Area superintendents, whose districts rely heavily on state aid to meet their budgets, are responding to the possibility of cuts in state aid in the coming months.

The state budget froze aid to school districts and gave Robert Mujica, the state budget director, the authority to propose adjustments to the budget during three measurement periods: April 1 to April 30, May 1 to June 30 and July 1 to Dec. 31.

Michael Cipolla, Westfield Academy and Central School superintendent, noted that the COVID-19 crisis has impacted the state on many levels. He said prior to the crisis, there was an anticipated budget deficit.

“To compound the issues, the health crisis has created additional deficits and will likely impact school aid in coming years,” he said.

Michael Ginestre, Sherman Central School superintendent, had a similar reaction to the freeze in state aid, noting that the state is not bringing in the expected revenue it needs to fund education.

“What is more troubling is the situation moving forward,” Ginestre said. “The state will conduct quarterly reviews of revenues and make recommendations to the legislature and the governor on further aid changes. We are expecting more cuts and planning for that scenario. It makes it very difficult to create a budget.”

Dr. Bret Apthorpe, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent, said the school district will be looking for an additional $3 million in cuts to the proposed 2020-21 budget.

He added that it is important that the district anticipate different scenarios because the state budget allows for adjustments.

Cipolla also stressed the importance of preparing for various scenarios during budget preparation. “What is difficult is that while we know that New York state is projecting a budget shortfall, we do not know concretely what the impact will be on schools,” he said. “At this point we are preparing for various scenarios.”

Cipolla said there are certain measures that districts can implement to reduce budgets. “For example, we look at our projected expenditures both in the short-term and long-term,” he said. “We examine and re-examine areas in which we can best resolve deficits in State aid.”

Ginestre said districts who rely heavily on foundation aid, which are typically the poorer districts, get hit harder than districts that can make up the cuts by raising taxes.

“While we expected some sort of adjustment, our hope was that the adjustment would be fair and equitable to districts that rely heavily on foundation aid, but the first round was not,” he said. “We need Albany to recognize that any cut to Foundation Aid is far more consequential for poorer, rural districts.”

Ginestre said Sherman is planning for the worst, but hoping for the best. “We have looked at every line item im the budget,” he said. “We have made changes and have reduced costs through attrition.”

The Westfield Central School District is also trying to project what will happen with state aid and to prepare for possible reductions.

Cipolla said maintaining programming is vital.

“Of course, we will do everything possible to avoid cuts in programming,” he said. “It is difficult to say how the reduction in State aid will impact our school.”