campaign

[Go Plainedge!]

I have been pondering this whole letter writing campaign these past few days. I am all for getting the members of the community involved in school district issues. In fact, I will also send my letter(s) out. It's a small task with a (potentially) big reward.

However, one thing is just not sitting right with me.....

1. When the budget failed last spring we were told it was the community's fault.

2. When the sports programs were cut, we were told it was the community's fault.

3. When we wanted the sports back we were told the community had to pay for it - and DID!

4. When we want more state aid, we're told the community needs to get involved.

Anyone else see a pattern here? At what point in time of this community/school district relationship is the district going to show some involvement and start to operate more cost effectively and smarter? Why does the community have to constantly "save the schools"?

I am all for creating a better environment for the STUDENTS. But, why does the onus always appear to fall on the members of the community?

[patriot2415]

School Taxes Too High?


Come to a Community Meeting
Monday, February 13, 2006
at the Plainedge High School Auditorium


Hosted by the Plainedge Tax Relief Association (PTRA) (a newly formed group of Plainedge residents and parents)

We will discuss how residents can help increase state aid for the Plainedge School District, thus lowering the property tax burden.

Write to your Representatives in Albany!!!

The Plainedge Tax Relief Association (PTRA) will be available to help residents write letters to Albany legislators at the Plainedge Library on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 from 7:30 - 9:00 pm.

[Go Plainedge!]

Phil:

I commend you and the other volunteers for your efforts. I truly hope that the campaign doesn't fall on deaf ears.

[patriot2415]

Dear Resident, at the request of community members the Plainedge Tax Relief Association has drafted a letter for your use in our letter writing campaign. Please use this letter to send to All the Government Officials listed. One letter should be sent to each official. We are hoping that you can dedicate a small amount of time to do this ASAP. The tax situation in Plainedge affects everyone. Your letters will go a long way in helping our representatives deliver our message to Albany. Only as a unified voice will we be heard....Thank you: The members of the PTRA

Winter 2006



Dear Plainedge Resident:


Our school taxes are too high and we must demand more state aid for Plainedge!!
We believe we can obtain more state aid for Plainedge if every voter in Plainedge sends the attached letter to each one of the legislators listed.
All you have to do is sign each letter, write your name and address, address and stamp 7 envelopes and send a copy to each of the legislators we have listed for you.
You should receive a response from the legislators you write to within a few weeks. When you receive a response, we suggest you write back again. If you do not get a response, we ask that you resend your letter indicating that you have not heard back.
For more information, or to download a copy of the form letter, you can go to www.plaintalkonline.com or the Plainedge Schools website at www.plainedgeschools.org.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Plainedge Tax Relief Association


The Plainedge Tax Relief Association (PTRA) has been formed by concerned residents of Plainedge to advocate for additional school funding and school tax relief for the Plainedge School District.

February/March 2006




To:

Governor George Pataki
Executive Chamber
The State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Senator Joseph Bruno
Senate Majority Leader
Room 909
Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247

Assemblyman Sheldon Silver
Speaker of the Assembly
Room 932
Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248

Assemblyman Dean Skelos
Deputy Majority Leader
55 Front Street
Rockville Centre, NY 11570



Senator Kemp Hannon
224 Seventh Street
2nd Floor
Garden City, NY 11530

Joseph S. Saladino
200 Boundary Avenue
Massapequa, NY 11758

Senator Carl Marcellino
Room 812
Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247

Dear Sir:
I am writing to express my concern over the state education funding formulas and to request that Plainedge School District receive an increase in state aid.
I am requesting your action on Bill A.7702 which would allow for a regional cost of living adjustment to be applied to the education aid formula. Nassau County school districts only receive 17% of their school funding from the state, while other areas of New York State receive an average of 37%.
Plainedge has no commercial property so the residents have to pay 85% of the school taxes. The state aid to Plainedge for operating costs has decreased every year in the past 6 years – from 25.9% to 18.24% of our school budget. This means the taxpayers have had to pay more, despite the fact that Plainedge has the lowest per pupil expenditure in Nassau County (K-12). Plainedge’s school budget failed in 2005 and the district is now on austerity.
This issue is uniting our community, from Senior Citizens to young adults. We all believe the state must make education funding equitable for all New Yorkers. We also are demanding that the state provide for a special appropriation for high residential districts that have little or no commercial property to alleviate the tax burden in communities such as ours.
Thank you for your help in this endeavor. I look forward to hearing from you soon to tell me what you are doing on this important issue.
Sincerely,

Print Name: ________________________________


Address: __________________________________


Signature of Plainedge Resident_________________________________________



****** Please use this letter to contact our Government officials. This affects all of us...

Thanks: Phil Toscano

[patriot2415]

Dear Plainedge Resident

WE are being heard !

We have received much feed back from our government officials stating that they are receiving our letters. Keep it up ! If you have not received a reply, write again. If you have received a reply.. write again !!! If you haven't written we are counting on you to do so!

We have 800+ names on petitions that were signed at school events and at some senior community centers. We are sending a set of them to each of 51 county and state officials how have input into the State Aid process. Below is the cover letter we used.

**************************************************************************
March 2006

Governor George Pataki
Executive Chamber, The State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Pataki:

The Plainedge community has organized to express our concerns over the state education funding formulas and to request that Plainedge School District receive an increase in state aid. The Plainedge community is made up of voters from Massapequa, Bethpage, Seaford, Farmingdale and Levittown in Nassau County.

The Plainedge Tax Relief Association (PTRA) has been formed by concerned residents of Plainedge to advocate for additional school funding and tax relief for the Plainedge School District in the State Senate, State Assembly and the Governor’s Office. Residents have been sending letters to our representatives in Albany, as well as signing petitions. We have attached copies of petitions for your consideration as well as the basic letters being sent by residents to our representatives. We are sending this package to all Education Committee members in the Senate and Assembly.
We request your action on Bill A.7702 which would allow for a regional cost of living adjustment to be applied to the education aid formula. Nassau County school districts only receive 17% of their school funding from the state, while other areas of New York State receive an average of 37%.
Please be aware of the following facts about the Plainedge School District::
• Plainedge has no commercial property so we, the residents, have to pay 85% of the school taxes.
• The state aid to Plainedge for operating costs has decreased every year in the past 6 years – from 25.9% to 18.24% of our school budget.
• Plainedge has the lowest per pupil expenditure in Nassau County (K-12).
• New York State School Board Association rated Plainedge “highly efficient” as compared to other comparable schools.
• The Plainedge School budget failed in 2005 and the school is now on austerity.
• The Plainedge community formed a grassroots organization and was successful in raising monies to restore high school sports.
We request that you provide a special appropriation, or modify the formula to take into account districts such as Plainedge that predominantly depend on residential property tax who have limited or no commercial property.
Please remember the children of Plainedge and Long Island when the State Budget is voted upon. Thank you for your help in this endeavor. We look forward to hearing from you soon to tell us what you are doing on this important issue.

Sincerely,
Plainedge Tax Relief Association
***************************************************************************


Nassau County officials are using us as an example ! They are rallying all Nassau County School Districts to combine their efforts and put pressure on Albany. They will be starting a County letter writing effort!

WE ARE EMPOWERED !!!! HOW ? OUR VOICES and OUR VOTES !!!!

Keep up the great work and thank you !!!!!

The Plainedge Tax Relief Association

Phil