Sachem District Could See Decrease In State Aid

Yesterday state lawmakers released their proposed aid to the state's school districts and if those numbers hold up, Sachem will see a nearly 2-percent reduction in aid from last year's numbers.

This academic year, the Sachem School District received roughly $107.3 million in total aid. According to this year's projections, the district will only receive about $105.3 million.

The reduced aid would leave a deficit over last year of $2,005,792. Added to the district's already projected deficit of $22 million, the district could now find itself in a $24 million hole.

Superintendent James Nolan said negotiations with Albany have already begun.

"We are currently in conversations with our local elected officials to get answers to why this happened to Sachem for the second time," Nolan stated in an email "It is our sincere hope that our representatives in Albany will be able to rectify this situation so that Sachem will receive the 3%-4% increase that most other districts will be receiving."

How does Sachem compare to some of the other districts of similar size in surrounding areas?

• Sachem is losing roughly $2.0million
• Smithtown is losing roughly $630,000
• Half Hollow Hills is losing roughly $37,000
• Three Village (Ward Melville) is gaining roughly $832,000
• Patchogue-Medford is gaining roughly $1.2million
• Longwood is gaining roughly $769,000
• William Floyd is gaining roughly $238,000
• Connetquot is gaining roughly $1.16million
• Brentwood is gaining roughly $12.02million
• Lindenhurst is gaining roughly $2.18million

During today's live-Twitter session with Nolan, the superintendent indicated that he has reached out to Sen. Flanagan, Sen. Zeldin and Assemblyman Graf for help in increasing aid to the school.