Right at the northern edge of the Catskill Mountains, situated on top of a hill with gorgeous views, is Cairo-Durham Central Schools. A smaller, rural district of just over 1,000 students, the students who call themselves Mustangs take pride in their hard work, school campus and hands-on electives. But those could be at risk with proposed funding cuts in the executive budget.

South Seneca reading teacher Andrea Puls has been meeting with one fifth grader one-on-one every day since the beginning of the year to help him achieve grade-level reading.

As NYSUT President Melinda Person travels across the state visiting schools facing Foundation Aid cuts due to the governor’s executive budget proposal, one fact is clear: The math just doesn’t add up.

The Governor’s executive budget proposes funding cuts for all school districts in New York state, and presidents at some of the state’s smallest districts have just one question: At what cost?

As state lawmakers prepare to enter the final month of budget negotiations, a crowd of elected officials, teachers, parents and administrators rallied in the Mount Vernon City School District as one fierce, united group against the governor’s proposed school aid cuts.

As part of NYSUT's ongoing efforts to bring attention to the real-world effects of proposed cuts to Foundation Aid, NYSUT president Melinda Person visited several districts in Long Island this past week.

“We should leave a viola case open with a sign asking for donations to help cover the cuts!”

They’re not joking. Jenny Jared, Jessica Wisneski and Kara Colevas all have students in the Onteora Central School District, which stands to lose over $3 million with a 38.7 percent cut to their Foundation Aid.

“These cuts cannot go through.” NYSUT, lawmakers, education officials push back on proposed Foundation Aid cuts. NYSUT President Melinda Person held a roundtable discussion with education officials and local lawmakers on Friday to discuss the impacts proposed Foundation Aid cuts would have on the Schuylerville Central School District and its community.